Scully Park gets a new bench in memory of Betty Verderber

 

[July 29, 2024] 

At Scully Park Saturday, July 27, the Verderber family dedicated a bench they donated in honor of Betty Verderber.

Nancy Verderber Martin, one of Betty Verderber’s seven children, travelled all the way from Florida to help dedicate the bench. She shared information about the significance of the bench and said, “the Verderber family is celebrating and honoring the life of their mother, grandmother and GG by donating a bench in her honor.”

Betty Verderber's children

Betty Verderber's grandchildren

Betty Verderber's great grandchildren

Betty Verderber’s six living children Katie, Barbara, Nancy, Chuck, John and Bob were present for the dedication along with several grandchildren and great grandchildren. Though Betty Verderber’s daughter Theresa is deceased, the siblings felt like she was there in spirit.

Scully Park was a place that is special to the Verderber family. Betty Verderber’s daughter Nancy said, “Betty Verderber lived in Lincoln all her life. She enjoyed going to Scully Park and was instrumental in making sure there was a playground for all children.”

Among her work, “Betty was an advocate for community inclusion of people with disabilities. She founded the Logan County chapter of the Coalition of Citizen with Disabilities in Illinois.”

Because of this advocacy, her daughter Nancy said that Betty, “along with fellow advocates and local government officials, worked diligently to ensure the city and county complied with the Americans with Disabilities Act regulations.”

In fact, “many of the local ADA accessible businesses, City Hall, the library, parks and sidewalk curb cuts are due to their collaborative efforts. The Verderber family hopes that members of the community and visitors will relax on Betty’s Bench while enjoying Scully Park and the accessible playground.”

This weekend also happens to be the 34th anniversary of the signing of the American with Disabilities Act. Nancy Verderber Martin was in Washington D.C. with around 30,000 other people when the ADA was signed on the White House Lawn. It seems fitting to dedicate the bench on the anniversary of such an important time for people with disabilities.

[Angela Reiners]