Obituary of Dorothy B. Pilkington

Dorothy Bidwell Pilkington died Tuesday, June 3, 2008 at her home. Dorothy was born on April 24, 1915 to Howard Francis Bidwell and Helen Leslie Blaisdell. She grew up in Winchester, MA and Scarsdale, NY and spent summers at her familys home in East Falmouth, MA. She was a graduate of Scarsdale High School and Wellesley College, Class of 1936. After college she was a reporter for the Boston Herald and Hartford Courant. Her first marriage to John Richard Brookes ended in divorce. She was married to Walter Pilkington, Librarian at Hamilton College, in 1959. She was predeceased by her husband Walter Pilkington in 1983. Dorothy retired in 1973 as Supervisor of Occupational Therapy at Marcy State Hospital after 24 years of service to the New York State Department of Mental Hygiene. She was elected as a Fellow of the American Occupational Therapy Association for her work in instructing OT employees of hospitals in New York State. With a small grant she was successful in organizing a program for training Occupational Therapists at Utica College. After her retirement she became a dedicated member of the Monday Club, Whist Club, Garden Club, League of Women Voters of the Utica/Rome Metro Area, as well as a serious competitor while playing croquet with her friends in the Clinton Mallet and Wicket Club. Known for her sharp wit and literary interests, Dorothy will be missed by family and friends. Dorothy is survived by three children: Barbara Brookes and John Richard Brookes, Jr. of Clinton who resided with her and Maud Pilkington Easter and her husband David of Delmar, NY. She is also survived by her brother, Robert H. Bidwell and sister-in-law, Constance Gorman of Mount Pleasant, SC. She was predeceased by two sisters, Helen Harris in 1988 and Mary Ouimette in 1998. She is also survived by many nieces and nephews. Memorial services will take place at 2pm Saturday, June 14, 2008 at Hamilton College Chapel, Clinton, NY. Dorothy will be buried in the Hamilton College Cemetery. Arrangements by Owens-Pavlot Funeral Service, Inc., Clinton. In lieu of flowers, friends may consider donations to the Community Foundation of Oneida and Herkimer Counties or the Walter Pilkington Book Fund, Hamilton College Library, Clinton, NY.