Beatrice Everson Cope

Beatrice Everson Cope, beloved educator, writer, playwright, and mother, died Wednesday, Nov. 4. She was 95.

Beatrice Everson Cope

Beatrice was born on Dec. 20, 1924, in Stoughton, Wisc. to Arthur and Stella Everson. At the height of the Great Depression, her father abandoned the family on Christmas day when she was 12.  Beatrice grew up in Stoughton, Wisconsin with her Norwegian grandparents before moving to Wausau Wisconsin to be with her mother and attend high school.

She went on to take correspondence classes at the University of Wisconsin and worked in an arms factory during World War II to save money to enroll in the University of Chicago where she received bachelor's and master's degrees in English literature and began work on her Ph.D. She taught English at Valparaiso University, the University of Chicago, Ohio State University, and the University of Delaware before joining the faculty at Sanford School in Hockessin, where she worked for over twenty years. There she was the delight of her students who developed a lifelong love of Shakespeare and the world of literature thanks to having Mrs. Cope as their teacher and mentor. She found that sharing her joy in learning and love of literature with her Sanford students the high point of her career.

Her play, The Magic Horse, was produced in 1960 in Chicago, complete with a live horse on stage during performances. In recent years, living in Kennett Square Pennsylvania with her daughter, she authored and edited children's books.  

Beatrice will be remembered for her empathy and compassion as well as her brilliance and humor.  Her life was defined by love. Her passions in life included her family and friends, animals — especially her dogs, gardening, Italy (where she lived for several years), music (Beethoven to the Beatles), Art, murder mysteries, Bogart films, literature, and black coffee. But most of all she loved helping others, especially through teaching.  While working at The Sanford School she had the yearbook dedicated to her multiple times.  Afterward, she kept in contact with many of her former students and enjoyed sharing stories of their progress with her family

She is survived by her two children: Thomas and Cynthia; four grandchildren, Alexander, Elizabeth, Jacqueline, and Jeremy; her niece, Barbara Everson, her nephew John Everson, and her beloved friends. She was preceded in death by her brother Arthur J. Everson who died in April 2017.

Funeral and burial services are tentatively planned for late spring 2021 at the Little Point Sable Church, Little Point Sable, Mich.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made in her name to Sanford School 6900 Lancaster Pike, Hockessin, DE 19707 , or The American Humane Association 1400 16th Street NW, Suite 360 Washington, DC 20036.

Arrangements by the Kuzo Funeral Home, Kennett Square.

 

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