by Karen Dugan Holman, B.S., B.S.E., M.S.
I believe we can all agree on several things. One, the last two years have
been like the stench of a pigpen that hangs in the air on a hot, humid Oklahoma summer day. Two, we all need a hero in our lives from time to time to swoop down and save us. For many of us, our heroes are our family members with fur. Three, humor can help us through the tough situations that life throws our way. When it all comes down to it, maybe we should all strive to be more like Betty White.
Do you wonder why the world loved Betty White? Why did we all mourn when she passed just short of her 100th birthday? Betty lived her life as if each day were her last. One of her quotes was, “At my age, don’t buy green bananas!” She was funny but often direct. She had the uncanny ability to turn off the humor and get real. When she was asked what she had not had in Hollywood, she said, “Robert Redford.” When asked what she did not go to bed without, she said, “My Golden Retriever, since I cannot have Robert Redford, it seems!” Then she quickly got serious and began to share her description of passion and responsibility.
Growing up as a kid in the 1960s and
1970s, when we had a snow day or stayed home “sick,” we watched TV all day. Today when children miss school, they have distance learning and must complete academic work on their computers. Oh, what the kids of today are missing! We watched countless reruns of sitcoms such as The Partridge Family, Batman, and The Munsters, to name a few. Then there were soap operas and game shows. One of those riveting game shows was Password. This was one of my first recollections of the blonde lady with the fastest wit on TV, Betty White. I realized that I did not have the ability to be funny at lightning speed — Betty speed. Betty White, born in 1922, had talent and a dazzling smile that brought joy to millions.
The Mary Tyler Moore Show was another favorite memory that involved White. Betty White, portraying Sue Ann Nivens, the superficially cheerful character of “The Happy Homemaker” segment of the show, gave Moore and all the other characters a run for their money. Her character was a bit naughty, mouthy, judgmental, and downright cruel at times. After chewing you up and spitting you out, she could turn on a dime and be syrupy sweet. She did not always play nice and did not let others push
her around. But in typical Betty fashion, she was funny and quick. She was completely opposite of how women were expected to behave in that era. Betty White was revolutionary at the time.
Then came The Golden Girls. Four unlikely friends formed an intertwining bond. The conversations and bond circled around love and laughter, and of course cheesecake with a gallon of ice cream. White’s character, Rose Nylund, was full of love, disliked bickering, and had an uncanny ability to hold a serious face when no one else could. Her love of animals was evident in several episodes. She often brought shelter animals home to meet the girls. Baby, a very large pig, homesick and depressed, shared her bed, covers and all. She worked tirelessly to get Baby sent back to her home. We were drawn ever closer to her.
Hot in Cleveland was White’s next opportunity that allowed us to get to know her. She played the caretaker of a home that three close friends shared. Once again, her quick wit was prominent, and we watched as she began to date at age 80. In the movie The Proposal, White played the matriarch of the family. She was again tough, tender, and witty.
Off the Script
In an interview, White stated that she rarely followed a script. She ad-libbed, and if people did not like it, too bad. She played in many sitcoms, movies, and game shows, winning many awards for her talents. What grit and gumption Miss Betty possessed! At age 88, she became the oldest host of Saturday Night Live, for the “40th Anniversary Special.” Many people had written in requesting that she be the host. She jokingly said she really did not know what all the fuss was about on Facebook, and honestly, with that cute expression and seriousness, “Facebook seems like a waste of time.” She won another Emmy for her performance. Again, she was not afraid to call it as she sees it. Honesty with a big dose of genuineness is an endearing trait that drew us even closer. She was a trailblazer for others to emulate.
Did you know that White’s dream was to be a zookeeper? She invested her time, money, and heart to help improve the welfare of all animals. She worked tirelessly to improve animal habitats and save endangered species. She met and communicated with many animals, including Koko the gorilla, who loved her. Koko could sign a thousand words, including White’s nickname, Lipstick. Koko signed that name each time White visited. White collaborated with animal behaviorist Jane Goodall in development of the chimpanzee habitat at the Los Angeles Zoo.
Enhancing the Welfare
White’s mission was to enhance the welfare of the species and to secure funding. She also supported numerous rescue groups, service dog organizations, and animal health research foundations, serving on many boards of directors. She jokingly explained, “I stayed in show business to pay for my animal business.” Her passion for animals was fueled by her belief that animals do not lie or criticize. She believed she could read people by how they put their hands on an animal. White achieved more honors and awards for her “animal business” than for show business.
White wrote and collaborated on several publications. She shared a vision with actor Tom Sullivan, her friend of many years, who had lost his sight as an infant. Together: A Story of Shared Vision was a book based on true-life events. Dinah, a guide dog suffering from burnout, needed a replacement. The welfare of the dog was at risk, and in true form, Dinah became the newest member of the White family. But it did not stop there; White ensured that a new guide dog was matched to replace Dinah. White supported and served Guide Dogs for the Blind for most of her years. She was a young 89 years old when she scooped up Ponti, her Golden Retriever, to become a member of the White family. Ponti was a service dog in need of a new home.
In addition, White had many other animals in her long life that she called family. Her desire was that everyone finds a passion and legacy, just as animals were hers. She was humble, full of grit and gumption, a friend to all, honest, and most important to her, passionate and loving. She wanted people to remember her for her comedy, but mostly for her involvement with the improvement of animals’ lives. She was confident in the fact that she identified who she was and what her legacy would be. She was genuine and left a legacy.
I believe Betty White was often playing her true self in her roles as an actress. What drew me into her might not be the same for you. Listening to her heartfelt plea for all of us to find our passion and to leave a legacy moved me. As an animal behaviorist, I felt
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a bond with her because we shared an ability to communicate comfortably with animals. We shared an appreciation for the human-animal bond and the welfare of every animal. I understood her love of the animal world and the sense of responsibility to help animals that cannot defend themselves. Her long life enabled her to experience our world, and she believed humans were failing the animal kingdom. We need to be more humane. Her serious conversations seemed to always end in humor. She would remind us she is still working on Robert Redford, but her Golden Retriever was all she needed to stay warm at night. She left a deep footprint on our world.
Betty White has been a hero to many of us throughout our lifetime. Her grit, gumption, and wit helped us to forget the burdens we often face. I envision her bigger-than-life persona and smile, wading through a sea of wagging tails as she enters the pearly gates of heaven. My hope is that we can all accept her challenge to find our passion and to contribute to our world.
Happy tails, Karen
