Dorothy Simpson Tracy, 75, passed away July 23, 2009 with her family by her side following a long and valiant battle with cancer. She was born April 22, 1934 in Winthrop, Maine, the daughter of Kenneth and Geraldine Simpson.
She attended Winthrop schools graduating salutatorian of the class of 1952 and went on to Westbrook Jr. College in Portland. Following college, she came to MDI to accept employment at the Bar Harbor Hospital as a laboratory technician. It was while working at the hospital that she met her future husband, Ralph “Jack” Tracy, who was also employed there. They moved to Seal Harbor, purchased a home and started raising a family. Dorothy was an avid reader and had the ability to retain what she had read, from fiction to world affairs. She was a member of the Seal Harbor Literary Club for several years. Dorothy held several jobs in her lifetime but will best be remembered as a U.S. Postal employee for Seal Harbor for 24 years. At her retirement, it was noted that she never had a customer that she had a hard time with or disliked. She was described by her customers as a warm kindhearted person always ready to help someone such as dashing out to the street to hand-deliver mail to elderly customers.
Surviving besides her husband of 54 years is one sister Beverly Leikkanen and her husband “Pat” of Charlottesville, VA. Four children, Kenneth Tracy, Stephen Tracy, Beth Frost and husband Gerald, Marcia Bender and her husband Michael, all of Seal Harbor. Six very special grandchildren, Marie Ericsson, Laura Tracy, Corey and Megan Frost, Ryan and Allyson Bender. Two sister in laws, Alice Wilson and husband Charles, Kay Moore and husband, Robert and many nieces and nephews and grand-nieces and nephews. Other than family, she will be fondly remembered as “Aunt Dot” by Lori, Lisa and Stacie Gray; John, Cathy, Chip and Alice Reeves plus many others. She was predeceased by her parents and an infant brother, Kenneth Jr. and one sister-in-law, Leta Shea and husband Charles.
Graveside services will be held 1:00PM, Wednesday, July 29, 2009 at Seal Harbor Cemetery, followed by a reception at the Seal Harbor Community Center. At Dorothy’s request, donations in her memory may be made to the Seal Harbor Library, PO Box 135, Seal Harbor, the Seal Harbor Village Improvement Association, PO Box 171, Seal Harbor, ME 04675 or the Mt. Desert Nursing Association, PO Box 397, Northeast Harbor, ME 04662.