Dorothy Weber TROGDON

February 25, 1926 - June 25, 2025

Olga - Dorothy W. Trogdon "Dottie," age 99, passed away peacefully at her beloved home in Doe Bay, Orcas Island, Washington on June 25. She was born February 25, 1926, in Waterville, Maine, to Clara (Carter) and Carl J. Weber. Carl, a Rhodes Scholar, was Department Chair of the English Department at Colby College in that town. Dorothy had an older brother, David, who currently lives in southern California and is 101 years old.

Dorothy attended Colby College after three years in high school and then transferred to Wheaton College in Norton, Massachusetts, to complete her undergraduate degree, Magna Cum Laude in Art History in 1947.

She worked for a year at an architecture office in New Hampshire before applying to Harvard University's iconic Graduate School of Design (GSD). As one of the two women accepted in the program, she was in a class of her own, literally. Harvard is where she met her husband of 68 years, William "Bill" Henry Trogdon, who was enrolled in the GSD Walter Gropius design studio. They met and married in 1952.

After a European Harvard-sponsored Traveling Fellowship tour, Bill and Dorothy moved to Seattle, which was home to Bill.

Dottie found it difficult to find work in the field of architecture as a woman in the 1950s, so she, worked at Frederick and Nelson's interior design department organizing fabric samples. She stated years later that this menial job was an excellent stepping stone to launch her long career as a successful interior designer.

In 1954, Bill and Dottie moved to Spokane, Washington, where they both made their mark as prominent designers until 1983 when they moved back to Seattle. While in Spokane they raised three sons, Benjamin, Peter, and William Jr. A fourth son, Teddy, lived just 5 months.

Even with a full-time career in interior design, Dottie found time to pursue other interests. She loved European culture, particularly French, and became a gourmet chef following Julia Child's books and TV programs. She also was an avid beekeeper, harvesting honey in Spokane. She enjoyed snow skiing and made lunches for the boys to take to school every day. She also hosted social scripted play readings and supported artist groups. She had a great love of cats and a keen interest in Carl Jung's teachings.

Dottie's career in Spokane included a position as head designer at the acclaimed Joel's design and home furnishings store from 1956 to 1976. In 1976, Dottie joined Inscape, as co-director for 7 years. She also worked as interior designer on projects at the firms her husband was affiliated with.

For 10 years Dottie was on the board of FIDER, The Foundation for Interior Design Research and Education, which is the accrediting agency for interior design programs, established in 1970. This is where Dottie really shined. She traveled all over the United States assisting with the accreditation process of interior design programs at universities combining her great intellect, design acumen and collaborative and interpersonal skills in her work.

For some years, Bill and Dottie split their time between Seattle and a retreat property on Orcas Island that they purchased in 1969. In 2011, Bill and Dorothy made Orcas Island their primary home. This place reminded Dottie of her Maine roots and as she settled into this cozy retreat, she became content with her garden, and poetry writing from her office with the garden view.

At 80, Dottie published her first book of poetry. During the next decade she published three more beautiful poetry books. Poetry writing was the culmination of her life experience as designer, voracious reader, and keen observer and appreciator of her natural surroundings. It became clear that her poetry touched the hearts of those who came in contact with her work. She read her poems at book club gatherings and small bookstores. Several of her poems were put to music by Sam Gender from London and one piece was set to music by a renowned musician/song writer, Rachel Portman.

Dottie is survived by her brother, David; three sons, Benjamin (Denise), Peter (Cathie), and Will (Stacey); her four grandchildren, William, Benjamin C. (Virginia), Shea (Rorie), and McKenna; and three great-grandchildren, Finley, Hayes, and Carter.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Orcas Center on Orcas Island (orcascenter.org) https://app.arts-people.com/index.php?donation=orcas

Date for memorial gathering has not been set as of yet.