Obituary: Dorothy Zabriskie

Dorothy Zabriskie

Dorothy Zabriskie

Dorothy Zabriskie died in April in Evanston, Illinois, at Three Crowns Park in the loving comfort of her family.

She was born in 1924 in Nahma, Michigan, the third of eight siblings. Graduating from Nahma High School in 1943, Dorothy received her nurse’s training at the Mayo Clinic during WWII. As a nurse, Dorothy worked at the Yavapai Community Hospital and Whipple, then met and married architect Tom Zabriskie with whom she raised three daughters, and helped build Yakashba Estates.

She moved to Prescott, Arizona, in the late ’40s to bring her father, a WWI veteran, to Whipple Veteran’s Hospital. In Prescott she was an active volunteer in the community, with Community Concerts, the Phoenix Symphony Association, the Film Society, vision screening in the Prescott schools and was known as “the cookie lady” since she always showed up with delicious baked goods. Dorothy spent most of her life helping others, and was constantly administering acts of kindness to those around her.

When she and Tom moved to New York State in 1983, she became the treasurer of the Shelter Island Friends of Music, did volunteer hospice work and held coffees for many local politicians. In addition to making scones and cookies for neighbors and friends, she was quite the knitter, enjoyed her Mah Jongg group, and endlessly raked leaves. She always had an infectious smile that would light up everyone around her.

Dorothy was predeceased by her husband, Tom Zabriskie (1985) and son, Kenneth Hamilton (2016). She is survived by: two sisters, Charlene Groll and Jeanette Oman; three daughters: Dorie Zabriskie of Ventura, California; Vinette Zabriskie of Kirkland, Washington; Nan Zabriskie and son-in-law, Lawrie Bloom of Evanston, Illinois; 10 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

A private ceremony will be held in Evanston, Illinois. Donations may be made to the Shelter Island Friends of Music, P.O. Box 193, Shelter Island, NY 11964.

Information provided survivors.


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