Delores L. Guthrie

GUTHRIE DELORES LILLIAN REESE GUTHRIE (Age 81) One of Pittsburgh's best-known fashion models of the 1950's and early 60's, Delores "Dee" Guthrie, as she preferred to be known, later worked in Washington two decades as executive secretary to partners at the international law firm of White & Case. She died Wednesday, October 5, 2011 of complications from pulmonary hypertension at Capital Halquist Memorial Hospice Center in Arlington, Virginia. She lived in Reston the past 21 years. Dee Guthrie was born December 7, 1929 and grew up in Pittsburgh's Knoxville neighborhood, graduating from South Hills High School in 1948. She went to work in the stenographer pool for Carnegie-Illinois Steel Corporation, which soon became part of U.S. Steel. Within a few years, she was executive secretary to then CEO Roger Blough's top Pittsburgh based assistant. In her spare time, she began modeling for Kaufmann's Department store and appeared frequently in Kaufmann's ads in both The Pittsburgh Press and Post Gazette, and at Kaufmann's fashion shows at the Pittsburgh Athletic Club. She also ushered at hundreds of Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra concerts. Moving to New York City in 1962 to advance her fashion career, she met and married Andrew Guthrie, an NBC News writer. The two were living in the same Manhattan building, just three floors apart, but had never met until they were introduced by a mutual friend. When Guthrie was assigned to cover the Viet Nam War, Dee moved to Hong Kong where she lived for a year, studying Cantonese and Ikebana. When her husband was transferred from Hong Kong to the NBC station in Cleveland, OH, she became that city's chairwoman for UNICEF and dramatically expanded the charity's presence in Northern Ohio. A member of Trinty Episcopal Cathedral, she was lauded in a review of the service there by the Cleveland Press Religion Editor for her meaningful reading of scripture. The couple moved to Washington in 1983 when Guthrie joined The Voice of America News Division, and Dee joined White & Case as an executive secretary to former Nixon and Ford Administration Deputy Transportation Secretary John Barnum, for whom she worked 11 years. She was an executive secretary to various other partners, retiring in 2005. The couple divorced in 1987. Dee Guthrie was a founding member of the Smithsonian Institution's Museum of the American Indian, and a member of The National Cathedral, where she helped build houses for Habitat for Humanity. She is survived by her son, Ian of Boulder, Colorado; her sister, Ruth Craig and brother, Robert Reese, both of Pittsburgh; and five nieces and nephews. Her brothers Murray and Eugene Reese, both of Pittsburgh, and her nephew Paul Reese of Richmond, Virginia, predeceased her. At her request there will be no memorial service, but contributions may be made in her name, to UNICEF, Heifer.org, The Wolf Conservation Fund (www.wolf.org), the Red Wolf Coalition (redwolf@redwolves.com) and The Smithsonian Institution's Museum of the American Indian. She is survived by her son, Ian of Boulder, Colorado; her sister, Ruth Craig and brother, Robert Reese, both of Pittsburgh; and five nieces and nephews. Her brothers Murray and Eugene Reese, both of Pittsburgh, and her nephew Paul Reese of Richmond, Virginia, predeceased her. At her request there will be no memorial service, but contributions may be made in her name, to UNICEF, Heifer.org, The Wolf Conservation Fund (www.wolf.org), the Red Wolf Coalition (redwolf@redwolves.com) and The Smithsonian Institution's Museum of the American Indian.