Betty Roberts

Betty Phipps Roberts (Nurs ’53) has published her third book, In the Shadow of the Bridge. The historical novel answers the question, “Why were we so unprepared for Pearl Harbor?” Covering the year 1941, it is accurate right down to the price of eggs. and quotes Roosevelt, Churchill, Lindbergh and others. The book will be presented in the New York World Book Fair—if and when it is held.

Betty Phipps Roberts’ (Nurs ’53) book about Alzheimer’s, Midnight Chronicles, will be entered in the Frankfurt Book Fair in October, the largest and oldest book fair in the world, founded in 500, after the invention of the printing press. Roberts says, “My ‘advanced age’ never bothers me until I pick up the Virginia Magazine, turn to Class Notes and find the first listing as the ’60s. Where are the ’50s folks? Surely I’m not the only one still doing ‘stuff.’” 

Betty Roberts (Nurs ’53) published Midnight Chronicles, which tells the story of a strong man’s journey as he deals with Alzheimer’s day after day. Told through the eyes of his nurse/caregiver/wife, it relates the effect on his life and on the lives of his family from the early, undiagnosed stage one to the disability of stage seven. A member of the Apollo Team who helped put the man on the moon, he now forgets how to live like a man on earth.