Elizabeth Anne Esenberg

Elizabeth (Betty) Anne Esenberg passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on August 7, 2023, after complications from cardiac arrest. Betty was born March 5, 1944 in Mineola, NY to Garret and Eleanor Spickerman. Betty grew up on Long Island and attended Bellport High School and then college at Cortland State (State University of New York (SUNY) Cortland). While attending Cortland and pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in math, Betty completed a summer internship with Northrup Grumman and was involved with designing and implementing systems used on the Lunar Module that was part of the historic Moon landing in 1969. It was also while attending Cortland that she met her future husband on March 15, 1963 thanks to a blind date arranged by her college roommate. Arthur (Art) Esenberg and Betty met during their freshman year and were together ever after. They married on Aug. 28, 1965 and shortly after graduation, moved to Va. Beach, Va.

Just prior to moving, Betty gave birth to their first child, Margaret (Peggy) in February, 1966. Betty and Art went to work as teachers in the Virginia Beach City Schools. Betty taught math at Kempsville High School until she became pregnant with her son, Arthur (born July, 1969). As a result, she had to resign her teaching position (as teachers could not be work if they were more than 3 months pregnant and actively working at the time). However, she was welcomed back to teach her own classes as a long-term substitute. As a result of this hypocrisy, and because she could not return to her full-time teaching position until 6 months after the birth of her son, Betty went to work for Norfolk Public Schools (which had no such restrictions). Assigned to teach at Booker T. Washington High School, she helped to integrate the faculty, where she continued to teach for the next 14 years.

While establishing their life in Va. Beach, Art and Betty became very actively involved in the Jaycees, a social organization that began as the Junior Chamber of Commerce but later developed into an independent, international organization. The original organization was set up for male membership only and the wives of the membership began meeting and developed their own organization, the Jaycettes. Betty helped to organize the Jaycettes in both Virginia Beach and statewide, working to help draft bylaws, a constitution, and later becoming the first president of the Statewide organization, the Virginia Jaycettes. Betty additionally went on to serve as a founding National Vice President of the U.S. Jaycettes in 1974. Both she and Art were very active with their respective organizations and were recognized as the Virginia Jaycee Family of the Year in 1979.

In 1983, Betty took a sabbatical from Norfolk Public Schools and began coursework to pursue a doctoral degree in Urban Services and Management. She was awarded a doctoral fellowship at Old Dominion University where she completed coursework while working full time at Newport News Ship Building as an Information Systems Manager. She completed her studies and was awarded her Ph.D. in May, 1992. Shortly after, she went to work for the University of Maryland system and taught overseas for the next two years as faculty with the University College program. Upon her return in 1994, she began working in the private sector and took a project management position with American Stores corporation (parent company of several grocery chains such as Acme, Lucky, etc). She and Art relocated to Salt Lake City where they bought a home, became involved with their community, and maintained an active affiliation with the JCI Senate for the next 16 years. Betty actively supported Art as a JCI Senator and the National Vice President of their new home, region X. In addition to her commitment to the Jaycees, one of the highlights of her time in Utah was when she volunteered with the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. Betty worked with their digital documents sector and enjoyed the opportunity to attend several events and gained a behind the scenes perspective of Olympic Ice Hockey that few will ever experience.

While Betty enjoyed her home and life in Utah, she had always planned to retire and return to her home in Va. Beach (which they had kept and maintained while living in Utah). She retired from Albertson’s (who had purchased American Stores) in 2007 and shortly thereafter she and Art returned to her beloved home in Va. Beach. Once relocated, they continued their active roles with the JCI senate. Both served in various capacities and were involved with numerous events. Through her years working with the Jaycees and the JCI Senate, Betty won many awards in her various capacities. However, one of the most meaningful to her was when she was awarded her own Senatorship by the Va. Beach Jaycees in 2013. The highlight of her time with the Senate occurred when she was elected the State JCI President for Virginia from 2017 – 2018. Her theme for leadership that year combined her love for her personal fandom of all things Star Trek with the love she had for both the Jaycettes and Jaycee women for whom she previously served as State President and National Vice President.

Betty had a deep love for travel and enjoyed a number of trips both internationally and across the country. She routinely enjoyed traveling to Florida during the winter months to be a “snow bird” after her retirement. Additionally, she was very active with a local Star Trek club, Star Fleet Atlantic, and enjoyed attending meetings with the good friends she developed through the club. Finally, more than anything, Betty had a deep love for her family and was immensely proud of her children, grandchildren, and her many numerous nieces and nephews (and great nieces and nephews). She is survived by her husband of almost 58 years, Arthur C. Esenberg; her daughter, Margaret (Peggy) Wittman (spouse Todd); son, Arthrur G. Esenberg (spouse Debbie); grandchildren, Abigail and Emily Wittman; her sister, Monica Chadwell (spouse Eric); brother, Arthur Spickerman (spouse Helen); her aunt, Marilyn Briggs; special nieces Laura Daniels and Nicole Gunther; and a multitude of nephews, nieces, and great nieces and nephews. She is predeceased by her parents, Garrett and Eleanor Spickerman and her brother, Robert Spickerman.

Services will be held on September 15, 2023 with a mass of Catholic burial at 3:00 pm at the Catholic Church of St. Marks, 1505 Kempsville Rd., Va. Beach, Va with internment of cremated remains to immediately follow. In accordance with her wishes, a celebration of life (party) will be held at the Indian Lakes Community Center (1313 Indian Lakes Boulevard, Va. Beach) immediately following the internment. All family and friends are invited to come and celebrate her life.