Esther Kratzer Everett, former president, CEO of insurance, real estate firm

E v e re t t

Esther Kratzer Everett, 77, of Williamsville, who was appointed by President Ronald Reagan (and confirmed unanimously by the United States Senate) to serve two terms on the National Advisory Council on Women's Educational Programs, died Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2006.

Mrs. Everett had recovered from a radical laryngectomy and removal of half a lung and had resumed public speaking and selling before her death.

Mrs. Everett was also former president and CEO of the Emil A. Kratzer Co., Inc., a local insurance and real estate firm that had served four generations of Western New Yorkers.

She attended Skidmore College and graduated from the University of Buffalo with a bachelor of science in business administration.

After earning her master's degree in business education with honors from the University of Buffalo in 1953, she served as chair of Alfred University's Distributive Education Department, was the first woman to teach a business course at Canisius College, and taught business courses at Nardin Academy, Kenmore West, and Cleveland Hill high schools.

While president of the Emil A. Kratzer Co., Mrs. Everett taught business at Williamsville High School. She was also the first woman to serve as president of the University of Buffalo Business School Alumni Association. She later served as secretary to the University's Community Advisory Committee.

Mrs. Everett was the first woman to serve as a full representative for Western New York Synod at the Presbyterian Church's General Assembly (that church's most senior governing body). She was treasurer of the Presbytery of Western New York and trustee, deacon, and elder of the North Presbyterian Church in Amherst.

After throat and lung cancer operations, Mrs. Everett was a part of UB's Public Speakers Bureau and gave more than 250 speeches on women's financial, investment, educational, and political concerns. In 1985, the National Council of Communicative Disorders' awarded her its highest national honor, after which she gave a commencement address for the UB Nursing school.

Mrs. Everett was one of the first two women in the United States to earn the Chartered Insurance Counselor designation and was a member of the Professional Insurance Agents of Western New York Legislative Committee.

Mrs. Everett served as vice-chair of the New York Republican Senate Committee, a delegate to the 1984 Republican National Convention, and as a Republican candidate for Erie County Clerk in 1980. She served as vice-chair of the Erie County and Amherst Town Republicans Committee, of which she was a member for more than 52 years.

Mrs. Everett served as a director of the YWCA of Erie County, New Voice Club of the Niagara Frontier, and the International Association of Laryngectomies. She served as president of the Skidmore College Club of Buffalo. She was also a member of the Rosary Hill College Scholarship Dinner, for which Daemen College granted her its "Generations of Service" award, was an organizing Den Mother, BSA, and was a member of the Order of the Eastern Star and the Zonta Club of Amherst.

Her recommendations and efforts to improve legislative management in New York state with groups as varied as Common Cause and the American Legislative Exchange Council in "Project 1990" earned widespread acknowledgment and recognition from New York State's Senate and Assembly and the Erie County Legislature.

Mrs. Everett is survived by her husband of 51 years, J. William, and three sons, James W. Jr., Robert K. and Emil K.

Services were held Saturday, Oct. 7 in North Presbyterian Church.

Arrangements were made by the Vandercher & Dick Funeral Home.