Dorothy Dunn

Dorothy Dunn Passed away Feb. 16, 2009, surrounded by her family, at the age of 90. Dorothy was a 3rd generation Santa Clara County resident and known by many different names. To her nieces and nephews, she was "Aunt Dodie", to her siblings, she was "O'Dode", and to thousands of Santa Clara County children, she was "Miss Dottie", their dancing teacher. Her favorite names though, were "Mom" to her children and their spouses, Ron Dunn (Carol), and Terri Newcomb (Jon), and "Gramma Dottie" to her grandchildren and their spouses, Darcelle Rozenberg (Misha), Michelle Dunn, and Raychelle Fordham (John), and great grandchildren Ryan Rozenberg, Alexandra Fordham and Patrick Fordham. Preceding Dorothy in death were her parents, Albert Brown and Viola Brown Patrette, her siblings Gwendolyn Clark, Ethyl Batten, Robert Brown, and her foster sister Eleanor Chargin. Dorothy attended Santa Clara High School and was married to Robert Dunn for 59 years, until he preceded her in death, Oct. 9, 2003. Dorothy was past president of the Santa Clara Junior Women's Club. She started the Dottie Dunn Dance Studio in Santa Clara in 1946, then moved the studio to Sunnyvale from 1955 - 1974 and then continued in Gilroy until 1979. During her dance career, she was the Vice-President, then President of the local chapter of the National Association of Dance and Affiliated Artists. She was also the National Vice-President of the same organization and was on the National faculty, teaching dance at their annual conventions. She loved gardening and enjoyed driving a golf cart around her property, something she did daily until a few months before her death. She was a doll collector and enjoyed making porcelain dolls as well as teaching others how to make dolls. Dorothy was an avid animal lover, raising and showing many breeds of dogs and cats and was featured in "Cage Bird" magazine in the 60's, as the "Bird Lady of Sunnyvale", showing her exotic bird collection. You were loved by many and will be missed so very much. There will be no services. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory, to Border Collie Rescue of Northern California - P.O. Box 640, Castroville, CA 95012.