OAK ISLAND — Dorothy Hentz Smith, age 80, of Oak Island, NC and formerly of Whitinsville, MA, passed away on Tuesday, June 18,2024.
She was born in Boston on November 30, 1943, and grew up in Belmont, MA, before moving to Glen Rock, NJ for her senior year of high school. She graduated from Boston College in 1964 with a degree in English and also attained master’s degrees in education and media science from Worcester State and Fitchburg State respectively.
Dot began her teaching career in Staten Island, NY in 1965 before returning to MA in 1967.
She taught English at Nipmuc Regional High School in the Mendon-Upton School District and later became the head librarian/media specialist for the majority of her career. She also coached JV field hockey, basketball, and softball for over 12 years. She also began an after-hours book club for staff that was quite popular. She retired from teaching in 2002 after 35 years with the district.
Dot was a lady of many interests including reading, golf, artistic endeavors, and charitable work. She was an avid antique and vintage doll collector and dealer and attended shows throughout the U.S. In addition to being published in several doll magazines and books she also served on various local and national doll club boards and is a past president of the Boston area Yankee Doodle Dollars.
Dot and her husband Bob moved to Oak Island, NC in 2005 as it was an area that they loved at first sight upon visiting friends in the area. She was a member of the Oak Island Women’s Golf Association for many years and was a past member of the charitable PEO organization. She also enjoyed being in a few area book clubs.
She felt very blessed to be a part of the Smith family as step-mother and grandmother and enjoyed their visits and activities.
Dot was predeceased by her parents, her brother Charles Hentz, and her step-son Robert Smith III. Those left behind to cherish her memory are her husband of 43+ years Robert W. Smith, Jr; her brother Richard Hentz and his partner Sheila Howe of Chatham, MA; step-son Ken Smith of Leander, TX; step-daughter Andrea Sobieraj (William) of N.Easton, MA; grand-children Will, Katie, and Jonah Sobieraj; Chloe Smith of Waltham, MA; Alex Smith (Colleen) of Bedford, MA; and great-grandchildren Olivia and Noah Smith.
In lieu of flowers donations in her memory can be made to a) the Mendon-Upton Teachers Association Scholarship Fund (150 North Avenue, Mendon, MA 01756), b) the Southport Lions Club (PO Box 10187, Southport, NC 28461), or c)as Dot cared deeply for children to a charity of your choice that assists needy children.
A celebration of her life will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, July 20, 2024 in the Peacock – Newnam & White Funeral Home Chapel. The family will have visitation one hour prior to the service.
Online condolences may be made here.
