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Dorothy DeBolt Obituary
Dec. 29, 1923 - Feb. 24, 2013
Dorothy Atwood DeBolt, known as the supermom and public speaker featured in the Academy Award winning documentary "Who Are the DeBolts and Where Did They Get 19 Kids" died Sunday, February 24.
Dorothy was born to immigrant parents Michael and Esther Nortier in San Francisco on December 29, 1923. As a young woman, she performed professionally as a versatile pianist before she married Ted Atwood and moved to Placerville in the Sierra Nevada foothills. There they had 5 children and adopted 2 young boys from Korea. When Ted died in 1963, Dorothy moved to Piedmont, California and discovered a gift for public speaking as she determined to raise her family as a single parent.
After she wed Bob DeBolt in 1970, the couple adopted 10 more children and founded AASK (Adopt A Special Kid) in 1973, the first adoption agency in the country to focus on placing special needs children; children like those in their family, including children with physical handicaps, children from abusive homes and war-injured children from Vietnam. AASK was also the first new private adoption agency licensed in California in 63 years.
Using her talent for public speaking, she and Bob advocated for change in adoption to include sibling groups, multi-racial adoptions and single parent adoptions. Along the way, Dorothy was honored by 4 U.S. presidents, selected as the first woman in the national Adoption Hall of Fame, given the highest speaking award from the National Speakers Association and numerous honorary degrees and awards.
Dorothy and Bob moved to El Cajon, California in 1987 and found new adventures hiking and traveling around the world.
Since the founding of AASK in 1973, it has placed more then 3,400 special children in California and thousands more with AASK offices and affiliates across the country into permanent loving homes.
Dorothy is survived by Bob, her husband of 42 years, her children Mike, Mimi, Stephanie, Noel, Kim, Marty, Melanie, Doni, Ly, Dat, Trang, Phong, Tich, Anh, Reynaldo, Sunee, Karen and Wendy, 27 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren and her brother Art Nortier (Mary Ann).
A Public memorial will be held as part of the first Dorothy DeBolt Memorial 5K Fun Run/Walk on July 7 in Oakland to benefit AASK. To sign up or to make donations to AASK, please call 888-680-7349 or go online at www.aask.org.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Dorothy DeBolt
Joan Copeland
March 21, 2013
I was very sorry to hear of Dorothy DeBolt's passing. I worked at AASK for several years in the 70's and remember the commitment she and Bob DeBolt had for the work and the sacrifice they made to keep the agency afloat. Dorothy was always gracious, a lovely person.
Celeste Murphy Greene
March 19, 2013
Dear Debolt Family,
I attended Piedmont Middle School and High School with many of the Debolt children. They were all such an inspiration. Mrs. Debolt was an incredible woman and her legacy lives on in her children and grandchildren. My thoughts and prayers are with the entire Debolt Family.
March 18, 2013
Noel, I was so sorry to hear about your Mom. I know you and your Dad did so much to care for her. My mom sent me her Obit from San Diego. I cannot even begin to imagine all you are feeling. My prayers are with you and your family. I hope to be present in San Francisco this summer. My love and friendship I send to you.
Debra Lines
Alison Lindsay
March 13, 2013
Dear Debolt Family,
I was profoundly inspired by Dorothy and your entire family through watching the movies created in the late 1970's. My mother showed them to her 8th grade classes for years and of course her children and grandchildren got to view them as well. About 7 years ago, my daughter and I recognized and introduced ourselves to Dorothy at the RSD Library. My daughter told Dorothy about an essay she had written about your family for the El Cajon Historical Society and how she had won a prize. We sent her a copy and my daughter received the loveliest hand written note and a photo of Dorothy and Bob on the steps of Air Force One. We have these treasures in a special memory box. We send you our heartfelt condolences and want you to know that our family and countless La Mesa Middle School students learned important lessons on love and family togetherness by being introduced to your family!! Thank you!
Sincerely,
Alison and Molly Lindsay
Ann Marie Olsson Van Horn
March 11, 2013
My thoughts and prayers are with you.
Dorothy is remembered fondly from our childhood days growing up together in the Swedish community of the Bay Area.
Robyn Bottomley
March 11, 2013
Dear Bob: I am so sorry to hear of Dorothy's passing. She was beautiful, kind and fun. It was a great honor to have been her "Roadie" during the IOF tour. I have nothing but the most wonderful memories of our times together on the road. Dorothy made a big impact in her lifetime; she will be greatly missed. Much love, Robyn "Roadie" Bottomley
Jerry/Judy McGrath
March 11, 2013
The DeBolt's gave so much to the Piedmont Community.What a wonderful family
Our prayers and thoughts are wit the family at this sad time.
March 10, 2013
Dear Bob and family, I am so so sorry to read of Dorothy's death last month. You were so good to me when I was directing the child abuse center, and when I adopted my children. I wish I could be in Oakland for the public memorial in July, but my heart will be there with all of those walking and running and enjoying the day. May you all find peace in your special memories as I have been doing today. With much love, Gail Edwards
Jeanie Jones
March 8, 2013
As you know, your mom and I were close over many, many years spending nights under the dining room table while our parents ate dinner, went on vacations together, wrote long letters to each other when she was in Sweden and Holland with her family and danced the nights away to hours of wonderful piano and accordian music. She was a very special cousin and friend and will leave a large footprint in this world. May each of you know peace and comfort as you remember all the special times you shared.
tom bach
March 8, 2013
I am sorry to hear of her passing. The newspaper articles about her family over the years always fascinated me. How could someone be so open, accepting and generous? I am certain there is one more saint in heaven today. Rest in peace.
Mary Lanosa
March 7, 2013
Oh my gosh. So sorry to the DeBolt family and friends. I remember seeing the documentary about the DeBolts, it was so inspiring. You were a wonderful woman who help countless children with disabilities and other problems find forever homes. You will live on in all of them. Thank you and your husband for you wonderful contributions to humanity.
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