Bernice “Bee” Barnes Fritz ’29

At 107, Bernice “Bee” Barnes Fritz ’29 is likely the oldest living Cornellian. Fritz was born in 1904 in Chester, Iowa, and now lives with one of her daughters in Ruidoso, N.M. She was valedictorian at her high school—something she laughs about, since there were only three in her graduating class. She attended Winona Teacher’s College and taught at a one-room schoolhouse in Huron, Iowa, while saving money to attend Cornell.

At Cornell, where she was a classmate of Cornell legend Paul K. “Scotty” Scott ’29, she studied Latin. She taught Romance languages at schools around Iowa and Illinois, including Pleasant Valley High School in Bettendorf, Iowa, where she retired. When she was in her 80s, Port Byron High School in Port Byron, Ill., lost their French teacher in the middle of the school year. Fritz was asked to fill in. She did, and stayed there for two more years.

At age 96 she took a world cruise with her younger sister. At 100, she went to China with her youngest daughter. For four years, she took groups of high school students to Europe over winter break.

Dawn Hopkins, Fritz’s youngest daughter, said her mother did volunteer work until she was 100 and drove until she was 104. “What a neat lady,” Hopkins said, “and she’s my mom!”

Fritz said it’s hard to pick a favorite destination but loved Easter Island, Bali, and anything in the British Isles.

In addition to travel, she’s been active in the community. She’s been a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Daughters of the Colonial Wars, Women Descendants of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery, New England Women, Mayflower Descendants, Magna Carta Society, Society of Charlemagne, Kings Daughters of Moline, Delta Kappa Gamma, and the National Rifle Association.