Dorothy
Ward “Dotsi” Eden, 92, of Ipswich, died Sunday, March 1, 2015 at the
Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers following a brief illness.
Born in
1923 in New York City, she was the daughter of Helen (Lediard) and
David Struss Ward of Great Neck, NY. She attended the Emma Willard
School in Troy, NY, and Smith College in Northampton, MA. She
married Bronson B.T. Eden of Great Neck in 1947. Dorothy moved
permanently to New London, NH in the 1970s, following her sisters,
Janet Sharkey and Margaret Thompson. She lived for many years at
Camp Wallula in New London, on the shores of Little Lake Sunapee,
where she had vacationed in her childhood in her father's cottage at
Twin Lake Village.
From a
very early age, Dorothy was involved in theatricals and dance, but
it wasn't until the age of fifty that she became deeply interested
in the dance forms of the Near East. She studied under famous New
York choreographer and dancer Ibrahim Farrah and became a co-founder
of and a principal dancer with the Near East Dance Theatre,
performing under the name of "The Elegant Izmira." She gave lessons
and formed a dance trio in New London, whose residents will remember
her "belly dancer" Hospital Day float. She expanded her knowledge of
the art with study trips to New York and Cairo, dancing and
searching for the colorful costumes that characterize the dance
form. She will be remembered in the
ethnic dance community for her amazing theater persona, her
knowledge of the dance art, and her charm and sense of humor she
brought to the stage.
Dorothy
was also active in local theater productions in the New London area,
including the New London Barn Playhouse, where, among other roles,
she played Aunt Eller in Oklahoma!.
She is
survived by her ex-husband, Bronson Eden of Waco, Texas, two sons,
Bronson Eden of Phoenicia, NY, and David Eden and his wife Tamsin
Venn of Ipswich, and four grandchildren, Chris Eden of Chicago,
Judson Eden of Kelseyville, CA, and Lilly and Anton Eden of Ipswich.
She is also survived by sister, Janet Sharkey, of Concord, NH and
numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her son, Peter
Eden and siblings Charles Lediard Ward, and Marjorie Thompson.
Private
arrangements are under the direction of the Whittier-Porter Funeral
Home of Ipswich. She will be laid to rest in New London, where a
celebration of her life will take place in the Spring.
