March 27, 2010 Elizabeth (Betty)Cushing Griffin Allinger went to be with our Lord. She passed peacefully surrounded by her family at Hospicare in Ithaca, New York. A long time residence of Longview at Ithacare, Betty was born in Albany, NY on September 5, 1916. Her family moved to Utica in 1917. She was educated in Utica schools and graduated from Utica Free Academy in 1934. Betty then attended Leland Powers School of Theater and Radio in Boston, Massachusetts, graduating in 1938. An accomplished actress she began her radio career at WHDH in Boston, Massachusetts. She was hired by WIBX, Utica, NY in August of 1939 and quickly became Director of Educational Programming for the station. During her tenure at WIBX she was the voice of Munger's Department Store. For 15 years Betty wrote, directed and produced radio dramatizations of the classics in literature called "Youth Presents"; this program was acted by area high school students. In the 1940's she was named Production Manager of WIBX and during the war years was announcer and control room operator and became one of the first women newscasters on radio. In 1955 she married Utica radio personality Ralph Allinger. While raising a family, she continued to produce radio programs for young people. Throughout her life she served in many leadership roles including the board of the NYS FM Network, first woman on the Board of Directors of the Utica YMCA and co-creator of the Mother's Club, the Parish Council at Our Lady of the Rosary, charter member of the Catholic Syracuse Diocesan Pastoral Council, and honorary recipient of the Twenty Outstanding Women You Should Know Award in Ithaca, NY, a volunterr for My Brothers Keeper in Dryden, NY and into her 90's an officer on the Board of Director of Longview at Ithacare. Her lifelong love of working with youth led to many years of teaching public speaking at Our Lady of Lourdes in Utica, NY, the creation of the Notre Dame/Utica Catholic Academy Speech Club and in her later years working with the students at Ithaca College, including a featured role in the National Award winning cellflix video "Assisted Living" by Zack Wilson. Betty was predeceased by her husband of 16 years Ralph C. Allinger Sr. and her parents Charles L. and Elizabeth Cushing-Griffin. She is survived by her children Ralph (Deborah) Allinger Jr., Michael (Sylvia) Allinger, Christopher (Brigid) Allinger, "adopted" Leona Perreault, beloved grandchildren Amanda, Leila, Jesstina, Jessie-Emma, Zachary, Stephen and Stephany and Great Grandchildren Anthony, Paige, Wyatt and Alyss. Betty is also survived by her cousin James Cushing of Phoenix, Arizona and many dear friends and colleagues. Friends may call on Tuesday, March 30th from 4 to 7 p.m. at Heintz Funeral Home, 1517 Whitesboro Street, Utica, NY. A Funeral Mass will be offered at Our Lady of the Rosary Church, Burrstone Road, New Hartford, NY on March 31st at 10 a.m. A Memorial Service is being planned for her Ithaca friends and colleagues. The date is to be determined. Please refer to centralnyobits.com and the Ithaca Journal. In lieu of flowers, it is Betty's wishes that memorials be made to Longview and Ithacare Community, 1 Bella Vista Drive, Ithaca, New York 14850.