Bette and Jim O’Conor Leave a Legacy That Transforms Lives

By establishing the Bette Ellis O’Conor Humanities Program in 2009, Bette Ellis O’Conor ’46 and her husband Jim will impact our school and our students for years to come.

An avid reader and lifelong learner, Bette Ellis O’Conor ’46 had a passion for education and an immense love for Notre Dame Prep, where her daughters (Kristen ’70, Mary ’72, and Lauren ’77) also attended. This commitment to her alma mater manifested itself in a stellar gift she gave to our community—the Bette Ellis O’Conor Humanities Program. Her legacy lives on through this program and the students it transforms.

In 2009, Bette and her husband Jim established the Bette Ellis O’Conor Humanities Program, which challenges students to transcend the boundaries of traditional coursework through interdisciplinary classes. Humanities students learn in a collegial, dynamic environment that elicits passion for ideas and learning.

Starting sophomore year, they explore the relationships between disciplines, especially English, social studies, religion, art, and music. Faculty and students describe the program, which culminates in a Capstone project in the senior year, as life changing. As Lydia Spurrier ’16 explained, “Humanities has changed how I perceive and analyze the world around me, as well as cultivated a passion for learning.” Her classmate, Eliza Pietila ’16, agrees: “I’ve learned more in humanities than all of my other classes combined both about the world and about myself. I have learned to challenge everything I come across: people, ideas, and even my own preconceived thoughts.”

In addition to establishing the program, Bette and Jim made a provision to support it in their estate plan. They knew how important the program is to Notre Dame Prep and wanted to see it continue and grow in perpetuity. Jim and Bette understood that their financial support for additional faculty time, professional development, and other resources has been crucial and will be necessary to sustain the program into the future.

Bette O’Conor graced the halls of NDP as a student in the 1940s, and her spirit is alive today through the Bette Ellis O’Conor Humanities Program, which has challenged, inspired, and changed the lives of scores of young women. Thanks to Bette and Jim’s thoughtful planning, it will continue to do so for many years to come.