Tulsa businesswoman and community volunteer Bethany Bankson Bradford Colmar exemplified the power of lifelong learning by completing a bachelor’s degree at Oklahoma City University at age 55, fulfilling her longtime desire for a college education.
Colmar went on to become a professional organizer and established her own organizing service, Delegate. She also taught courses in organization at Tulsa Community College, Jenks Community Education, and Osher Life Long Learning. Her love of learning and personal development inspired her to attain the exclusive distinction of Linnaeus Gardener through the Tulsa Garden Center and to complete the rigorous certificate program in Women’s and Gender Studies from The University of Tulsa (2010).
Colmar’s enthusiasm for all things creative and aesthetic inspired her to pursue hobbies as diverse as reading, fly fishing and piano, and her personal pursuits often led to collaboration with others in a service capacity. She held volunteer board positions at organizations including Chamber Music Tulsa, Light Opera Oklahoma (LOOK), Friends of the Library, Big Brothers Big Sisters, the Linnaeus Teaching Garden and TU’s Homecoming Committee.
William A. Coberly, TU Professor Emeritus of Mathematics, was Colmar’s former husband and remained a dear friend at the time of her death in 2012. He honored her memory with the establishment of the Bethany Colmar Memorial Endowment for Women’s and Gender Studies.