Betsy Gadd Boyd

BETSY GADD BOYD

February 27, 1929 - May 21, 2008

“Th e Last Open House” ...

Her smile, that deep raspy voice, laughter,

her joy for living life, inspired Betsy Boyd not

only to be a fi gure of life, but one who found

enjoyment making sure that all others were

taken care of fi rst. Like the famous greeter of

Laguna Beach, Betsy Boyd became the greeter

to so many on Balboa Island. Her love for

her three children, to her amazing friends of Newport, to each and

everyone of those summer tenants on Balboa Island, Betsy will always

be remembered, as memorable as John Wayne, Chick Iverson, the

Deans, the Ed Warmingtons, to the founders of La Cave, to Danny

at Th e Arches and Bill Hamilton’s Malarky’s as one of Newport’s most

favorite ladies. Betsy, fi lled with a room of her children and friends,

toasted a fi nal farewell at Hoag, this 21st day of May.

How do you say farewell to the favorite daughter of Balboa Island

and the biggest fan of Newport Beach who could always be heard

saying, Newport is the “Th e Playground of Th e World.”

Betsy raised three children – Susan, William and Daniel. In 1965

she began her career in Newport. Newport was then a close-knit

seaside village of 36,000 people with few markets and restaurants,

so anywhere you went you ran into people you knew. Betsy Boyd, as

most would call out to her on Balboa Island, and as her dear friend

Peter DeBaun coined, simply ol “B-Boyd” found real estate her game

and passion. She would never say I have a “new client” ... rather a new

friend. While the playground of the world was fi lled with mansions

to bungalows, dinghies to yachts, surfers to millionaires, Betsy would

befriend them all and all to Betsy. She would never judge a person by

the clothes they wore or the car they drove; she would greet them all

the same: “Honey, welcome to Balboa Island, my name is Betsy Boyd

and how may I help you?

Th is is how Betsy began her career and to the last day – driving her

cart – she would give it her all, and all she gave.

While Betsy would never want to be remembered as a living legend,

it was hard to avoid her. She would travel over that beloved Island

Bridge each day for more than 45 years. She was anxious to open her

offi ce, greet her friends, stroll from one rental to the next ensuring all

was good for her summer check-ins. She enjoyed her favorite meal

at Don’s Market – a cheeseburger with a Coke-Cola – then end her

day stopping in with one of her many friends for a sunset cocktail.

Betsy’s famous deep voice, big smile, laughter and endless energy

always made someone’s day a little happier and brighter. Th at was

Betsy’s inspiration to her long-time friends the Deans, Warmingtons,

Lyons, Hortons, Nashs, Evers, Salisburys, Leventholls, Briggs and

the Waynes, and so many more. It was through her friendships

that she measured her success. Growing up, she would always say

to her children: “Th e key to success is not one that can claim the

most ‘clients’,” but rather those who you can count true friends. Th e

State of California proudly retired her license; she not only earned

her stripes, but fulfi lled her wish, and that was making sure all who

crossed that Balboa Island bridge, would remember Balboa Island and

Newport Beach as “Th e Playground of Th e World.”

One of her greatest and fondest mentors was the late Chester

Salisbury. He and his family were one of the oldest treasures of Balboa

Island and they would always say “B-Boyd.” When someone walks

in that door, never mind the Bermuda shorts and the frozen banana,

always greet that person as if that would be the last person walking

in. Who would know then that Betsy’s career would see bay fronts

from $300,000 to $6,000,000. From Chester’s advice, she greeted and

treated everyone with the same grace and kindness. She was an agent

and business owner, but her career never brought as much happiness

and joy until she met her dear friend Jake Klos of Island Real Estate.

Mother would never refer to Jake as her “boss” or “broker” but rather

Betsy’s shipmate! As Jake would say, Betsy would take the helm

and make sure that every rental, every tenant and every owner was

satisfi ed, and right up to the very end she would answer that call after

hours. Whether it was a plumbing problem, handling a dispute, or

simply talking to one of her many friends on the Island, she would

be known as a hard-working professional, a single mother and a dear

friend to all with an endless supply of humor and good cheer.

Betsy was one of fi ve children. Next to her kids and friends, her

fondest love was for her father and mother, Peter and Annette Gadd.

One of her Father’s sayings would be, “Good-bye ... and I will see you

in the next life ...” Mother would always say: “Honey, I will see you in

the next life ...” And, yes, we will.

From her childhood in Sacramento to being raised at Uplifter’s

Ranch in Los Angeles to Eagle Rock, she attended USC, Westridge

School for Girls, then Colorado Springs College For Girls. She, like

her Mother, was a die-hard fan of SC’s football team and her beloved

Lakers; she would lock the door and watch them. She watched her

Lakers for the last time on the 17th of this month.

Her three children, two sisters, nieces and nephews and her beloved

friends were all there for Betsy when she set her fi nal course on the

21st day of May – her beloved journey – and her last “Open House.”

Betsy was not only a slice of Newport, she was the cake, the icing

and the candles, and all that knew her, knew her famed laughter,

smile, and were uplifted by her spirit – all that will be remembered.

Betsy could walk into any room, in any situation and fi ll it with cheer

and joy. To all those who knew her, Newport has lost a great lady, a

friend, an inspiration. To the love of her children, to that passion of

pleasing all that crossed her path, Balboa Island has lost their fondest

greeter.

Her children and friends will be honoring her journey on July 8th

at the St. John Vianney Chapel with a reception to follow at Island

Real Estate, all beginning at 11 a.m. Her request, rather than fl owers,

was to support the “Th e Servants of the 11th Hour” located at 3542

Governors Drive, San Diego, Calif. 92122, Attention: Pat Smith.

As that famous sign hanging over Th e Arches states, a place that

Betsy so loved: “Th e Joy of Life is Living It” ... and Betsy Boyd did

just that. She lived, lived it to the fullest, and we are all blessed by her

spirit that will be with all of us forever and forever. She will be in our

lives ... God Bless.