Dorothy Ann Clift

January 25, 1949 - September 04, 2019

Obituary For Dorothy Ann Clift

Dorothy Ann Clift, 70, died on September 4, 2019, at Rex Hospital. She was born in Washington DC on January 25, 1949, daughter of the late Charles and Kathleen Clift.

Dorothy attended Sidwell Friends School in Washington DC, and continued her education at Smith College where she graduated in 1967 with a major in Classical Languages.

She had several jobs in Washington and Annapolis, Maryland including teaching Latin to DC elementary school students. She later worked in public relations for progressive organizations and concluded her work years at the World Bank in Washington.

After being diagnosed with MS, Dorothy retired and moved from her hometown of DC to Raleigh, North Carolina to be near family. Dorothy became involved in OLLI -a lifelong enrichment program at NC State that provides intellectual stimulation and camaraderie for seniors. Dorothy enjoyed writing and considered her writing very personal, a therapy of sorts, used to reflect on experiences, people, and information in her life. A sample of her writing from 2012 offers insight to her personality and can be found at http://www.seniorcorrespondent.com/authors/dorothy-clift.413165

Dorothy was a gregarious woman who enjoyed everyone she met. She was a life long horse lover and shared her Raleigh homes with Otis, her cat.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, Charles and Kathleen; and her sister, Alice Giles of Auburn, NY.

She is survived by her brother, Buzz Clift of Raleigh along with his wife Kathy; nieces, Megan Clift and Carolyn Clift of Raleigh; nephews, John Clift of Columbus, OH and Charles Clift of Raleigh along with his wife, Nancy Walters, and their children, Flora and Oliver.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to NAMI Wake County @ https://nami-wake.org/donate/ or to the National MS Society of The Greater Carolinas @ https://www.nationalmssociety.org/Chapters/NCT/Donate

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September 01, 2020

Ruth Yackee Handelsman

I knew Dorothy from shortly before we entered the sixth grade, when my piano teacher introduced me to her neighbor kid, Dotty. For the next seven years we walked, and eventually drove, to school together. At Sidwell Friends, she was always a leader, whether on the hockey field, in math class or as class cheerleader and mischief maker. Many of us remember the VW Beetle rally, which she and close friend Carla Freeman organized for us one Saturday morning. I cherish the thought of Dorothy and Carla together, bombing around heaven in Dorothy beige Beetle, giggling away as the radio blasts Otis Redding or the Temptations. She was a fixture in most of my life, and I will miss her terribly.
September 01, 2020

Vivien Rubel

Dotty had a huge influence on my life. She made Sidwell come alive for me. Playing hockey and giggling on walks back to your house Buzzie (as she called you).Even though I didn't drive at the time, the Vw rallies in rock creek park were thrilling. What a lovely woman she became. Love you Dotty. Vivien Rubel
September 01, 2020

Christopher Knowles

Dottie and I attended The Sidwell Friends School in Washington, DC together for 14 years. Always a stable influence in turbulent times.
September 01, 2020

Joan Engelhardt

My best friend of 37 years and the sister I never had. Dorothy and I worked together and lived together for a number of years. So many memories, many comical and some less amusing. Dorothy was always up for any adventure. I will always remember the night the rat got in my bedroom and Dorothy and I, in our nighties, knee boots and gloves armed with brooms, rakes and dustpans went on a mission to persuade the rat to leave the premises. After much bashing about, shrieking and overturned furniture, we got him back out the window from whence he came. I'll bet the rat was as relieved to be out of there as we were to have him gone. Empowered sisterhood in the middle of the night accomplished great things! I will miss you, my dear friend. Joan Engelhardt
September 01, 2020

Howard Perry

I met Dorothy shortly after an OLLI course at NCSU. Her courage, confidence and compassion towards others was so evident that "respecting" Dorothy was instantaneous. Her passion and love for humanity, and all living things, was abundant. She had a deep sense of what was right, and was open about the importance of caring and helping others who were in need. I gained courage just being in her presence. I will miss Dorothy and the tenacity and love that she carried with her in all matters.
September 01, 2020

Sandi Parker

Dorothy was my boss in the early 80s. She was the office manager and I was a secretary (as we called ourselves back then). She was such an amazing mentor and the most gentle but strong person Ive ever known. I thought the world of her and she was a bridesmaid in my wedding in 1990. Just an amazing person who will be greatly missed.