Betty Colleen Corson

Betty Collen Corson of Boca Raton, Florida, passed away Thursday, May 30, 2019. Betty lived a long, fun-loving life focused on family, friends and the community. Her go-to response when asked about her April birth date, “Age is just a number and mine is unlisted!”

Born in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, she grew up in a small town outside of Pittsburgh, PA. After graduation from Avonworth High School, she studied medical technology at Point Park College.  She worked as a hospital laboratory technician for many years and medicine remained a lifelong passion.  She often joked of her skill at “hitting the hard to get veins.”

Betty relocated to South Florida in 1972 and switched professions to become a licensed Yacht and Ship Broker, specializing in yacht charters.  From 1982 to her passing, she was President of Betty Corson Yacht Charters. Inc., where her clients included numerous Hollywood celebrities, Fortune 500 businesses and even a Saudi prince. Along side her daughter, Colleen, she ran her business through the Boca Raton Resort and Club for 9 years, coordinating boats for club members and hotel guests. For many years, she was the exclusive charter broker to the Ritz Carlton and Breakers Hotel. As an active member of the Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce, she was an organizer for the Boca Raton Boat Parade in the late 1980’s to early 1990’s. Betty was also a key charter broker for Ft. Lauderdale’s Winterfest Boat Parade. She was a pioneer in the yacht charter industry and set the standard for professional charter brokers.

As a professional meeting planner and self taught photographer, Betty was an active volunteer for many years for the FAU University Club, Hospice by the Sea, Boca Raton Regional Hospital and the FAU Wellness Center. She attended Grace Community Church and was a longtime member of the Boca del Mar Country Club (Via Mizner).  Betty was blessed with a multitude of friends who brought great joy to her life, as she did to theirs.

Betty always said that her greatest accomplishment was the family tree she created with her daughter and grandchildren, whom she adored. Betty is survived by her beloved daughter, Colleen DiDonato and husband, Vince; the grandchildren she treasured, Sean Simpson (and fiancé Tasha Lopez), Katie Simpson (and fiancé Cody Rivers), Kyle DiDonato, Brooke Mullis (and husband Bryan); brother Bill Klug (and wife Cartoon); sisters Janet Klug and Regina Lahndorff; nieces and nephews Sally Hennessey (and husband Neil), Crystal and Kaitlyn Trout and Champion.

Funeral services will be held at the Glick Family Funeral Home, 3600 North Federal Highway, Boca Raton, FL 33431 on Friday, June 7th. Visitation is from 4pm-6:30pm followed by a memorial service at 6:30pm.  Private interment will be at the Boca Raton Mausoleum.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to St Jude Children’s Hospital at StJude.org or via the link:  https://www.stjude.org/donate/donate-to-st-jude.html?cID=14262&pID=24671&frequency_selected=2&sc_icid=mem-lp

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