Obituary of Dorothy Dewhirst
Dorothy Marie Dewhirst passed away on September 19, 2023. She was 94.
Dorie, as she was known to family and friends, was born on December 26, 1928 to Kathryn and Joseph Dewhirst. She grew up with her older brother Joe in Bridgeport CT. Later she lived in homes in Trumbull and Shelton CT, spending summers in a cottage on Pleasure Beach in Stratford CT and winters partly in a condo in Fort Lauderdale FL.
She lived with her partner Ellie Mastroni for 57 years from their meeting in 1963 until Ellie’s death in 2020. They married in 2013. For a woman of her time, she was well-educated. She was a graduate of Central High School who earned a Bachelor’s degree at Boston University and a Master’s degree at the University of Bridgeport. For most of her adult life, she worked as the Office Manager at Dewhirst Dairy. Dorie was a devoted aunt to her brother’s 5 children (Joe, Diane, Cheryl, Susan and Karen), 9 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
In the early years, this meant frequent trips to Old MacDonald’s Farm. Later there were cookouts and sleep-overs at the beach cottage. She had a flair for the aesthetic, as reflected in her stylish dress and her hobbies. She gardened, mostly growing flowers. In particular, she collected and naturalized wildflowers, such as trilliums, bluets, cardinal flowers, and daylilies. Sometimes she grew cannabis. She watched birds. She tumbled rocks, including turquoise collected on trips to visit friends in Arizona. She collected antiques, especially glass and china but also odd or antique toys. She owned three vintage pinball machines. She loved dress-up. She collected costumes for herself and for the kids.
She was strong and athletic. She enjoyed sports, especially golf. She also skied, boated, and fished. She was a huge fan of women’s sports, including tennis, golf and especially UConn basketball. She loved dogs. As a young adult, she had a series of poodles, both full-sized and miniature. She liked cars and she was a skilled driver. Her signature auto was a sky blue 1950’s Triumph convertible. She was intelligent. She read voraciously, mostly novels packed with action, suspense, and mystery. She loved puzzles, especially word games. She wasn’t afraid of risk. She played poker and she gambled at the CT casinos, but always with discipline -- apparently one of the few who won more than she lost. She and Ellie also played the CT State Lottery – and won there too! She managed her own investments.
She led by example, inspiring all of us to be more compassionate, strong, and free. She showed us kindness, generosity, empathy and unconditional love. We’re so lucky to have known her.
All services will be held privately and at the convenience of the family. Arrangements in care of Abriola Parkview Funeral Home 419 White Plains Rd. Trumbull, CT.