Beryl H (Hatt) Moyer

Beryl Hatt Moyer

Photo taken at her 100th birthday party.

Beryl was born on Nov. 20, 1914 in Chatham, NJ to (Agnes) Beryl Miller Hatt and Joel William Hatt. Lovingly referred to as “Baby” by her family, she was the youngest of four; Ruthie Hatt Berry, Helen Hatt Joiner, and John Hatt predeceased her. She went to Kent Place School in Summit, NJ and loved every minute of her time there. Always smiling, Beryl was everyone’s friend including Rosie O’Reilly with whom sat on the bench at field hockey games and laughed uproariously. In her teenage years, during the Depression, she and her family moved to The Suburban Hotel (owned by her father) in Summit, NJ. She had fond memories of late night raids to the kitchen dessert stash with friends. After Kent Place, she attended secretarial school in New York City and later worked at an investment firm in the city where she flourished.

Beryl met her husband, Benton L. Moyer Jr, while young teenagers running a summer swimming program at her parents’ house. They eventually married in 1939. Their early married years were spent in Madison, NJ where their three children were born. In 1954, Beryl and Ben moved to Franconia, following his dream to be in NH near his alma mater, Dartmouth College.

In Franconia, Beryl was active in the White Mountain Garden Club, where she was a two-time President. Her gardens were her pride and joy, and she spent many happy hours toiling in them and instructing her children in weeding and dead-heading. She worked as a Librarian for the White Mountain School and later served as a trustee for many years. Additionally, she was a trustee of Copper Cannon Camp in Bethlehem, NH. The Profile Club was an important part of hers and Ben’s life. She could often be found at ladies events, bridge nights, or, in later years, patiently allowing herself to be driven in the golf cart by her grandchildren. An avid bridge player, she put her formidable math skills to work in weekly games. Her many friends were very important to her; as recently as last month, she attended her weekly “Friday Ladies Lunches, ” an institution she started with Marge Perlo and Marge Struhsacker more than 30 years ago. Beryl had fun in life – she was full of energy and could light up the room with her warm smile, twinkle in her eye, and glamour. She loved chocolate, dogs, grammar, Camp Quinibeck, parlor games, dancing (including teaching ballroom dancing with Evie Whitney), Dartmouth football, swimming, cross-country skiing and long walks, paddle tennis, traveling with Jack Foley and Bob Huckins, and watching Tiger and Phil play golf.

Beryl was loyal and keenly interested in and supportive of the lives of her husband, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren as well as her many friends. She listened well and loved to hear stories about those she loved. Even in her later years (and at the age of 100!), she closely followed the daily lives of her children, grandchildren, (grand dogs), great-grandchildren, spoke often with them on the phone, reached out at every birthday and milestone, and attended all the important events. She also started many wonderful family traditions, including the Night Before Christmas reading, “wait and see pudding,” “spoons,” charades, “pass the quarter,” “pass the shoe,” and “napkins.” Even her great grandchildren quickly learned to put their napkins on their heads at random times during meals so as to keep up with her!

Beryl is survived by her sons, Ben Moyer and his wife Frannie Moyer of Brookline, MA, Peter Moyer and his wife Gricel Moyer of Brookline, MA, and her daughter, Nancy Dingman and her husband Tom Dingman of Cambridge, MA. She had eight grandchildren: Benito Moyer, Bill Moyer, Annie Moyer Martinez, Pete Moyer, Nolly Del Valle, Manual Del Valle (deceased), Kathryn Dingman Boger, and Allie Dingman Richardson. She also had seven great grandchildren as well as four nieces and two nephews. In her later years, she had tremendous support from long-term caregivers, Barbara Hemingway and Anna Cross, both of Franconia, NH.

A memorial service will be held in the summer of 2016. Donations may be made in Beryl’s name to Copper Cannon Camp, 231 Gale River Road, Bethlehem, NH 03574, or coppercannoncamp.org

 Service Information