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- Obituary
Rochester: March 31, 2024. Predeceased by her parents, Howard L. and Mary Ruth Ulrich. She is survived by her brothers, William (Veronica) Ulrich and Stephen (Britt) Ulrich, nephews Jeffrey (Julie) Ulrich, Matthew Ulrich, niece Anne (Michael) Shea and several grandnieces and grandnephews.
At the time when Brenda Ulrich was a senior at Lockport Senior High School in 1956, the teaching profession primarily employed women, however, very few of them pursued an advanced degree. Over the next 30 years, not only would Brenda achieve her doctoral degree, but she would have an impact on both the methods and standards of education throughout the USA.
Brenda was a member of the first graduating class of the “new” Lockport High School on Lincoln Avenue, where she excelled as one of eight classmates - and the only young woman - to receive a New York State Regents Scholarship.
From a young age, Brenda aspired to a career in education. Aside from being a member of The Future Teachers of America at LSHS, she could look to her parents for inspiration. Her mother was a teacher in the one-room schoolhouse days in the countryside surrounding Lockport. Her father was a member of the Lockport Public School District’s Board of Education for 10 years, serving as its President in 1968.
Brenda applied her scholarship to SUNY Brockport and was conferred a Bachelor’s of Science degree in General Education in 1960. During her time at Brockport, she was on the Dean’s List all four years, was active in student government and was the editor of the yearbook, “The Saga.”
After attaining a Master’s Degree in Reading Development at Syracuse University, she then enrolled in the doctoral program at Arizona State University. Her Doctorate was awarded to her in 1974.
Dr. Beal then joined the Education Department of Humboldt State University, becoming the first woman with a Ph.D hired into the Education Department in the 60-year history of the institution.
One program at Humboldt State that she was particularly proud of is the nationally-recognized Indian Teacher Education Program. For 15 years, Dr. Beal taught a wide variety of classes and played a strong role in the evaluation of curriculum materials for Native American students that focused on teaching methods of cultural subjects.
For 10 years, Dr. Beal was a delegate to the California State Policy Council of the California Teachers Association (CTA). During much of that time, she was the Chair of the Credentials and Professional Development Policy Committee, setting the standards for qualifying for a teaching license in California and providing guidelines for professional advancement in education.
Reaching beyond the California State College system, Dr. Beal served as an examiner for the National Council on the Accreditation of Teacher Education College and University Programs. In this role, she led rigorous examinations of several institutions of higher learning to verify that their programs to instruct students to become teachers met high national standards.
After two decades at Humboldt State, Dr. Beal returned to Western New York and settled in Le Roy. She soon accepted a professorship in Reading Development at SUNY Genesee Community College in Batavia.
In her close to 50 years at the head of the classroom, Dr. Beal taught at the elementary, secondary, community college, undergraduate and graduate levels, a feat not matched by many educators.
Outside the classroom, Dr. Beal was a member of the Arcata California Historical Society, held the position of President of the SUNY Brockport Alumni Association, acted as Treasurer of the Women’s Council of the Rochester Institute of Technology, and was a Board Member and Docent of the Le Roy Historical Association.
Brenda was an active traveler to both foreign and domestic destinations. She was a big sports fan of a wide range of sports, but NFL football and the Buffalo Bills were a clear #1 favorite. Retirement did not squelch her thirst for learning; Brenda took numerous cruises and tours via Elderhostel and Road Scholar and attended classes at the Osher Lifelong Learning Association at RIT for many years.
A Celebration of Life will be held Monday, June 10th from 10AM-12PM at Anthony Funeral Chapel, 2305 Monroe Avenue, Rochester, NY.
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