Dorothy Appleby

Services were held on Monday, December 20, 2010 for Dorothy R. Appleby who passed away peacefully at her Hillsborough home on December 17, 2010 with her devoted husband, Emil Miller, at her side. Born in Denver, Colorado in 1918 to Abraham and Blanche Rayor, she was 92 years old. After moving to Los Angeles as a youth, she graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1935 and attended UCLA. On October 18, 1937 Dorothy wed Eron H. Appleby, and the young couple resided in Los Angeles before moving to San Francisco. In her early career, Dorothy was the private secretary to the CEO of Contabria, the Spanish subsidiary of Columbia Pictures, and was the Vice President of Mundo Import and Export Corp. She worked at various art galleries throughout the San Francisco Bay area. A music lover, Dorothy was a talented organist and pianist, avid golfer, and enjoyed cultural activities such as the symphony and ballet. She will be remembered by the community for her lifelong devotion to volunteer work at a variety of charitable organizations including; Red Cross; USO (Chair, Board of Directors, and worked with individual soldiers during Vietnam War); Good Shepherd Home and the Peninsula Blood Bank during the AIDS epidemic. Her family was one of 35 charter families who formed Temple Beth El in San Mateo. Dorothy is survived by her beloved husband of 25 years, Emil L. Miller; her daughter, Rabbi Teri E. Appleby (Jonathan S. Leo) of Reno, NV; her step-children Barbara Reising (Bill), Catherine Tierney (Bill), and George Miller (Lezlee); nine grandchildren: Jaswinder Singh Khalsa (Sat Sangat), Zachary J. Appleby-Leo (Libbie), Mary Walsh (Richard), Joan Walsh, Elizabeth Miller, Kasey Miller, Conness Miller, Kianna Miller, and Coel Miller; and her three great-grandchildren: Ilana M. Appleby-Leo, Alexander Miller, and Akasha Miller. She also leaves her sister, Davene Yeck; her dear cousin, Ruth Rutkin and many beloved nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her son, Robert A. Appleby and her sister Pearl Dreyfuss, both in 2009. A private burial was held at Skylawn Memorial Park in San Mateo. Dorothy's family would like to acknowledge their gratitude for the devoted care she received from Venus her loving care-giver of ten years; from Sutter VNA & Hospice, especially Sophie and Trish; and from her doctors, particularly Lawrence Coskey and Robert Telfer. At a future date, Fr. John Ryan will celebrate a Mass of Resurrection at St. Catherine of Siena Church in Burlingame, Dorothy's home parish for the past forty-two years. Contributions in Dorothy’s name may be sent to John D. Loder, Mills-Peninsula Hospital Foundation, 1501 Trousdale Drive, Burlingame, CA 94010 or St. Anthony Dining Room, 150 Golden Gate Avenue, SF 94102.