Wilma Elizabeth Dobie

Family-Placed Funeral Notice

WILMA ELIZABETH DOBIE Wilma Elizabeth Dobie, 86, devoted wife of 60 years to John W. Dougherty, M.D. of Scarsdale, New York and Jupiter, Florida entered into eternal rest on June 2, 2005 at her home in Jupiter with her loving family by her side. Daughter of Charles and Laura Dobie of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, she was born in Reading, Pennsylvania in 1918. She was a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh and graduated with a B.A. from there. A resident of Scarsdale, New York for over 30 years, she recently resided at Mangrove Bay in Jupiter. She worked in public relations most notably for Ben Sonnenberg and Phillip Morris Corporation. She was a longtime member of the American Women in Radio and Television and during her years as a publicity consultant, she had the good fortune to work with many outstanding musicians and entertainers including Fats Waller, Eubie Blake, Maxine Sullivan, Dick Hyman, and Earl Hines to name a few. Active for many years with the Democratic Party, she had the occasion to meet Presidents John Kennedy, Harry Truman, and Vice President Hubert Humphrey and received commendations from Jimmy Carter and most recently, from President Bill Clinton for her work with Jazz music. Her constant support of jazz and its performers through the years and her unceasing efforts in reporting and promoting Jazz music became the focus of her writing the past 30 years. In 1971 she was nominated for a Grammy award for liner notes and she remained active writing until the time of her death. She toured Japan in 1998 with the Statesmen of Jazz as their publicist. The Statesmen of Jazz were very close to her heart as they perform concerts and clinics to perpetuate the art of Jazz music for future generations. Her writing lives on in articles and liner notes for their recent works which remain available through Arbors Records, Clearwater, Florida. She was honored for her contributions to Jazz music by The Duke Ellington Society, The Cape Cod Jazz Society, The New Jersey Jazz Society, Metro News, The Jazz Coalition, American Rag, American Federation of Jazz, The House that Jazz Built and many others over the years. She is a founding member of the Overseas Jazz Club of the Overseas Press Club of America who honored her contributions as a reporter and news professional as well. She is survived by her husband, John Dougherty, M.D. of Jupiter, Florida; her daughter, Anne Dougherty Collins of Clinton, North Carolina; her sons, Michael Dougherty of Fairfield, Connecticut and William Dougherty of Queens, New York. She is also survived by her two grandchildren, John and Kelly Dougherty of Fairfield, Connecticut. Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 PM Saturday, June 4, 2005 from the NORTHWOOD FUNERAL HOME, 5608 Broadway, West Palm Beach with a private family service following. In lieu of flowers, memorials should be offered in Wilma's name to the Rutgers University Jazz Studies, Rutgers, New Jersey. NORTHWOOD FUNERAL HOMEFAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED