Dorothea Jean Johnson

It is with deep sadness that her family share the departure of Dorothea Johnson on August 30, 2025, in her “adopted” State of Maine. Dorothea was born in the South in North Carolina, where manners and how we treat one another was important to her. In 1988, she created The Protocol School of Washington and as Pamela Eyring, who later purchased PSOW in 2005 from Dorothea said, “her pioneering spirit, vision, and heartfelt dedication shaped the PSOW into a global standard for etiquette and protocol education.”

The family wishes to thank Pamela Eyring, for her following words: “In 1988, women entrepreneurs were rare and breaking glass ceilings meant charting your own course. Dorothea had the foresight and courage to launch the nation’s first school dedicated to etiquette and protocol. Her groundbreaking research revealed a need “for soft skills” training among both seasoned executives and young leaders, especially in an increasingly global landscape.

Dorothea authored or co-authored six books, including The Little Book of Etiquette and Modern Manners: Tools to Take You to the Top, the latter written with her granddaughter, actress Liv Tyler; selling 50,000 copies and printed in eight languages. Her impact extended to business, government, education, and entertainment, where she served as a trusted etiquette resource quoted in over 60 books and hundreds of publications.”

Her matriarchal spirit will be lovingly remembered by her family, friends and business connections throughout the world. Dorothea will be deeply missed by her daughter, Bebe Buell and husband Jim Wallerstein; her granddaughter, Liv Tyler and great grandchildren: Milo, Sailor and Lula; Niece Ann and Ted Noyes – their daughter Julia and her son Harry and his wife Nicole; Julia’s daughter Kate; their son Tom and daughter-in-law Heather and their daughter Althea. We also would like to acknowledge all friends and extended family. Especially, thank you to Karen Crawford for her loving care to Dorothea and her family.

Special thank you to The Osher Inn @ Cedars, Hospice of Southern Maine and Gosnell House for their loving care. Thank you to both Jones, Rich, Barnes – Funeral Home, and Brooklawn – Memorial Park & Crematory, Portland, Maine.