Dorothy Atwater "Dottie" Sarvay

It is with deep love and gratitude for everything she gave us that we announce the passing of Dorothy Atwater Sarvay, who passed away peacefully with family by her side on November 21, 2025, at the age of 98.
Dorothy was the youngest daughter of Ralph Willis Atwater and Emily Ryan Atwater. She was born at Crouse-Irving Hospital and raised on Kensington Place in Syracuse, NY. She graduated from Nottingham High School in 1945, earned her Bachelor's Degree in Child Development from Cornell University College of Home Economics in 1949, and graduated with her Master's Degree in Education from Syracuse University in 1952. Dottie began her teaching career in Cortland at Parker Elementary School, then moved to Ella van Heusen Elementary School two years later. It was in Cortland where she met the "love of her life", James Hamilton Sarvay (1923-2004). They were married in December 1956 and made Cortland their home. Jim ran the family shoe business, Sarvay Shoe Co., and together they raised their five children. Dottie and Jim enjoyed summers with the family at the cottage on Song Lake and were regular patrons of concerts and shows on the college campus or in Little York when they weren't shuttling their kids to various sports or school events. She staunchly dedicated her spare time supporting many boards and organizations in Cortland and surrounding communities, especially serving on the YWCA board, the SUNY Interfaith Center board, Cortland County Historical Society, and the board of the Cortland County Child Development Program, for which she was most proud. Family was the cornerstone of Dottie's life. She will be remembered as a loving mother and wife with fearless devotion to her children, for her love of baking cookies, and her deep joy in spending time with her eight grandchildren.
She truly loved traveling to visit her children and their families who are spread across the country: Marie Stedwell (Ray), Martha Kolodzy (Paul), Jim Sarvay (Carmenza), Peter Sarvay (Ellen), and Elizabeth Wolpert (Christopher). Dorothy was predeceased by her husband James Sarvay, her grandson Bennett Stedwell and her sister Marie McCormick. She is survived by all 5 children (above) and her grandchildren Ryan Stedwell, Emily and Sarah Kolodzy, John and Jeremy Sarvay, and Julia and Carl Wolpert.
Calling hours will be held at the Wright-Beard Funeral Home in Cortland from 4-6pm on December 17th. A funeral mass will be held at St. Mary's church in Cortland on December 18th at 10am followed by internment at 2pm, Oakwood Cemetery in Syracuse.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Mary's Church in Cortland and earmarked for the care and preservation of the stained-glass windows that Dottie loved, or to Cortland County Child Development Program (59 Pomeroy St).
Messages of condolence may be expressed to the family online at www.almonfuneralhome.com
Local information provided by Almon Funeral Home. Wright-Beard Funeral Home in Cortland, New York has charge of arrangements.