Beverly C. Mortenson, formerly of Verona, passed away at MedStar Washington Hospital Center on Friday December 11, 2020 at the age of 73. She was preceded in death by her father James Louis Crook,Jr, her mother Hilda Shaw Crook and her husband Eric L. Mortenson.
Beverly was born in East Orange in 1947 and grew up in Wyckoff, N.J. She attended Ramapo Regional High School, Rider College, William Paterson University and Fairleigh Dickinson University, receiving her undergraduate degree in Communication Arts and a masters degree in Communications.
Beverly began her professional career at the Ridgewood News in New Jersey as the youngest Women’s Editor in the state’s history. There she met her husband, Eric, who was a sports writer for the paper. The couple married in 1968, and settled in Verona, where Eric worked as the town’s director of recreation for more than 30 years.
During her years in Verona, Beverly was an active and well-loved member of the community, participating in many Recreation Department activities as well as being a member of the Junior Women’s Club, teaching cooking lessons at a local community center and serving on the Job Haines Home Board of Trustees.
After marriage, Beverly continued her career in the field of public relations for several large companies, including Exxon and Sharp and for a small advertising agency. Beverly loved fine dining and travel, making numerous trips to France and Italy with her husband. She loved the city of Paris.
Beverly developed her expertise in French cuisine and wine, but she had a true appreciation for all expertly prepared food, savoring the truffles served at an Alain Ducasse restaurant in Paris and relishing an Italian hot dog at Jimmy Buff’s in northern New Jersey in kind.
Pursuing her true passions of food, cooking and writing, Beverly eventually shifted her career and worked for many years as a newspaper food reviewer/columnist and as the manager of a King’s cooking studio. During her time at King’s, Beverly conducted her own cooking classes and brought many well-known chefs into the studio to do demonstrations. She was a member of several professional groups including the International Association of Cooking Professionals (IACP), served on the board of the New York Association of Cooking Teachers and was the recipient of a scholarship to the 2002 Greenbrier Professional Food Writers Symposium.
Following her husband’s death, Beverly moved to Frederick to be close to her younger sister and her family. Her great love for her family was evident in her many acts of generosity and support from shuttling her niece and nephews to activities and attending their numerous performances during their school years, to sharing her love and knowledge of music and food and culinary talent with her family.
She will be missed and remembered with enduring love and gratitude by her sister, Susan O’Grady of Frederick and her brother-in-law Michael O’Grady, niece Margaret O’Grady and nephews Patrick and Kevin O’Grady, also of Frederick. She is remembered with love by her cousin Bill Friars and family of Anchorage, Alaska; her sister-in-law Karen Petrini of Kingsland, Ga.; her life-long friend Linda Barnes of Leland, N.C.; and with affection by many neighbors and friends in and around Verona.
More than anything, Beverly will be remembered for her generous spirit and effervescent personality, which garnered her the nickname of “Bubbles” in her youth and endeared her to all who knew her throughout her life.
A family ash scattering and remembrance ceremony is planned for sometime in the future. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Little Paws Dachshund Rescue at P.O Box 175 Fruitland, MD or at their website.
