Avid historian, local volunteer
Published in the December 17, 2015 edition
WAKEFIELD — Dorothy (Dot) Frink Green passed away peacefully with her children at her side at the Kaplan Family Hospice House after a brief illness in Danvers, on Dec. 10 at the age of 95. Her life was blessed with a loving marriage, good health and close family relationships.
She was born into a good Republican family, in a house her grandfather built on Silver Street in Dover, N.H., on Dec. 7, 1920 to Simes and Marion (Dame) Frink. Dot was initially raised by her loving grandparents John and Edith Dame. She was extremely proud of that fact that she voted in all presidential elections during her lifetime and missed only one or two local elections.
Her father, a farmer who dabbled in local and county politics and then was in the New Hampshire state legislature, introduced Dot to hard productive work at an early age, initially on the Hawkridge farm in Newington and later on the Cloverdale farm in Portsmouth. Eggs were to be sorted and crated, the garden weeded, strawberries picked and sold by the road and homework completed on time. Excellence in education was expected and Dot graduated from Portsmouth High School in 1938. Dot was an avid historian and enjoyed recalling to her family “the good old days” and growing up in southern New Hampshire.
A member of the Greatest Generation, Dot was an office supervisor at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard during the war. That is where she met John (Jerry) Green and they were married on Aug. 17, 1945. It was love at first sight for both and they were married five months later. They moved to Wakefield in 1952 and raised their family. Jerry preceded her in death in 1973.
Dot was actively involved with many local clubs and volunteered at the New England Memorial Hospital. She served as president of the Boit Home Board of Directors and Kosmos Club. She was also chairwomen of the Kosmos Scholarship Fund and enjoyed meeting many young people who desired scholarships.
Dot shared a very special relationship for 25 years with Kaz Adams until his passing in 2005. They enjoyed traveling and took numerous trips stateside and overseas. She also enjoyed current events, playing cards, spending time in Maine with her family and several relationships over her lifetime with “man’s best friend.”
In later years Dot lamented not taking the advice to buy Apple stock offered during a 1979 airline flight to Chicago from her seat mate, the then unknown Steve Jobs.
Dorothy was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend. She is survived by John Green and his wife Donna of Pownal, Maine and Cheryl Gaudet and her husband Robert of North Reading. She also had five cherished grandchildren, Zachary Gaudet and his partner Lauren Strebel, Tyler Gaudet and his wife Ariel, Nathan Gaudet and his wife Olivia, Matthew Gaudet and Corilie Green. She is also survived by her sister Marjorie Fantozzi of Honolulu, Hawaii, special long time friend Gerry Russell and her adored cousin Louise Ramsdell.
A funeral service celebrating Dot’s life will be held Friday, Dec. 18, 2015 at 11 a.m. in the McDonald Funeral Home, 19 Yale Ave., in Wakefield. Relatives and friends are invited to attend.
In lieu of flowers donations may be sent to the Hartshorne House, 41 Church St., Wakefield MA 01880 or the charity of one’s choice.
