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Elizabeth (Bitsey, Beth) Bates Johnson

Profile Updated: January 6, 2024
Residing In
Scottsdale, AZ USA
Spouse/Partner
Joel W. Johnson
Occupation
Psychologist, Ordained Minister in the United Church of Christ, Congregational
Children
Kate Johnson Potter (1971), Geoffrey Bates Johnson (1974), Peter Joel Johnson (1986)
Military Service
My husband Joel served in the Army Medical Service
Comments

Daughter-in-Law: Melanie M. Johnson
Son-in-Law: James M. Potter

Eight Grandchildren:

Grace (17), Jack (15) and Charlie (11) Potter
Pierce (18), Fiona (16), Felix (13), Rowan (11), and Sloane (3) Johnson

School Story

Graduated from Wellesley College (B.A. Sociology/Anthropology, Concentration in Criminology and Juvenile Delinquency, 1967)

M.Div. from Yale Divinity School (1984)

PhD in Counseling Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison (2007)

Worked as a Social Worker, Psychologist and UCC Minister

Favorite School Story: When we were in the 10th grade (Fall 1960), the Pirates were playing the Yankees in an afternoon game — the final one in the World Series. A lot of our classmates had brought little transistor radios to school and were trying to listen to the game during class. My English teacher (can’t renember her name, strict, Irish) got furious, demanded that all transistor radios be turned over to her, and that the entire class come back to her room for an hour of detention at the end of the day. We were bummed because the game was still going on at 3:30 pm. Then suddenly the loud speakers came on all over the school. The Principal was broadcasting the game and there was nothing our angry English teacher could do about it. A great cheer went up from our detention room. A “mighty cheer” as we celebrated that awesome win for the Pirates. (P.S. My husband was born/raised in NYC and is a dyed-in-the-Wool Yankees fan. 😟)

Elizabeth (Bitsey, Beth)'s Latest Interactions

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Jun
25
Jun 25, 2025 at 4:16 PM

Posted on: Jun 25, 2025 at 4:02 PM

Hi BOB ! I hope your birthday is filled with love and laughter and people you love. Have a healthy next year.

Jun
23
Jun 23, 2025 at 5:16 PM

Posted on: Jun 23, 2025 at 3:54 PM

Hope your birthday is filled with health, laughter and d love, Mimi. Wishing you a great year ahead !

Jun
19
Jun 19, 2025 at 4:10 PM

Hope your birthday is filled with love and laughter, Nancy.

Jun
18
Jun 18, 2025 at 9:30 PM
May
04
May 04, 2025 at 3:25 AM

Judy, I wish you an incredible birthday celebration. Is it for number 80? Can you believe how old we are now ? I still feel like I and you are still in high school. Those were the best days for sure.

Apr
22
Apr 22, 2025 at 3:47 AM
Apr
18
Apr 18, 2025 at 3:31 AM
Elizabeth (Bitsey, Beth) Bates Johnson added a comment on her Profile. New comment added.
Apr
16
Apr 16, 2025 at 1:50 PM

Posted on: Apr 16, 2025 at 3:08 AM

Apr
10
Apr 10, 2025 at 2:46 AM

Freddie ! I hope that your birthday was wonderful, filled with love and laughter and joy and great memories. Many many more birthdays in the future !

Apr 10, 2025 at 2:45 AM

Robin — my favorite artists from grade school — I hope your birthday was great !

Apr 10, 2025 at 2:43 AM

Greg, Here’s hoping that your birthday is/was amazing, filled with love and friends and laughter and joy. I have a memory of you, I think, in the 8th or 9th grade (I think) standing up in front of our English class and reciting, from memory, the poem, “Casey at the Bat.” I remember how nervous you were everyone in the class had to memorize and recite a poem of our own choice. I think that you were convinced that you could never accomplish this feat. But I think our English teacher helped you choose a poem that suited you and she coached you and you did it perfectly — and it was a LONG poem !!! Do you remember this event ? Or has your memory bused it ? Bitsey Bates

Apr
02
Apr 02, 2025 at 3:50 AM

Happy Birthday Robin. I hope that you continue to do amazing things with your artistic talents. Way beyond my gifts and skills !!!

Mar
04
Mar 04, 2025 at 5:52 PM

Posted on: Mar 04, 2025 at 12:54 PM

Happy Birthday, Dave. (From Bitsey Bates Johnson)

Feb
25
Feb 25, 2025 at 2:15 AM

Jean, Sending you warm birthday wishes ahead of time (so that I don’t miss your special day). Is it #80? Yikes! I still remember our elementary school days. What a privilege to have friends from early childhood who have weathered these years together with us!

Feb 25, 2025 at 11:00 AM

Posted on: Feb 25, 2025 at 2:12 AM

Chris, wishing you a belated happy birthday! We haven’t been in touch lately. I see that you have seven grandchildren. Congratulations!!! I have eight and my youngest of three is not yet married. I also see that your wife passed away in 2020. I hope that she didn’t die of COVID. You live not far from our daughter Kate in Sherborn, MA, with three kids (our grands). Sending blessings your way.

Elizabeth (Bitsey, Beth) Bates Johnson added a comment on her Profile. New comment added.
Feb
12
Feb 12, 2025 at 12:26 AM

Posted on: Feb 12, 2025 at 12:26 AM

Jan
30
Jan 30, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Jan
03
Jan 03, 2025 at 2:28 PM

Posted on: Jan 01, 2025 at 1:53 AM

Happy Birthday, Hal !!! You deserve this wish from every Lebo ‘63 class member in thanks for the amazing job you do to hold our classmates together.

Nov
24
Nov 24, 2024 at 1:30 PM

Posted on: Nov 23, 2024 at 11:25 PM

Christie, Wishing you the happiest of birthday celebrations. Is it # 69? Hope that you can celebrate in health and love.

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Posted: Jan 06, 2024 at 1:17 AM