Dr. Dorothy Elena Farrington Caram

1933 - 2025

Dr. Dorothy Elena Farrington Caram
01/14/1933 - 08/08/2025
The Caram family sadly announces that our matriarch, Dr. Dorothy Elena Farrington Caram, peacefully passed from us and into loving arms of our Heavenly Father on Friday, the 8th of August 2025. She was 92 years of age. She was a caring wife, daughter, sister, aunt, mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Her legacy also includes that of a community leader and a person of influential presence in the greater Houston Hispanic Community, education and health care policy fields, the arts, and so much more.
Born on the 14th of January 1933, in McAllen, Texas as the oldest of three children, Dorothy spent her early years growing up in both Houston, and Puebla, Mexico. Her parents Curtis and Elena shared their passion for education, arts, and Mexican culture which provided the future direction of her life. She loved to perform the traditional Mexican Ballet Folklorico in costumes designed by her mother and taught the traditional dances as a young adult. Being one never to be daunted by the establishment, in her teens she became the first female lifeguard in the City of Houston. After graduating from Sam Houston High School in 1951, she received her Bachelor of Spanish Literature from Rice University in 1955 and conducted Postgraduate work at the University of Madrid in 1957. Dorothy started her career in education teaching at Bellaire High School. In June 1958, she married Pedro C. Caram M.D., originally from Veracruz, Mexico, at St. Vincent de Paul Church.
Soon thereafter and while raising her four boys, Dorothy taught at neighborhood St. Mark's Episcopal School and St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School. Her love for learning continued earning her Masters of Spanish Literature from Rice University in 1974, and her Doctor of Education from the University of Houston in 1982.
Love of family, friends, and culture led to her and Pedro's involvement in the formation of Club Eleven, Club Mexico Bello, the Institute of Hispanic Culture, the Houston Hispanic Forum, the Order of the Granaderos y Damas De Galvez, and through her husband's heritage, the Syrian-Lebanese Club. These organizations were not only a means for the gathering of friends, but also aligned with her life's mission in education, the arts, and Hispanic culture. These group's respective missions centered on education and outreach, and raised funds to support scholarships for students. She also authored "The History of Hispanics in Houston and Harris County", documenting the involvement and positive influence of the Hispanic community in the area from 1519 to 1986.
A proud 5th generation Texan, Dorothy was dedicated to the children of Houston in receiving a quality public education and a brighter future. This passion led to the creation in 1986 of the Houston Hispanic Forum's annual Career Day, an event in which thousands of Junior High and High School students heard from and met hundreds of professionals representing a multitude of careers from across Greater Houston and surrounding counties. It continues to this very day. Dorothy also organized two Hispanic health fairs via the Houston Hispanic Forum in cooperation with Austin High School (HISD) and two Hispanic Health Symposiums held at Rice University. Coincidently, on the day of her passing, the Houston Chronicle reported HISD's possible establishment of a $180M Career Center. One can only imagine how the ripples of her lifetime of work may help bring that to reality.
An influencer of her time, her tireless efforts in education, the arts, and Hispanic Culture, and as a community leader garnered the respect and admiration of those who entered her sphere. From local neighborhood organizations to her church parish, to business, corporate, community, and university leaders, to politicians from across the spectrum including mayors and city council members, school district board members, county officials, governors, state representatives, state senators, and local judges knew the importance of Dorothy's mission. At the national level, she met with congressmen, senators, and US presidents. Her work also extended internationally, meeting with counsel generals, ambassadors and presidents from across Latin America and beyond. Her goal was to advise and help influence policy, laws, and funding to benefit the Hispanic community and childhood education.
Dorothy was appointed and served on the Federal Home Loan Bank Board-Little Rock, Arkansas, the Harris County Hospital District and its associated Foundation, the University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects, Minority Education Committee for Baylor College of Medicine, chair of the Hermann Foundation Grants Committee, the Mano a Mano Research Advisory Committee of M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, the Advisory Commission of the NINCDS of the National Institutes of Health. She also served on the City of Houston Civil Service Commission, the Texas Commission for the Christopher Columbus Quincentenary Texas Jubilee Celebration, Texas Commission on the Arts, the Miller Theater Advisory Council, board member of University of St. Thomas and the United Way of Greater Houston when in 1987, she was instrumental in the development of Project Blueprint, a multi-cultural community leadership training program which prepared members for non-profit board service. Graduates number over a thousand to date. She was vice president for education for the Houston Grand Opera, and supporter of the Houston Grand Opera, the Houston Symphony, The Alley Theatre, and various Houston Museums. As a fitting cumulation of her life's work, Dorothy was a strong advocate of the creation of ALMAAHH. Pronounced "alma", the Spanish word for soul, ALMAAHH stands for Advocates of a Latino Museum of Cultural and Visual Arts & Archive Complex in Houston, Harris County.
Dorothy's driven and dynamic nature led her to run for Houston city council, develop real estate with her husband, manage his medical office, launch a debris and waste management services company, and later work as an Assistant to the President of the University of Houston.
