Dr. Betty Siegel, who guided Kennesaw State University for 25 years as it became one of the biggest institutions of higher learning in Georgia, died Wednesday at the age of 89.
Here’s the official obituary released by the school. 
Siegel arrived at KSU in 1981, when it had 3,500 students and was transitioning from a junior college to a four-year, undergraduate degree-granting institution.
When she retired in 2006, KSU had 18,000 students and graduate programs. It’s currently the third-largest university in Georgia, with an enrollment of nearly 38,000 students, after merging with Southern Poly in Marietta in 2015.
In recent years, Siegel had been diagnosed with dementia, and in 2018, the East Cobb-based Aloha to Aging non-profit honored her at its inaugural gala event.
She had been cared for by her husband, Dr. Joel Siegel, who died in February 2019.
Dawn Reed, the Aloha to Aging Founder, said this when contacted by East Cobb News for comment about Siegel:
“Her energy and enthusiasm for not only life, but life-long learning was something to be revered. I had the great pleasure of working with Betty while serving on the KSU Caring Advisory Board 15 years ago.
“I remember I was struck vividly how the room immediately filled with high energy, big smiles and contagious laughter. I feel grateful to have had the opportunity to guide her and her family, years later, through her dementia journey.
“Betty brought that same energetic and fun-loving spirit to Aloha to Aging, Inc. programs, especially our ‘Aloha Day Club’ day respite. We felt so honored to pay tribute to the very deserving Betty Siegel at our 2018 Aloha Gala held at KSU.
“My heart goes out to her devoted and loving sons, David and Michael. I take comfort in knowing she will be reunited with the love of her life, her husband, Joel.”
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