Dorothy was born on February 25, 1923, to Caroline A. and Arthur E. Schoener in Norristown, PA. She grew up in Norristown, PA, and Trenton, NJ and graduated from Trenton Central High School in 1941 where her father was a teacher and principal of the night school. Dorothy was active in the Glee Club, Les Intimes (French club), Skating Club, National Honor Society, and the Presidents Council.
After graduation, Dorothy matriculated to Miami University in Canton, Ohio where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Dietetics. At a freshman mixer at her dorm the first week she was on campus, Dorothy met the man she would spend the rest of her life with when he cut in on a dance. They were inseparable until Calvin was called to serve as a combat medic in the US Third Army, 87th Infantry Division, 312th Medical Detachment in WWII, service that included the Battle of the Bulge. Dorothy completed her degree in 1945 and worked as a dietician for George School in Newtown, PA where she was privileged on many occasions to hear a young Stephen Sondheim play his own compositions on the school’s piano.
After his return from the war, Calvin and Dorothy married on June 23, 1946, and settled in Ann Arbor where Dorothy worked in the business office of the University of Michigan Medical School while Calvin earned his undergraduate degree in Liberal Arts and Business Administration from the School of Maize and Blue. Upon graduation in 1948, Dorothy and Calvin moved to Cambridge, MA where Calvin earned a Juris Doctorate from Harvard University and Dorothy worked in administration for the school.
Employment with the CIA soon meant postings overseas so in 1957 Dorothy and Calvin moved to Europe with their young daughters in tow. The next few years saw the family relocating many times, within Europe, the Far East, and Central America. When Calvin began his second career with Hospital Corporation of America, the family moved to Nashville, Tennessee before spending years in London and in Saudi Arabia. Calvin and Dorothy moved to Okemos in 2003 to be closer to family and Calvin passed away in 2011. Dorothy noted that, although she came from PA and NJ and Calvin came from Ohio, their married life (the best years of their lives) began and ended in Michigan.
Dorothy remained hale and hearty and active, enjoying her family, sporting events, eating out, going to shows, and traveling. All through her life Dorothy put her family first and became amazingly adept at handling all the details involved in moving from country to country, settling her daughters in their new homes and schools, supporting them in their school work and extra-curricular activities, and helping her husband in all of his work. She was dearly loved by all of her family who will miss her greatly and who will be forever grateful for the amazing adventures and opportunities she and Calvin shared with them.
Dorothy was preceded in death by her infant son Gordon Lee, her parents Caroline and Arthur Schoener, her brother Bill Schoener, and her beloved husband Calvin R. Pastors.
She is survived by her daughters Linda Pastors Burghardt and Bronwen (Benjamin) Bamford, her grandchildren Brianna (Nathan) Bamford Olson, Ian (Holly McKendrick) Bamford, and William (Alaina) Burghardt, great grandchildren Annabelle and William (Liam) Burghardt, and her sister Janice (Philip) Lichtenfels, many nieces, nephews, and great nieces and nephews.
Due to Covid-19 there will not be a viewing or a service. The family is planning to have a celebration of Dorothy’s life after Covid-19. In lieu of flowers the family is requesting those who wish to honor Dorothy to donate to one of the following charities: The Salvation Army, St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars), or The Marine Toys for Tots Program.
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