Beth Lois Belasco Newman, 66, passed away peacefully in Rockville, Maryland, on Aug. 19 from complications following a stroke. She was born on Nov. 14, 1958, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Bernice Knabel Belasco and Norman Belasco. In 1963, Beth moved with her family to Houston, Texas, when her father went to work at NASA as a biomedical engineer.
Beth graduated with highest honors from both Houston’s Bellaire High School and the University of Houston, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Spanish – teacher education, and was recognized for her academic excellence by being installed in the Phi Kappa Phi national honor society. Beth’s career in education spanned four decades, both in the classroom at institutions such as Houston’s St. John’s School and The Emery/Weiner School, and Maryland’s Berman Hebrew Academy, and as a private tutor in mathematics, English and test preparation which helped hundreds of students — many of whom stayed in contact with her long after they graduated — achieve academic success and prepare for careers in all manner of fields. Beth was often stopped while shopping or running errands by former students who thanked her for teaching them.
In 1988, Beth and her husband emigrated to Israel and lived on a kibbutz in the northern part of the country. They returned to United States following the birth of their first child later that year and settled in Montgomery County, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C. It was there Beth called home for the rest of her life, helping raise four more children and the many cats that shared the house with the family.
Beth was passionate about her family, loved animals, chatting with friends around the world, playing word games, keeping up with current events and most of all, travel. Among her favorite places she visited in her journeys — many taken with her children so that they could experience the same joy she had for travel — were the United Kingdom, Iceland, Italy, Morocco, Spain, Portugal, Czechia, Canada, Mexico, Aruba, Puerto Rico, Venezuela and her beloved Israel.
Beth was preceded in death by her parents and older brother. She is survived by her husband of 46 years, Michael, four sons and a daughter, one grandson, a sister and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in Beth’s name to Magen David Adom emergency medical organization, the Jewish National Fund or an animal shelter of the donor’s choosing. Services entrusted to Shomrei Neshama of Greater Washington.