Dorothy's honors include Image de Houston's Hispanic of the Year, 1987; Willie Velasquez Outstanding Hispanic Citizenship award, 1994; Volunteer of Year, United Way of Texas Gulf Coast, 1992; The "Distinguished Mexican American" for her significant volunteer participation in the Fiestas Patrias Celebration; Distinguished Hispanic Citizen of the Year by the mayor of the City of Houston; Houston Symphony Guest Conductor along with other Houston celebrities; Dorothy Caram Day by the City of Houston, and many more. As a result of her dedication to years of volunteer work with the Hispanic community, King Juan Carlos of Spain bestowed an award naming Dr. Caram the "Lady in the Order of Isabel the Catholic (Queen of Spain)" in 1984, and in 2008 was named a recipient of the Ohtli Award by the Secretariat of Foreign Affairs of Mexico.
Again, much of this community involvement occurred while raising four sons and tending to her family responsibilities. She and Pedro were true soulmates sharing their passion and resources to help the community around them. They also loved travel, exploring many parts of the world together but mostly enjoying trips to Mexico to see family, friends, and to recount stories to us about their lives there.
Having four sons within six years meant that Dorothy was always busy supporting their activities. She taught us, along with a host of other kids, how to swim…always challenging us to a race and winning. She, along with our father, encouraged us to learn music, appreciate the arts, and embrace our family history and culture. This can all be summed up when she rallied her four sons and created the Mariachi Groupo de Caram which performed at Jones Hall among other venues! Our parents encouraged and provided the opportunity for us to pursue our careers while also setting the example to obtain advanced degrees. She opened our home to the children of family and close family friends to further their education in Houston. This included our cousin Dr. Jorge Valerdi whom she and our father considered their fifth son. Sports were a constant activity with four boys. Dorothy was always supportive, even becoming a board member of the Braes Bayou Little League. Our home was the central gathering point for Braeswood kids, and she would not have it any other way. Her generosity and love of our friends and neighbors served as a model for us.
Dorothy was a devout Catholic and made sure her sons were raised in the faith. Even in her waning years, and despite her escalating ailments, she insisted on attending Church every Sunday. And when she physically could not, she streamed it. Ever setting the example, Dorothy's faith only grew in her final months, spending time reading her bible, saying her prayers, and offering her blessings to us all.
Preceding her in passing are her parents, Curtis Leon and Elena Santander Farrington; brother, Richard Farrington; sister-in-law, Ann Farrington; and nephew, John Farrington.
She leaves behind her brother, Phillip Farrington; her four sons, Dr. Pedro "Pete" M. Caram and his wife Laura, Juan "John" D. Caram and his wife Suzanne, Hector L. Caram and his wife Joy, and Jose "Joe" M. Caram and his wife Chere; her grandchildren, Dr. Bianca Caram Willey and her husband Mark, Theresa Caram, Pedro "Pete" Caram Jr. and his wife Elaine, Lindsay Caram Stankus and her husband Bryan, Collin Caram, Trent Caram, Kathleen Caram, and Joshua Caram; her great-grandchildren, Jules Willey, and new born, Hayden Stankus; as well as many cousins, nephews, and nieces in the US and Mexico.
The family also wishes to give our heartfelt gratitude to the multitude of healthcare teams that provided her care over the long term and especially this past year: Dr. Kelly Baker, Mrs. Maria Dinora Amaya, Mr. Jack Sullivan, the staff at The Village of Southampton: Ms. Mercy Gathogo, Ms. Reina Archbold, and the outstanding caregivers on the 5th floor, the staff at the St. Dominic Village Rehabilitation & Nursing Center: administrators John Connolly, Kristy Jones, nurses Deborah Dudley, Sr. Susan Bosompin, Christine Paul and caregivers Bianca Nauls, Nikki George and Patsy Nesby, the staff at Houston Hospice: caregivers Azra and Lakisha; and those from Arosa: Jennifer, her case manager, and caregivers Dianna and Yemi.
Friends are cordially invited to a visitation with the family from four o'clock in the afternoon until six o'clock in the evening on Wednesday, the 20th of August, in the Jasek Chapel and grand foyer of Geo. H. Lewis & Sons, 1010 Bering Drive in Houston. A recitation of the Holy Rosary is to commence at six o'clock.
The Mass of Christian Burial is to be offered at ten o'clock in the morning on Thursday, the 21st of August, at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, 6800 Buffalo Speedway in Houston.
The Rite of Committal is to follow, via an escorted cortege, at Forest Park Lawndale Cemetery in Houston.
In lieu of customary remembrances, the family requests with gratitude that memorial contributions be made in her memory to the institutions she loved and supported: St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, The Institute of Hispanic Culture, Ripley House, Talento Bilingue de Houston, Houston Hispanic Forum, ALMAAHH, and the Miller Outdoor Theatre, or to an education or arts institution of your choosing. God Bless you and yours for your love and support.
Please visit Mrs. Caram's online memorial tribute at GeoHLewis.com where memories and words of comfort and condolence may be shared with her family.