Dorothy Simon

Dorothy Simon March 24, 1919 - June 30, 2008 Left us peacefully on Monday, June 30th in the loving presence of her immediate family and friends. Born in Ludlow, MA, the fourth of six children to Mary Agnes and William Hanigan, who successfully raised their family despite many obstacles of the Great Depression. With the advent of World War II, Dorothy, never the conformist, announced to her startled family that she would join her three brothers already in uniform by enlisting in the U.S. Navy WAVES in which she served until the war's end in 1945. Upon her return, she and younger sister Jane traveled across the country to California, Jane to the University of California at Berkeley, and Dorothy to the San Francisco Academy of Art, specializing in costume design. After encountering the barriers of the time against women working in fashion, Dorothy pursued a second talent (she was a magnificent dancer), and accepted an invitation to teach ballroom dancing at the Arthur Murray Studios in Berkeley. Dorothy met and married Harry Simon, a recent graduate of at Armstrong Business College in Oakland in 1952. Shortly thereafter, Dorothy and Harry left Berkeley for the then-frontier suburb of El Sobrante where they lived with their beloved daughter until Harry's sudden passing in 1986. Single again, Dorothy realized her dream of moving to San Francisco, and established residence in her beautiful Pacific Heights apartment, entertaining friends and family in classic style. There, she once again engaged her passion for art, pursuing oil painting, and taking up Tai Chi and computer classes where she mastered both email and the internet. Dorothy was a modern person in whatever age she lived, always curious and interested. She held and defended strong opinions on political, historical and cultural issues of the day. Throughout troubled times of the past and present she remained the ultimate optimist, never losing faith in God, her family or her country. Dorothy was loved by everyone she ever met and her extended family and many friends would agree that her loyal friendship blessed and benefited their lives enormously. Dorothy was deeply committed to the community, particularly in the areas of poverty and protection. She expressed this by engaging in volunteer work, most consistently with a group from the St. Vincent de Paul Society, preparing food for the homeless. She also supported Rosalie House, a shelter for families affected by domestic abuse, by providing necessities to the women and children there. Dorothy will be sorely missed by her sister Jane Hanigan of Redwood City; her brother Thomas J. Hanigan of Massachusetts; 12 nieces and nephews; devoted cousins; and her loving daughter Carrie Anne. Dorothy was very fortunate to have as her companion and devoted friend, Sesilia (Ika) Fifita. Dorothy joins in spirit her beloved sister Mae Welch and her brothers William and Francis Hanigan. Dorothy's family would like to express its deep gratitude to Dr. Wellman Tsang, Dorothy's unflagging advocate, friend and physician for over 20 years, as well as the nursing staff at California Pacific Medical Center, Pacific Campus, for the compassionate, loving and respectful care they provided over the last three and a half months. They share our loss of a unique, witty, gracious and elegant person who touched our lives indelibly simply by being who she was. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated for Dorothy Simon at St. Dominic Catholic Church, 2390 Bush Street, San Francisco, July 12 at 11:00 a.m., followed by a celebration of her life at her nearby home. In lieu of flowers, family and friends may wish to make a donation to the Riley Center/Rosalie House at 3543 18th Street, #4, SF, CA 94110 or www.rileycenter.org.