Dorothy Lee (Collins) Swanson, 86, passed away March 7, 2026 in Spring Hill, Florida. She was born in Detroit, Michigan on August 21, 1939 to William M. Collins and Marjorie (Bicknell) Collins, who preceded her in death. Dorothy was also predeceased by her sister, Marilyn and brother Bill. Surviving are sons Brian (Connie) of Newton, NC, Mark (Dawn) or Hillsdale, MI, and daughter Amy (Cloyd) of Blythewood, SC; also surviving are grandsons, Bryant, DJ, Quentin and Gavin.
Dorothy graduated from Hillsdale College with a B.A. degree in Early Childhood Education in 1961. She was a member of Pi Beta Phi sorority. She taught elementary school in Reaching, MI and as a substitute teacher in Hillsdale, MI, Fairfax, VA and Spring Hill, FL. Dorothy founded and headed the non-profit advocacy organization Viewers for Quality Television (1984-2000) and was credited for encouraging television executives to keep their quality shows on air. In 1999 Syracuse University Press published her memoir, "Viewers for Quality Television: From Grassroots to Primetime." In 2017, she was the primary subject in the Canadian documentary film "United We Fan" which explored the people behind the viewer campaigns to save worthy TV shows. Her greatest passion was cats; in her life she rescued, raised, and found homes for countless homeless felines through the rescue groups for which she volunteered.
There will be no services. Dorothy's cremains will be interred with her parents in Oak Grove cemetery in Hillsdale, Michigan. The family requests that any donations be sent to The Humane Society of the Nature Coast in Brooksville, Florida.
