Betsy Rider, who, along with her family, was at the heart of the Otto Bookstore and downtown Williamsport, Pa., for decades, died July 10. She was 91. Her death marks the end of an era for one of the nation's longest-running independent bookstores.
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Rider's connection to the store began with her father, Jack Roesgen, who started working there in 1905 and purchased it in 1940. After his death in 1958, Rider took over operations and helped make the Otto Bookstore a cornerstone of the downtown community for generations. She was widely remembered for her weekly book reviews on the radio, her cherished annual on-air reading of "The Night Before Christmas," and her enthusiasm for introducing children to reading.
"Some of my earliest memories with reading always involved the Otto Bookstore," said current owner Kathryn Nassberg, recalling Rider's lasting influence on her own love of books. "It was a magical place for me that was always brimming with something new to discover."
Williamsport Mayor Derek Slaughter praised Rider's role in shaping the city's downtown culture: "Betsy Rider created what so many came to know as a true book lover's paradise in the heart of downtown Williamsport. Through her passion for literature and dedication to our community, she inspired generations to discover the joy of reading. She will also be fondly remembered for her cherished annual radio reading of 'The Night Before Christmas,' a tradition that brought warmth and holiday spirit to countless families for many years. Her legacy will continue to live on through the readers she inspired and the city she helped enrich."
Lycoming County Commissioner Mark Mussina agreed: "The Otto Bookstore is one of the places that makes Williamsport so unique. To be one of America's longest-running independent bookstores is beyond special. Betsy was one of those visionaries who found a way to keep the gem alive."
Jason Fink, president and CEO of the Williamsport Lycoming Chamber of Commerce, said Rider "was the heart of downtown Williamsport for decades. She gave so much to our community and was the voice for the commercial district in its downtown. Her commitment to it went beyond owning a bookstore. It was a passion for what she saw as the essence of the people that defined the character of Williamsport."
The Otto Bookstore posted on Facebook that Rider's "lifelong dedication to the bookstore and the Williamsport community leaves a lasting legacy that will be remembered by generations of readers. We are grateful for all she gave to the Otto Bookstore and the community. Our thoughts are with her family, friends, and all who knew and loved her."