Jonathan R Zall Betz-Zall

Profile Updated: June 3, 2024
Class of 1968
Currently residing In Seattle, WA USA
My Website & Facebook/Media ecolibrarian.org
View Website
Spouse/Partner Rose E Betz-Zall
Children, Grandchildren Marissa, born 1977, David, born 1980
Grandchildren Gavin, born 2013 and Ronan, born 2018
Occupation Title Reference Librarian, Public LibraryRetired Librarian, College Instructor, Financial Coordinator [volunteer]
SPHSAA Membership Reminder

Renew by 9/30 to receive Tiger Tales 2024. See Home Page for easy payment options.

High School Leadership

Commissioner Finance

Occupation(s), Career Details

Returned to public library world as a substitute, 2024-, College instructor (community colleges) since 2002, retired Dec 2018 Academic librarian since 2000, retired Dec 2016, Public librarian (mostly children's services) 1977-2000. Corporate librarian 1976-77, small business 1972-1974. Very active with American Library Association and Washington [state] Library Association, as well as peace and social justice organizations. Board Treasurer of Community Coalition for Environmental Justice in Seattle 2004 -2012, Nakani Native Program 2017-2022.

Further education, training, certification(s) since High School

Earned BA in Economics at Swarthmore College, Pennsylvania, 1968. Earned Master of Librarianship degree at University of Washington, Seattle, 1976. Earned Master of Arts in Environment and Community, Antioch University Seattle, 2002.

Other South Pasadena schools I also attended

Oneonta Elementary
South Pasadena Junior High

Different places I have lived

Philadelphia, PA 1968-74 and 1978-85, Ogden, UT 1974-75, San Francisco, CA 1976-78, Seattle, WA 1975-76 and 1985-present.

Family history living in South Pasadena

Moved to SP in 1957 at the age of 7 years, left for college in 1968 but visited several times a year until my parents died and both brothers (Andy Zall SPHS '70 and Barnaby Zall SPHS '71) moved away. My father retired from teaching at Cal State LA in the 1980s but researched and wrote books at the Huntington Library until he died in 2010. My mother volunteered at the SPJHS library, then became a librarian for SP Public Library until laid off in 1978. She then cataloged manuscripts at the Huntington Library until retirement in the early 1990s. She served on the SP Animal Commission for many years and died in 2018.

Family members who also went to SPHS

Andrew Zall, class of 1970, Barnaby Zall, class of 1971.

Other SPHS graduates I keep in touch with are:

Brad Bryce 1968, Melinda Chase Cook 1968, Eric Chase 1967, Walt Chesbro 1968, Barb Weismann 68, Robin Reed 69, Michael Wardlow 68, Harold Gerletti 68, Glenn Priest 68, Peter Gillies 68, Pamela Cawley Martinez 68, Patte Nafius 69, Gayle Flaherty 68, Lorie Luckenbill Billingham 68

School Memories

Serving as Commissioner of Finance. I've served several nonprofit organizations as treasurer since then--SPHS got me started!
Working so hard to earn a varsity letter; finally earned one in Tennis just a few weeks before graduation!

Organizations, clubs, sports, other groups I've been in at school &/or since

Band, Bengals, various sports teams

Milestones & Epiphanies

Got involved with Quakers in the late 1960s and am still very active with them.
In 1976 I was so inspired by the book "Ecotopia" by Ernest Callenbach that I resolved to spend the rest of my life trying to establish that ideal society, and I'm still doing it with some visible successes. Bought an electric car in 2021 after 6 years of car-free life.

Pastimes & Hobbies

Go to lots of meetings! Spending too much time on Facebook.
Organize gatherings with the Northwest Intentional Communities Association, serving as board chair and treasurer.

Favorite Music, Songs, Bands

Pat Humphries, Carrie Newcomer. I co-lead a neighborhood sing-along group that performs each year at the Northwest Folklife Festival in Seattle. We use the "Rise Up Singing" songbook which works great if you have a good memory for tunes.

Favorite Books, Magazines, Movies, TV, Websites, YouTubes, etc,

Resmaa Menakem explains a lot of what's going on with our country's soul.

[Date] What's happening in my life now

Treasurer of several nonprofit organizations, including one that's building bridges between Native American cultures and non-natives and one supporting people living in intentional communities.

One last comment...

My writings, articles, & books: Over 150 book reviews in library professional publications, plus Betz-Zall, J. (1998). "Meta-politics" at bright morning star. Communities, (100), 43-44. Betz-Zall, J. (2002). "It takes a village...". Communities, (114), 31.

Jonathan R's Latest Interactions

Jun
03
Jun 03, 2024 at 10:04 AM
Posted: Dec 16, 2013 at 9:30 PM