A remembrance celebration and tree planting to honor Bettina Zoeller Richmond will be held May 12 at WKU.
Richmond, a Bowling Green resident and member of the mathematics faculty at WKU, was killed Nov. 22. Her murder remains under investigation.
“Bettina Richmond was a part of many people’s lives,” Laura Rogers, a friend and fellow math faculty member, said. “She was an accomplished mathematician, a student, and a teacher, in addition to her cherished roles as mother, wife, daughter, and sister. She also was a friend and colleague to many. We all were shocked when her life was so tragically cut short last November.”
A remembrance celebration, including a display and the opportunity to record memories in a video scrapbook, will be held at the WKU Faculty House from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. May 12. That will be followed by the planting of an oak tree in Richmond’s memory in the green space adjacent to Science and Technology Hall at 5 p.m.
“We invite all who knew Bettina personally or professionally to join us in a remembrance at the WKU Faculty House,” friend and colleague Barry Brunson said. “All who attend are invited to participate in a ‘video scrapbook’ by making a brief statement or recalling a personal anecdote.”
Those having photos of Richmond, or video clips, letters, or other forms of memorabilia that they would be willing to share, can submit them until April 2. “We would like to copy them and include them,” Brunson said. “We will include appropriate items in a scrapbook that, together with the video scrapbook, will be given to the family.”
Call (270) 745-3652 or email laura.rogers@wku.edu if you plan to attend, to request directions or further details, or to offer contributions of memorabilia.
Richmond was found in her van in the parking lot of Bowling Green Parks and Recreation the night of Nov. 22. Surveillance video shows her leaving the Parks and Recreation building that evening. Her identification card was later found on Crewdson Drive in Bowling Green.
Family and friends have established a reward fund of up to $10,000 for information leading to the arrest and indictment of the person or persons responsible for Richmond’s death. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Bowling Green Police at (270) 393-4000. Those who wish to remain anonymous can call South Central Kentucky Crime Stoppers at (270) 781-CLUE or (866) 842-CLUE.
Those wishing to contribute to the reward fund can email RichmondReward@gmail.com and can find more information on the “RichmondReward” Facebook page.
Contact: Department of Mathematics, (270) 745-3652.
