Betsy Lane Osborne of Remsenburg died on January 18, following a year-and-a-half-long battle against leukemia. She was 72.
Born in Passaic, New Jersey, on August 26, 1942, she was the daughter of Robert and Nancie (Poor) Osborn, both of whom predeceased her. Her great-grandfather was the industrialist Edward Erie Poor. She attended Passaic public schools and graduated with the class of 1960 and The Shirelles. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English literature from Upsala College, class of 1964, while there on two scholarships.
Ms. Osborne started work in New Jersey for the Prudential Insurance Company of America. After moving to Manhattan, she was employed as a caseworker for the New York City Department of Social Services and took evening classes at the New York Institute of Finance, Accounting and Investment Management. She then started her career in finance as an administrative assistant to the president at R.W. Pressprich and Co., and went on to work for Chemical Bank of New York as an institutional bond salesperson and business development specialist in the Government Bond Department. As an institutional bond trader, she was employed with Mitchell Hutchins Inc, Scandinavian Securities Corp. Inc., Moseley, Hallgarten, Estabrook and Weedon Inc. and Dawia Securities America Inc., respectively.
In her mid-40s, she married James Doherty, president of South Fork Mortgage Corp. Westhampton. She moved to Remsenburg, where she owned a home, “The Frog House.” The marriage ended in divorce.
She launched a new career was as a real estate salesperson for Noyer Beach Realty, now Philips Beach Realty. Survivors said she liked to say that she knew where everybody lived for miles around. She was active in her community and helped organize and incorporate the Speonk-Remsenburg Civic Association and served on its board and the board of the Hampton Theatre Company and also on the auction committee for the Family Counseling gala.
She had two lifelong passions: cats that she had rescued and adopted, and Sapphire Beach, St. Thomas, where she owned a time share. Her ashes will be spread there, according to her wishes.
Ms. Osborne spent her college summers at the Jersey Shore, waitressing in Asbury Park, where she was a runner-up for Miss Asbury Park. Locally, she was a member of the Sandbar Club and the Westhampton Yacht Squadron. She participated in many of “The Great Tomato Wars,” too. She also loved antiques and was known as a dedicated shopper and collector.
She is survived by two sisters, Nance Doering of Southampton and her family, and Susan Manz of New Jersey and her family. She was predeceased in December by her older brother, York, but is survived by his two sons. She shared her last years and home with her best friend and devoted companion, John McGinley.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, June 13, at 11 a.m. at St. Mark’s Church in Westhampton Beach.
on Jun 8, 2015