Elise Caitlin

Elise Caitlin, formerly known as Eugenia "Genie" Dromey, 76, died in Van Nuys, California on June 18, 2025. Born in New York City to John A. and Eugenia (Mullin) Dromey, she grew up in Belmont, Massachusetts. She graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Theater Arts and a Master of Fine Arts degree from Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts.

One summer during college, she opened a retail store in Harvard Square called Uglenna's Head, where she sold dresses and jewelry she designed and made. While in college and graduate school, she worked at the Boston Tea Party, a rock and roll concert venue in Back Bay and later in the Fenway section of Boston. She attended Woodstock in 1969.

She was a talented actor, writer, singer, guitar player, artist, jewelry maker, theater director, acting coach, editor, Internet designer and web creator.

In 1974 -1975, she lived in Washington, DC where she performed at the Folger Theatre, including playing the part of Miranda in Shakespeare's "The Tempest."

When she moved to Los Angeles in August 1975, she changed her name to Elise Caitlin. She continued to act in theater - she had many roles at the Company of Angels where she starred as Nina in Chekhov's "The Seagull."
She performed in "Three Penny Opera," and numerous other plays. She also worked at the Mark Taper Forum, where she was the understudy (to Stephanie Zimbalist) for Miranda in "The Tempest." Anthony Hopkins played Prospero in that production.

Her Hollywood TV work included roles in "The Bionic Woman," "Hill Street Blues," "St. Elsewhere," "Cagney & Lacey," "The Waltons," "Barney Miller," and parts in commercials. The link to a funny commercial she was in is
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrheQpsGI0I.

Among her film appearances were "Rodeo Girl," "Hard Country," and "Where the Elephant Sits."

Elise studied extensively with celebrated acting teacher Stella Adler. Subsequently Elise offered individual coaching and acting classes to many aspiring actors.

As a playwright, her "Sunday Morning Vivisection" premiered at the Ensemble Studio Theater in Manhattan and she also had a playwriting fellowship from the Actors Theater of Louisville.

She co-authored "The Complete Spy," with her then husband, Robert McGarvey, which was published by Perigee Books.

After her divorce, Elise moved to West Hollywood, where she lived for over 35 years. Her favorite companion was her baby lovebird Podunk.

When acting roles dried up, she became the Internet designer and web creator for the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. She concluded her career in a similar role at the Aids Project of Los Angeles, now known as APLA Health.

During retirement Elise devoted her time to promoting her liberal political views on social media. She abhorred the exclusionary agenda of the political right.

Around 2009, Elise sustained a debilitating injury when part of the staircase at her apartment building collapsed. Later she suffered from cognitive impairment, which resulted in a move in 2022 to Bassett Residential Care in Van Nuys, California, where Emma Arutiunian and the team there cared for Elise. In Van Nuys, Elise adored dark chocolate with peanut butter and enjoyed calls from her ex-husband, Robert, and from her brother-in-law, Rachid. Rachid would sing Jacques Brel songs to her.

Elise was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Mary Ann Hunt. She is survived by her sister Elizabeth Dromey and her husband Rachid Belhocine of Belmont, Massachusetts, her brother Jack Dromey of Brighton, Massachusetts, her niece Kari Spaeth and her partner, Nance Aronoff, of Roslindale, Massachusetts, her ex-husband Robert McGarvey of Arizona, her brother-in-law George Hunt of New Hampshire and cousins Irene Axelrod, Peter Conway and Susan Conway.

On October 19th, a Mass at St. Mary's Basilica in Phoenix was offered for the repose of the soul of Elise Caitlin. Elise was interred at sea in the Pacific Ocean off the Coast of Los Angeles County.


Anyone wishing to honor Elise's memory may send a donation to APLAHealth, Attn: Advancement, 611 S Kingsley Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90005 or donate online at aplahealth.org.