Dorothy Mullins Holland

Dorothy Mullins Holland, 93, died unexpectedly at Anna Jaques Hospital in Newburyport, Massachusetts on October 25, 2007 after a brief illness.  Until her death, she lived a vibrant, independent life in her lovely home, Marsh Cottage.  Her beloved husband of 67 years, E. Morton Holland, predeceased her on August 22, 2005. 

Born and raised in Manhattan, Dorothy schooled at St. Agatha, and graduated Phi Beta Kappa and Magna Cum Laude from Smith College in 1936, where she majored in French and Italian, and minored in Mathematics.  Daughter of George and Hazel Mullins of Arkansas, Dorothy followed in her parents’ footsteps to become a teacher.  Her first jobs were at Brearley and Spence Schools in Manhattan. After raising her four children, Dorothy returned to teaching at Dwight School for Girls in Englewood, NJ and again at Greens Farms Academy in Connecticut, where she also served as Middle School Head, Boarding School Coordinator, and for eight years as Director of College Placement.  Her long experience in education, extensive knowledge of schools and colleges, and personal approach to counseling enabled her to launch her own practice as an Educational Consultant at the age of 60.  She helped many students to make appropriate and discriminating choices regarding their selection of colleges.  

In 1936, Dorothy met her husband to be at a cotillion at the top of the St Regis Hotel in Manhattan.  Two years later she was wed to E. Morton Holland in the chapel at Columbia University.  The couple enjoyed living in a variety of places such as a small “gentleman’s farm” in Long Lake, Minnesota, and suburban homes in Minneapolis, Mn., Englewood, NJ, Weston, Ct., Siasconset, Nantucket, and finally Newbury, Ma.

Dorothy, born to be a mother, was adored by many even as a surrogate mother.  It gave her great joy to add extra places at her well adorned holiday dinner tables.  An avid reader and lover of words, she usually mastered the New York Times crossword puzzles in ink.  Other favorite past times were baking fabulous cookies and lemon squares, making biscuit for her children when they were home, and nurturing her green thumb.  Gardening was a big part of Dorothy and Morton’s lives together, hers the flower garden, and his, the vegetable garden.  And when their raspberry patch produced, Dorothy’s kitchen became a veritable jam factory!

 A woman of great intellectual strength, Dorothy also exuded joy in human interaction.  She loved people, especially children, and she loved giving, through helping others to see their gifts in life.  Her great faith was nurtured for a lifetime through the Episcopal Church, where she served on the Alter Guild, the Vestry, as a Sunday School teacher, and later in life with hospitality and counting of the monies.  Her interest in community lead her to participate in the local hospital Aide Association, as a Smith Class Agent, and as a Hospice Volunteer.  Never afraid to ask for money, Dorothy helped to mastermind one of the largest fund raising endeavors, a Dream Catcher Auction, for the Nantucket Hospice Organization.  Her continued interest in languages prompted her to study Russian just for fun.  Perhaps most important however, was Dorothy’s ability to adapt to life’s demands, to weather the many unexpected and undesired circumstances with determination and with faith.  Her ability to appreciate the gifts of life experiences evolved appreciably and was reflected in her unfailing gratitude.  As much as she loved life, she also welcomed leaving life to be back together with her devoted husband, Morton.  A woman of great integrity, Dorothy lived her life with grace and simple elegance.

 Dorothy leaves her four children Barbara Lidz of St. Petersburg, Fla., Mary Goulazian of Woodstock, Vt, Darcy Holland of Newburyport, Ma. and John Holland of Woodstock, Vt.  She is also survived by her brother Jack Mullins and his wife Alice of South Hadley, Ma., four grand children, Lauralee Lidz, Cindy Goulazian and Peter Goulazian, and Caitlin Holland, and three great grand children.

Those who knew Dorothy will have an opportunity to enjoy her “many faces” and her “joy and wisdom” at a Memorial Service and Reception in celebration of her life, to be held at Ascension Church, Ipswich, Massachusetts on Saturday, May 3, 2008 at 1 pm.