Diana Forbes Olney

Mrs. Olney was born July 27, 1926 in Marlow, England, the eldest of three children, to Stewart and Hilary Forbes. She spent her early years in Mexico (where her father was employed by the Royal Dutch/Shell Company). She attended boarding schools in England and Canada, and in 1940 left England for Canada with her mother during the Battle of Britain.

Diana married William Bowditch Rogers III of Boston in 1945, and the couple had three sons. Bill Rogers died in 1953. In 1956 Diana married William Salisbury Olney, and they had two daughters. The family lived for a time in Connecticut, but mostly in and around Boston in Wellesley, Dedham, Westwood and the Back Bay.

Diana devoted many years of service and tremendous energy to her favorite volunteer cause, the Vincent Memorial Hospital. A long-time member of the Vincent Club, she performed in approximately 30 shows over the years and served as club Vice President of Public Relations from 1974-1976. She served on the Vincent Memorial Hospital Foundation Board of Managers and was a member of the Ladies Visiting Committee of MGH. Of particular note was her role as one of the first bilingual translators for Hispanic patients, among her many other contributions to the establishment. After a serious automobile accident in 1990 curtailed her activities, Diana moved to a position as an Honorary Board Member.

Other local causes to which Diana volunteered her time and talent included Boston’s Wang Theater and Harvard University, where served on the Parents’ Visiting Committee.

Diana combined a remarkable vitality with a consistently positive outlook. Her friends and Vincent colleagues also remember her for her warmth and infectious sense of humor. She was well known for enduring very long car camping trips engineered by Bill Olney, and enjoyed all manner of outdoor activities, including sailing (especially in Maine), and skiing: for many years the family frequented Mad River Glen.

Mrs. Olney is survived by her brother John Forbes, two daughters (Diana Olney and Cynthia Knight), two sons (Will Rogers and Peter Rogers), nine grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Bill Olney, and her son John Rogers.

In lieu of flowers, please support the MGH Ladies Visiting Committee flower grant. Diana was one of the founding members of the LVC in 1969 and initiated what is now the MGH Gift Shop back in the 1970’s, purchasing and selling flowers in a hallway at the Vincent Memorial Hospital, now part of the MGH. Please make checks payable to MGH LVC and mail to Ms. Janet Shipman, Chairman, LVC (Ladies Visiting Committee), 7 Old Valley Road, Swan’s Island, ME 04585.

A Celebration of Life will be planned for this summer. Please contact Diana at [email protected] for an announcement.