Women’s History Month shines a light on the resilience, determination, and achievements of women throughout history, La Posada, a Kisco Senior Living community, highlights two of its extraordinary residents, Betty Tator and Noel Trachtenberg. Challenging social norms and pioneering careers in male-dominated fields in the 1950s and ‘60s, both women are testaments to the power of ambition and independence.
Raised in Greenwich Village during the rise of the women’s liberation movement, Noel Trachtenberg started her professional career at 18 years old at a chemical construction company, assisting a librarian and refugee from Heidelberg in translating microfilm from Nazi concentration camps detailing chemical experiments on prisoners. Born with monocular vision (a condition in which one’s eyes function independently of each other), Noel studied braille and later worked at the American Foundation for Overseas Blind in New York City, where she became acquainted with the Foundation’s founder and world-renowned public figure Helen Keller.
“When you’ve been around for as many years and worn as many hats as I have, summing it up isn’t easy,” said Noel. “My advice to young people is to find your center, remain true to yourself, get to know your own value, do whatever you can in the way of study, and never shy away from a career path only because it’s unfamiliar. You might find it exciting!”
Denied a pay raise on the grounds that she didn’t have a husband or family to support, Noel and a girlfriend co-founded a market research company, conducting studies on consumer behavior—from identifying which coffee aromas appealed to different demographics to determining how beer label design influenced taste perception. Her work carried her across the U.S. and Latin America, leading to her fluency in Spanish and intercultural client relationships. Deciding that working seven days per week and 16 hours per day was depriving her of a personal life, Noel accepted an offer she couldn’t refuse in the investment banking field. She worked on merger and acquisition deals for 11 years until she retired at 50 years old. Noel and a previous client of hers married and shared a wonderful life for 37 years, 14 of them at La Posada before he passed away. Having explored diverse cultures and industries, Noel credits her fearless determination to her mother, a former editor at MacMillan Publishers with two master’s degrees from the University of Chicago.
“I’ve learned to approach every challenge as an opportunity to learn,” said Noel. “Ambition is about willingness to explore, to adapt, and to keep moving forward.”
A single mother of eight children, Betty Tator’s story expands on the power of motherhood. With a dream to become a doctor, Betty applied for scholarships and returned to pursue a degree at The State University of New York at 40 years old. When she graduated, she was denied residency due to her standing as a mother of eight children and thus turned to mortuary science. Betty was one of few females in the field as an undertaker and embalmer. Her colleagues told her that she was cut out for sales, and eventually, she listened. Betty entered medical sales and quickly gained the trust of doctors thanks to her expertise in mortuary science and anatomy—a background that was especially relevant considering the principles of dialysis were first discovered through embalming. She started selling dialysis equipment as the only female member of a sales team covering 18 states.
“You can do anything you set your mind to,” said Tator. “I never knew that women could make more than $400,000 dollars a year. When you push forward, doors will open for you.”
Betty retired at 60 years old in 1999. Today, she and Noel reside at La Posada, a Kisco Senior Living continuing care retirement community in Palm Beach Gardens. In her free time, Betty plays bridge, attends bible study, and participates in sports like bowling and golf. She loves La Posada and encourages others to contact her with any questions about life at the community. Since 2009, Noel has managed Living LIFE at La Posada, the community’s monthly newsletter covering the latest events, announcements and activities.
This Women’s History Month serves as a reminder of the trailblazing women throughout history who created space for equality and pursued their ambitions despite systemic sexism. By highlighting the journeys of women like Betty and Noel, La Posada honors the progress that has been made and encourages future generations to continue breaking barriers and redefining what’s possible.
About La Posada
La Posada, a Kisco five-star, resort-style retirement community in Palm Beach Gardens, offers the most enjoyable, engaging, and vibrant lifestyle in South Florida — and does so while prioritizing the health, safety, and wellness of both its residents and team members. To learn more about La Posada, visit mylaposada.com or call 561-277-0680.
