Dorothy "Dottie" S. (Howard) Roth

Dottie was the salutatorian of her class from Wyoming Central School. She graduated from SUNY Albany with a BA degree in English and an MBA degree in Marketing. It was at SUNY Albany she met her future husband and learned how to cross-country ski.

After getting her MBA, she and her husband lived near Cleveland, Ohio, where she had a market management position with Jo-Ann Fabrics. In 1980, she and her husband moved to Westlake Village, where she had number of positions in corporate marketing groups.

It has been said that when one door closes, another door opens. So, when her son was born, Dottie gave up her business career and became a full-time at-home parent. To her son, she became a beloved mother who focused on helping him achieve his full potential. Over the years, she volunteered as room mothers and PTA member, and even supervised the student store at Westlake Elementary. Her final role was that of Recording Secretary of the Westlake High School PTA. While Recording Secretary, she conceived of and implemented a program recognizing students that achieved academic excellence.

As the years went by, Dottie became an intrepid traveler, ready to go on extended adventures around the world. The best travel companion one could wish for, she loved outdoor adventures, museums, concerts, and libraries in any form (ancient or modern). She never complained when traveling, even when their travels took her to far-flung corners of the world. From the sophisticated cities of Western Europe, to an un-air-conditioned research center in the tropical rainforests of Costa Rica, Dottie was always open to a new adventure or an experience that broadened her horizons. One of her favorite stories described sitting on a poorly lit curb in Hanoi, Vietnam, eating fried eels out of bucket so as not to offend the two student guides that were with her. When traveling, at the end of a long day, she’d take the time to summarize the day’s adventure and email it to friends and family. Her wit and attention to detail always entertained her readers.

She was an avid amateur bird watcher, whether traveling abroad or sitting at home looking out the kitchen window. She loved reading and long walks with her family. As her son and husband can testify, Dottie was a ruthless Scrabble player. She had an innate curiosity about a range of subjects: cultures, people, languages, science, and current events. Dottie loved communicating the “old-fashioned way,” via handwritten cards and notes.

She did everything with a quiet determination and always considered how her actions would affect others. For those who knew her, she was smart, kind, gentle, patient, quiet-spoken, an empathetic listener, with a quick wit and a great sense of humor. Dottie was a remarkable person who touched all their lives. As a neighbor described Dottie, “She was such a lovely person, so sensitive, thoughtful and sincere.”

To her husband and son, she was all that, and more. To her husband, she was the best thing that ever happened to him. She was the love of his life, his one and only, his best friend, his truelove…. None of these fully capture how much the two of them loved each other. A love that grew deeper every day over the 55 years they were together. To her son, she was the mother that was always there, always supported him, and always made sure he did his best. She was the best Mom anyone could wish for.

She is survived by her husband, Randy Roth, and her son, Bryan Roth. Surviving siblings include her brothers Frank and Lawrence Howard, her sisters Ethel Stephenson and Mary Patri, and many nieces and nephews. Preceding her in death were her sisters Patricia Rigney, Cecelia Schoff, Marjorie Reilly, and brothers Henry, John, Michael and William Howard.

Plans for a celebration of life service will be forthcoming. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Dottie’s name to Manna Conejo Valley Food Bank (https://www.mannaconejo.org/).