Elizabeth (Beth) Cole Baranovich | Obituary

Published 4:10 pm Monday, July 19, 2010

A memorial service for Elizabeth (Beth) Cole Baranovich, long-time Bellevue resident and former teacher, will be held July 31 at 1:30 p.m. at The Samena Club in Bellevue. She died July 12, 2010 at age 74.

Mrs. Baranovich was born January 31, 1936 in Portland, Ore., to Arthur Robert Neiman and Mary Gaston Neiman, both deceased.

She was a 1957 University of Washington graduate, and served as treasurer of Delta Delta Delta sorority.

In her 38-year teaching career, Mrs. Baranovich taught in Seattle (Van Asselt, Highland Park and Beacon Hill) as well as Bellevue (Hillaire, Robinswood, Clyde Hill and Lake Hills) schools. She retired from Lake Hills Elementary in 1996.

She loved working with children and was active in family activities, often volunteering her time at the Samena Club, umpiring and keeping score at baseball games. She also loved her children’s swim meets and was a swim team mom to many. She also volunteered at Phantom Lake Elementary in her grandson Allan’s class.

Mrs. Baranovich liked to travel with her husband and family, as well as attending theater and Mariners games, and meeting with friends, especially fellow teachers from Lake Hills Elementary, who met regularly for over 20 years.

Mrs. Baranovich met her husband Dick and dated him in 1957-58. They went their separate ways, but he found her e-mail on a class list from Vancouver High School and contacted her after 45 years. Following e-mails and phone calls, they met again on New Year’s Eve 2001 and were married in June 2004.

Mrs. Baranovich is survived by her husband, Richard (Dick) Baranovich; son, Robert Cole (Kim); daughter, Mary Hayes (Douglas); grandchildren, Robert Cole, Roy Cole and Allan Hayes; and a brother, Arthur Neiman.

Her family suggests remembrances in her name to the American Cancer Society, PO Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK, 73123-1718 or www.cancer.org.

The Samena Club is located at 15231 Lake Hills Boulevard, Bellevue.