Dr. Elizabeth Louise Girardi, PPSEAWA International President 1994-2000, passed away on November 30, 2011 at her home in Kenilworth, IL, USA.
Elizabeth Louise Girardi, familiarly known as Betty-Lou, was a Systematic Malacologist and her research work in that field took her to 25 different Pacific Islands, which led her interests to PPSEAWA.
She was a member of the Chicago chapter of PPSEAWA USA. Betty-Lou served two terms as PPSEAWA USA National President before being elected as the International President. She represented PPSEAWA at a number of CSW (Conference on the Status of Women) meetings and served as member of the UN CoNGO (Conference of Non Government Organizations) board in Vienna and New York.
Betty-Lou devoted many years to PPSEAWA and was instrumental in highlighting and promoting the organization at the UN as well as in the Pacific Islands and Asia.
She will be missed by all PPSEAWA members who had the opportunity to meet her.