A tribute to Betsy Stolz (1941–2026)

The Department of Economics at Stellenbosch University mourns the passing of Betsy Stolz, who died on Sunday, 3 May 2026, after a short illness, at the age of 84. Betsy was an exceptional lecturer, a valued colleague and a generous mentor who touched the lives of generations of students at both Stellenbosch University and the University of the Western Cape.

Betsy joined the Department of Economics at Stellenbosch at a time when it had already existed for some 60 years, yet had had only one earlier female lecturer. Her appointment by Professor Jan Sadie, who remembered her as one of his outstanding former students, was therefore significant in a department that had, until then, included very few women academics. Although Betsy had already been teaching at Varsity College and elsewhere, her appointment at Stellenbosch marked the beginning of a long and influential career in university teaching.

 

She soon established herself as a dedicated lecturer and mentor. Her main teaching field was undergraduate microeconomics, but she also had a strong interest in public economics, which she taught at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Students remember her not only for the clarity of her teaching but also for the time she gave them. She had a particular concern for students across the full ability range, including those who found economics difficult. She helped many to build confidence, think more clearly and recognise their own potential.

Betsy’s lasting contribution was not primarily through formal research outputs, but through her sustained commitment to students. She had a good eye for talent, often identifying promising students from institutions such as Varsity College and the University of the Western Cape and encouraging them to continue their studies at Stellenbosch. Many of these relationships continued long after graduation.

After retiring in the 1990s, Betsy remained closely connected to both Stellenbosch University and the University of the Western Cape, where her husband taught in a sister department. She continued to mentor students and to support them in practical, academic and personal ways, often quietly and without public recognition. Much of her influence came through conversation: she listened carefully, asked about students’ circumstances, interests and ambitions and offered guidance that was both thoughtful and direct. 

Betsy was also a valued colleague within the department. She was often asked to read and comment on student essays across a wide range of fields, not because she specialised in all of them, but because she had an unusual ability to engage thoughtfully with work across sub-disciplines and to help students express their ideas more clearly. Colleagues and students valued her judgement and the care with which she responded to their work. She continued to play this role until shortly before her death.

She considered pursuing a PhD, but ultimately chose to devote her energy to teaching and mentorship. In doing so, she contributed to the department’s culture of careful teaching and close engagement with students. The department today has strong female representation, a marked contrast with the environment in which she began her career. Its continued concern for students reflects values that Betsy embodied throughout her academic life.

Beyond the university, Betsy was also actively involved in the classical music life of the Western Cape. Her interests and friendships extended well beyond academic life and she brought to them the same commitment and enjoyment that characterised her work with students. She also remained physically active for many years, running half-marathons with members of her family.

Family was central to Betsy’s life. She took great pride in her two daughters, one a teacher educator and the other an internationally recognised concert flautist, and she remained closely involved in the lives of her grandchildren. Across these different parts of her life, she showed a sustained interest in people and in their development.

During her final illness, colleagues and former students stayed in close contact with her and with the family. This reflected the deep bonds she had built over many decades. The large attendance at her funeral testified to the breadth of her influence and to the many relationships she had sustained over the years.

Betsy Stolz will be remembered as an economist, teacher, mentor and colleague whose warmth and generosity left a lasting impression on many.

(Article by Prof. Servaas Van der Berg)