Community activist and mother of seven, Elizabeth A. Conlon died at the age of 89 on June 20. Conlon will forever be remembered as a woman with strong convictions whose community spirit brightened the lives of many in the Village of Mineola.

There was a time, years ago, when women weren't as accepted in the political arena as they are today. It was leaders like Conlon who stood up and demanded respect and ultimately got it not only for herself but for future generations. At the same time, she maintained her family values and cherished the things that were most important like dinnertime with her family.

Conlon was also a charter member of the Mineola Leisure Club, which said a prayer for their fellow member.

Conlon was the youngest of nine children. She was born and raised in Manhattan and moved to Flushing, Queens when she was a teenager. She met her husband Joseph at camp. The couple would later marry and move to Mineola in 1948 to a home on Latham Road, which would become their cherished home.

In Mineola, she became a community activist, fighting for and against issues she believed strongly in. She had a great impact on the members of her family. Her daughter Elizabeth A.J. Conlon would go on to become a village trustee, serving from 1995 until 2003 when she moved to Ridge.

"I don't think she ever missed a school board meeting," said Elizabeth A.J. Conlon about her mother, who was affectionately called Betty.

One of the issues Betty fought for was all-day school budget votes. Years ago, the school budget was voted on after a school board meeting. Betty insisted on a machine vote during the entire day.

"She felt the school was run like a closed shop. She wanted to open things up," said Elizabeth A.J. Conlon.

Betty Conlon and her friend Betty Cappa fought for and were successful in helping to establish the new system of voting. "They worked at it until they finally won it and they had machine voting in Mineola for the school budget," said Elizabeth A.J. Conlon.

Betty Conlon and Betty Cappa became known as the "Terrible Two" or the "Two Bettys" for their persistence.

Betty Conlon also became involved in Mineola politics helping to form, along with Nick Mortensen, the Taxpayers Independence Party, one of the first opposition parties to the Citizen's Party.

"If she felt something was unfair or wrong for the citizens, she didn't sit back. She was right there," said Elizabeth A.J. Conlon. "It was never a personal thing with her. It was always what was fair for the community. That's how I got involved."

The party would become successful as the late Ann Galante would be elected to the village board of trustees and then later become the first and only woman mayor in Mineola history.

Betty's influence would effect others including her own daughter who was elected to the board of trustees in 1995. "I may not have gotten involved in community service. What she did for the schools and politics in the village, it was a good example for us. I think that was an important lesson," said Elizabeth A.J. Conlon.

But aside from politics and getting involved in trying to improve the schools, Betty Conlon loved spending time with her family. In the summertime, she would write plays for the neighborhood children to perform.

A full-time, stay-at-home mom, Betty Conlon proved that a woman and mother could effect change and have an impact on the community with hard work and perseverance. "She really was ahead of her time. She was part of the women's liberation before that was even mentioned. She was just one of those people who wanted to be out there making her mark and she did it without a college education and without work experience," said Elizabeth A.J. Conlon. "She managed to expand her life."

One elected official Betty Conlon had an effect on early in life was Assemblyman Tom DiNapoli, who grew up in Mineola and was a successful candidate for Mineola School Board.

Upon hearing of Betty Conlon's death, the assemblyman sent a letter to Elizabeth A.J. In the letter, he said, "I so admired the two Bettys for their tenacious advocacy for all-day voting on machines and they won that reform. I was always so grateful for the confidence, support and friendship Betty extended to me. Your mother was steadfast in her values and views. She was a person of true integrity and determination. She lived her life with high values and expected no less from others."

Elizabeth A.J. recalled her mother's modest upbringing and her childhood and how her family didn't have much money, but there was always a birthday to celebrate; Christmas always came with a tree and gifts. "There's was a special cake she made for each one of us on our birthdays," she said. "She was one of a kind."

Elizabeth A.J. recalled how her mother tried to learn how to drive. She wasn't very good at it and even took out a hedge. She ended up not being able to drive. But true to form, she always got where she needed to go.