Beatrice B. Ettinger was born in New Jersey in 1917, and she was educated at the University of Miami and the University of Miami Law School. She was active in a variety of organizations, notably as Vice President of the Florida League of Women Voters, Director of Region IV of the National Displaced Homemaker Network and Secretary of Learning Institute for Elders. Usually, Known as Bea, Ettinger was instrumental in establishing the Central Florida Educational Consortium for Women. Her achievements were honored by the local community as Orlando's Outstanding Woman of the Year in 1977, Woman of Achievement in 1979 and Community Leader of the Year in 1981. She was nominated for the Florida Women's Hall of Fame in 1982 and 1984.
In 1966, a group of women met to start a Council for Continuing Education for Women in Orlando. The organization aimed to encourage and assist women in continuing their education. It was run by volunteers until 1974 when it cooperated with the Valencia Community College to establish the Center for Continuing Education for Women. The Center created and sponsored programs on a variety of topics designed to assist women who wanted to further their education and possibly return to the work force. Ettinger was president of the Council and directed the Center until 1986 when Connie Fisher became Director. In 1991, the Council moved from Valencia Community College and entered into a new agreement with the University of Central Florida where it continued with its work in association with the Women's Studies Program.
From the guide to the Beatrice B. Ettinger, Papers, 1964-1998, (Special Collections and University Archives, University of Central Florida Libraries, )
