Dorothy M. Cormack

Dorothy M. Cormack, 86, of Silver Lake, died April 28, 2003 after a long illness. Dorothy Mary Melanson Cormack was born June 7, 1916 in Pittsfield, Mass. She recalled being painfully shy because her family moved often and making friends was difficult. During the Depression, when her father could not find work, the family returned to Brownville, Maine, where Dorothy attended high school and made lifelong friendships. She graduated valedictorian of her class from Brownville High School in 1935.Every member of the Melanson family had to work, and while still in high school she washed, ironed, cleaned and provided childcare for a family in exchange for room and board. Although her high school ambition was to become a secretary, when an opportunity arose to study nursing at Central Maine General Nursing School in Lewiston, she gave it her all. Long hours and hard work in a hospital led to tuberculosis and a year in a sanitarium. With the help of her doctor and her own determination, she returned to nursing school, finished with high marks, and received her nursing degree.After graduation she traveled with a friend to Miami, Fla. to work as a special nurse, returning to Lewiston during WWII. There, Dorothy met the love of her life, a sailor named Floyd Cormack. They soon married, and he left for the Pacific Theater. A son, Gordon, was born in 1945 and a daughter, Dorothy, in 1947. While her children were growing up Dorothy worked as a den mother in the Boy Scouts, learning craft skills and teaching the boys to build birdhouses, Christmas ornaments and even a life-sized dog sled for racing. She returned to nursing after her children were in school and discovered her true passion, geriatric nursing. She worked her way up to the position of administrator of the Kathryn Barton Nursing Home in Wayland, Mass. Under her leadership, and to her great pride, the Kathryn Barton became the most respected nursing home in Massachusetts. Dorothy remained until the facility changed ownership, and went on to become administrator of a chain of nursing homes in western Massachusetts. Her hard work transformed eight homes into clean, well-functioning facilities, and she ended her professional career on a high note.Dorothy retired to Silver Lake with her husband in 1984 and never stopped giving to her community. She joined the Madison Church and worked tirelessly to fund the food pantry. She staffed the thrift store, washed and ironed donated childrens clothing, and persuaded businesses to donate childrens shoes. She returned to making clothes, dolls, Christmas decorations, and knitted and crocheted afghans and sweaters.After her husband Floyd died, she developed cancer at the age of 78. She tackled cancer with incredible determination, and learned everything she could about the disease and how to fight it. She won that battle. Two years ago she was diagnosed with Parkinsons and she approached this battle with the same high spirit, studying and following the prescribed treatments. She was and remains an inspiration to all who knew her. She is survived by her son Gordon William Cormack of Madison; her daughter Dorothy Ann Cormack of Citrus Heights, Calif.; four grandchildren, Janine Allen, Paula Shappell, Colleen Cormack, and Micah B. Sarut; and one great grandchild Brianna Shappell. Funeral Services will be held at the Madison Church on May 6 at 3 p.m. In Lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Madison Church Food Pantry, P.O. Box 119, Madison, N.H. 03849, or the National Parkinsons Foundation Inc. Developmental Department, 1501 N.W. Ninth Ave. Miami, Fla. 33136-1494. Furber and White Funeral Home in North Conway is in charge of arrangements.