Dorothea (Dorey) Harth, 89, of Niantic, beloved sister, aunt and friend, entered eternal life on Sunday, February 10, 2019, at Beechwood in New London. Dorothea was born August 21, 1929, in Elmsford, NY, the daughter of the late William and Rose (Horetz) Harth. She grew up in West Harrison, NY, and attended White Plains High School.
She was graduated from the College of Mount Saint Vincent with a BA in Nursing and Columbia University with MA degrees in Nursing and Nursing Education. She started her career as a staff nurse at White Plains Hospital in 1951. In 1952, she became a nurse educator having taught at many schools of nursing including Westchester School of Nursing (Grasslands Hospital), Greenwich Hospital School of Nursing, University of Michigan, St. Francis School of Nursing, University of Connecticut, and Rockland Community College.
Throughout her teaching career Dorey inspired her students with her passion and dedication to nursing. Dorey served for 30 years as a reserve officer in the United States Air Force, retiring at the rank of Colonel. Colonel Harth was dedicated to her work as a flight and administrative nurse with the 137th Aeromedical Evacuation Flight Unit and the 69th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron at McGuire Air Force Base in Dover, DE.
She served active duty in Vietnam in the 1970’s. She was awarded the Air Force Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service and received the Oak Leaf Cluster for her untiring dedication and leadership as a Nurse Administrator with 436th Military Airlift Wing at Dover Air Force Base Hospital. Dorey was also a liaison officer for the United States Air Force Academy.
She was a member of MOAA (formerly the Retired Officers Association). She is survived by her sisters Virginia Mackey of Waterford, Phyllis Chauvin of Fort Myers, FL, and Audrey Keating of Brunswick, ME; 12 nieces and nephews, Denise Mackey-Russo (Dennis), Brian Mackey, David Mackey (Lorna) , Russell Mackey (Karen), Wayne Chauvin (Kim), William Chauvin (Michelle), Debra Chauvin, Mary Jamison (Steve), Richard Chauvin (Helen), Sharon Servello , John Keating (Oona), Dorothea Keating, and many great and great-great nieces and nephews. Her family will receive relatives and friends from 10am to 11am on Saturday, Feb.
, 23 at the Thomas L Neilan & Sons Funeral Home, 48 Grand St., Niantic. A Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11:30am in St. Agnes Church, Niantic. Interment will be private at Gate of Heaven Cemetery in Hawthorne, NY.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Catholic Relief Services, PO Box 17090, Baltimore, MD 21297-0303 (support. crs.org/donate/memorial) in memory of Dorothea Harth. To plant a tree in memory of Dorothea Harth, please visit our Tribute Store.
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