Betty Ann Walker

Dr. Betty Walker: A Life of Scholarship, Activism, and Fierce Love

Dr. Betty Walker, a distinguished writer, retired professor, counseling psychologist, and social activist, was renowned for her groundbreaking work in education and psychology, and for pioneering a fiercely committed relationship with her partner and wife, Marilyn Mehr, that spanned over 55 years. She passed away in New York City at age 93 after contracting pneumonia.

Betty was a consummate New Yorker, often joking about her childhood in the Bronx and offering quick-witted retorts for every situation. She didn’t suffer fools, and those who loved her all have a story about her sharp sense of humor.

One example came while Betty and Marilyn were helping to plan a protest in the 1970s. Marilyn asked whether celebrities attending should sing at a march, including Patty Hearst. Betty interjected: "Oh, stop! You know she can’t sing!”

In 1977, when Marilyn showed Betty an invitation to an all-women prom hosted at a major hotel, they initially thought the event was a joke. Upon discovering it was real, Betty remarked: “Oh, those dreamers! Don’t count on me!”

In her retirement, Betty enjoyed holding court with friends and, on occasion, with Marilyn’s extended family. Her grand-nieces and grand-nephews delighted in her wit and charm, and they found her to be an excellent B.S. detector.

Betty Ann Walker was born in the South Bronx in 1932, where she overcame a challenging childhood to dedicate her life to intellectual and social pursuits. Her life was immeasurably changed when she was selected by a special outreach program for students to attend Hunter College High School. She often referred to herself as “Good Betty,” the girl who “crossed the Harlem River on the 3rd Avenue El to attend Hunter.” She also completed her undergraduate work there.

She began her professional life teaching and counseling students in New York City schools from 1954 to 1963. Dr. Walker received an award for outstanding service with the United Federation of Teachers after participating in the first teachers’ strike in 1960. Driven by a desire to help students facing emotional problems, she pursued psychology, earning her Ph.D. in counseling psychology from the University of Southern California (USC) in 1971. She then joined the USC faculty.

During the height of the Vietnam War, Dr. Walker accepted a position teaching college-level courses for the military and civilian personnel in Frankfurt, Germany, as part of USC's overseas program. Upon returning to the U.S. in 1974, she resumed her faculty duties at USC while actively engaging in women's and gay rights issues. She helped found significant social action groups, including the Gay Academic Union and the Lesbian Psychologists and Municipal Elections Committee of L.A. (MECLA). Her commitment to advocacy continued throughout her career; she later served on the board of GLAAD.

In 1994, Dr. Walker joined the Family Medicine Department faculty at the University of Kentucky Medical School as Behavioral Scientist and Director of Education, where she developed an addiction recovery program for health care professionals. A prolific scholar, she published extensively in peer-reviewed journals. Her notable co-authored book with Dr. Mehr, “The Courage to Achieve,” documented the lives of intellectually gifted women. She retired in 1997, and lived for most of the last 25 years on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, near what she called “Hospital Row” on York Avenue.

Dr. Walker's commitment to living honestly defined her personal life, particularly her enduring relationship with Dr. Marilyn Mehr. Their courtship began in 1970 when they met during a graduate seminar at USC. Starting in the 1970s, their union was unusual in its longevity for LGBTQ+ couples of the era.

Their early years were marked by the necessity of living “in exile” due to societal homophobia and shame, hiding their feelings from family and pretending to be straight. The pressures of this deceit led to deep challenges, including internal crises exacerbated by alcohol. Following a serious incident on New Year’s Eve in 1977, Dr. Walker bravely committed to sobriety and began attending AA meetings. Together, they confronted their self-deceptions, entered therapy, and resolved to live openly.

Friends of the couple often witnessed the playful banter and laughter they shared. Once, when a waiter asked if her then girlfriend Marilyn was her sister, Betty immediately responded: “No, my mother.”

Dr. Walker demonstrated immense courage, coming out to her family and openly resisting professional threats based on her sexuality. The public culmination of their enduring commitment arrived in 2011, eight years after Massachusetts recognized same-sex marriage. Following New York State’s similar law, Dr. Walker and Dr. Mehr applied for a marriage license in August 2011 and were married that September at the Bronx County Courthouse.

The core ideal of her life—living honestly—guided their partnership until the end.

Dr. Walker is survived by Marilyn, a host of longtime friends and relatives. Details on a memorial service will follow. In lieu of flowers, donations to Hunter College are welcome.