Betty Klear

Betty Klear

Betty, a devoted wife, loving mother and grandmother, cherished sister, and respected former Philadelphia school principal, passed away on May 30, 2025 leaving behind a legacy of leadership, and service to her family, students, and the Jewish community.

The daughter of Holocaust survivors of Lithuanian decent, Betty was born on March 1, 1947 in a displaced persons camp in Feldafing, Germany. Upon emigrating to the United States, Betty grew up in Northeast Philadelphia with her sister Libby (Gutman) Brady. Despite the difficulties of growing up as child to immigrants rebuilding a life in a new land with no extended family, Betty’s parents created a loving environment instilling Jewish family values, community engagement, and education. With those values as a foundation, Betty led a life filled with love and compassion cultivating lifelong friendships, a close-knit family and a successful career as an educator.

She graduated from Temple University with a B.A. in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. Prior to graduating, she was set up on a blind date with husband Dr. Harris Klear whom she wed in 1968. After teaching at the Kinsey School in Philadelphia for a few years, Betty devoted herself for many years to raising her children, Jordan, Jennifer and Jonathan in Cherry Hill, NJ where she and Harris resided and developed lifelong friendships with neighbors and fellow synagogue congregants. While still rearing her children through their teens, she returned to the classroom ready to make an indelible impression on students, teachers and schools alike while simultaneously obtaining a degree in Masters in Education, Foundations & Philosophy of Education Administration & Supervision from Rutgers University. She made an remarkable impact as an educator throughout her outstanding career spanning the classroom as a teacher, a principal, and adjunct professor training future educators at Temple University and Holy Family University.

Betty’s career as a principal at Franklin Smedley, Gilbert Spruance, Blaine, and Powell Schools was marked by her unwavering commitment to students in underserved communities. She was known for her leadership in the Philadelphia School District often mentoring fellow principals on a formal and informal basis. Superintendents often assigned her larger and more troubled schools due to her ability to effectively lead.
Her leadership prowess propelled her into many roles beyond principal and administrator including district, city and regional roles such as the NAESP Certified Principal Appraiser, Principal’s Advisory Board, District Meeting Steering Committee, Philadelphia Excellence, Equity and Accountability Working Group, and the Northeast Regional Advisory Board, and President of B’nai B’rith Educators Unit. Throughout her career and life, she was awarded meaningful grants that impacted the education of her students and educators alike. She was recognized and honored with awards such as Martin L. Glassman Commitment to Education Award—Schoolmens Club of Philadelphia, Educator of the Year—Holy Family College, and Service to the Profession Award—B’nai B’rith Educators Unit.

Her investment in education - even her own - never ceased. In her spare time and upon retirement, she was an avid reader of biographies, fiction and historical fiction, loved to engage in healthy political debates and do crossword puzzles. Above all, Betty cherished her family. She was a devoted wife, a loving mother, sister, and grandmother. Her straightforwardness, wisdom, and generosity enriched the lives of all who knew her. Betty’s legacy lives on through her family, her former students, and the countless lives she touched as an educator and community leader. She is survived by her husband Dr. Harris Klear, sister Libby (Gutman) Brady, three children Jordan (Kelly Kvitka), Jennifer, Jonathan (Amanda Kravitz), and five grandchildren, Tyler, Eliza, Ryder Zoe, and Jax.

A private graveside service will be held for family followed by shiva. Shiva will be observed at the home of Jonathan & Amanda Klear on Wednesday from 2 pm with a service at 6:30, Thursday from 1 pm with a service at 6:30 and Friday from 1 pm to 5 pm

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Jewish National Fund, jnf.org, StandWithUs, standwuthus.com, or Congregation Beth El in Voorhees, NJ, bethelsnj.org.