Dorothy C. Siegel

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University of Toledo

Dorothy Siegel Obituary

Name: Celebration of Life for Dorothy C. Siegel
Start: 2019-11-02T15:00:00.000Z
Location: The Toledo Club

Dorothy C. Siegel

Dorothy C. Siegel, beloved Professor of Linguistics at the University of Toledo for 33 years, passed away at Hospice of Northwest Ohio in Perrysburg on Sunday, September 22, 2019. She was 72 years old.

Dr. Siegel received her PhD in Linguistics from MIT in 1974 and joined the faculty of the University of Toledo's Department of English Language and Literature in 1977, where she served on many university committees, including the Arts and Sciences Council and the Executive Committee of the Faculty Senate. Her Emeritus Citation noted, "Contemporary linguistics textbooks refer frequently to Dr. Siegel's groundbreaking work in what is now known as 'Lexical Phonology.'" She was a vibrant, challenging, and encouraging teacher, whose students and friends alike appreciated her warmth, wit, and love of stimulating conversation. Dorothy was an avid baseball and college football fan and was unbeatable at Scrabble.

Born in New York City, Dorothy was raised in Birmingham, AL, the eldest of three children. Preceded in death by her parents, Abraham and Florence Siegel, and by her younger brothers, David and Richard Siegel; she is survived by her sisters-in-law, Camille D'Ascoli and Sharon Isay, nephew Aaron (Jenna) Siegel, by nieces, Robin Siegel and Lily Siegel, and by many cousins. She also is survived by numerous friends and colleagues whom she considered to be her Toledo family and who will dearly miss her. A celebration of Dorothy's life will take place at The Toledo Club on Saturday, November 2, 2019 at 11:00. Contributions in her memory may be made to the Toledo Museum of Art, the Toledo Alliance for the Performing Arts, the UT Department of English, or to a charity of the donor's choice.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Blade from Sep. 25 to Nov. 1, 2019.

Memories and Condolences
for Dorothy Siegel

5 Entries

Susan Bachman

January 20, 2020

If this is the Dot or Dorothy Siegel who attended South Highland Elementary School, Birmingham AL, then I was a classmate/friend in the grades 5 to 8 gifted program with her. Just today ...after, what, nearly 60 years...I told someone of her dad's being a geologist of some sort (work on the Mohole?) and their cat was named Popo after the volcano, Popocatepetl. I did online research just now and found the story of her life here...gifted indeed, blessed to be a blessing, it seems. Susan nee Ortmeyer Bachman, also a retired linguist and college educator.

Debby Davis Denson

October 30, 2019

I am so sorry to hear of my sweet friend's death. I will always remember her from our high school days sharing Honors English classes with our teachers Betty Foley and Dinnie May Mackey. Dot could keep us all in stitches with her clever wittiness, while going toe to toe with our teachers. Not only could she play the guitar, she could write the most thoughtful essays, argue enthusiastically both sides of the debates, and perform in the school plays! And all the while, she was making straight A's. How lucky her students in Toledo have been study with her. She told me at reunions how much she loved her work and her students. It is fitting that her memorial service will be on November 2, All Souls Day, following All Saints Day, as we remember those who have gone before us, yet whose memories will always be with us.

Bob Phillips

October 1, 2019

Sad at her passing. Just sad, sad, sad.

Joe Sheffler

September 25, 2019

Dorothy was brilliant. She could have been anything: a scholar, a chef, a stand-up comedian. She was always the funniest person in the room. She taught me all the most hilarious Yiddish expressions. The Sunday New York Times crossword was, for her, a greased slide. She looked great in her red glasses back in the day. My heart aches at her passing. Shalom Aleichem.

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