MEMORIES
GALLERIES
Dorothy M. Nolan Seay,
A Woman of Distinction
This page is dedicated to the memory of a woman of true distinction.
I wanted to get something on the web about this woman quickly, so, for now, here is her obituary that I wrote for her. It was in the writing of that obituary that I became aware, all to late, of what a remarkable woman she was. I will endeavor to expand this with even more detail, stories and photos as time goes on. I have all kinds of photos of her and her family from 'babyhood' until the end. I even found a family tree back to 1882!
'Mustang' is an old military term for someone that rises from the enlisted ranks to become a commissioned officer. I am a 'mustang' and from looking at the achivements in her career, she was a true 'Mustang' in her own right. I know now where my own drive comes from, that's for sure!
Dorothy M. Seay, age 75, a resident of Jacksonville, Florida and a long time resident of Massapequa and Amityville, New York, died on Sunday, March 7, 1999. Survivors include her 2 sons, David and Richard, her daughter Robin, 2 sisters, Marion and Irene, a brother, George and 6 grandchildren. She died from cancer that was diagnosed only 12 days prior to her passing and her last days were spent with her kids in my home where we were assisted in keeping her comfortable by Hospice Northeast.
A true woman of distinction, she started out as a person just sent over by the telephone company to temporarily fill-in on the switchboard as a night operator at South Oaks Hospital on Long Island, NewYork. They liked her work, hired her and she eventually advanced to the position of Director of Materials Management, of that same hospital, over the course of many years. (Thus earning, in my opnion, the 'Mustang' title). She also served as VP of Broad Oaks Credit Union. Please note that she did not have but a few college credits and yet swhe was out there punching holes in the 'glass ceiling' before in became fashionable to do so!
She served in the U.S. Marines during WWII rising to Staff Sargent and was a member of and chaplain for the Marine Corp League, Sunrise Detachment in Massapequa, NY where she was awarded for uncommon valor. She was selected as "Marine of the Year" for the state of New York when she lived on Long Island. She also became a member of the Jacksonville Detachment after she moved to Florida. One thing I know for sure... she was INTENSLY PROUD of being a Marine! How many people do you know that can say their mom was called 'Sarge' when she was younger?
She gave more than 3,000 hours of volunteer work in Orange Park Medical Center emergency rooms, the Ronald McDonald house, University Medical Center Nephrology Buddies, The Tree Of Life and Hospice Northeast. She did all this while in 'retirement'! She donated more than 12 gallons of blood and received the Volunteer Humanitarian Award from Columbia/Orange Park Hospital in Orange Park, Florida. They are planning on putting up a commerative plaque in her honor.
Some other interesting points...
She was part of the 1940 graduating class of Pawtucket Senior High Scool in Pawtucket, RI.
She worked in a service station, after high school and before joining the Marines, changing truck tires!
She appeared in several Florida Times Union newspaper here in Jacksonville in 1998.
One final thing... the best thing about all this is that I got to call this woman... 'mom'! The worst thing about this, is that I had to wait until she died to realize what an amazing woman she really was!
For those of you out there that have positive feelings towards your parent(s), I strongly recommend you never miss an opportunity to tell them how you feel! You can never tell when the last time you could have told them and did not was the last chance you'll ever have.
If any of our relatives have e-mail address, we would love to know them
so we can stay in touch. Send an e-mail to myself or to robin by clicking on either of
these names...
click here to send an e-mail to Dave or here to send one to Robin