Dorothy Coe

Dorothy “Dottie” M. Coe, 77, of Milton, Vermont and formerly of Elmhurst, New York, passed away Tuesday, November 14, 2023, in St. Johnsbury, VT. Dorothy was born in Valparaiso, Indiana, on October 10, 1946, to Lester and Esther (Swope) Martin. The youngest of six children, Dorothy and her siblings grew up on a farm in Kouts, Indiana. She was a tomboy who preferred playing sports and being outdoors over other activities. Perhaps that is where her love for animals, and particularly her cats began. Dottie played HS basketball for the Kouts Mustangs and graduated from Kouts High School before attending Goshen College for a time. When she was 21 years old, her brave, independent and adventurous streak led Dottie to move, on her own, to NYC. She fell in love with the city and spent the majority of her life living and working there, a real-life small town to big city story.

While in New York, she worked for many years at Scholastic Publishing as a proofreader. Her attention to detail and passion for literature made her a valuable professional in her field. With a keen eye for spotting errors and improving the written word, Dorothy’s contributions have left a lasting impact on countless readers and authors. That lasting impact extended to her many friends and coworkers at Scholastic as well as all whom received gifts of books from her over the years. Clifford the Big Red Dog was a favorite for young and old alike.

Ahead of her time, she met the man she would marry on a CompuDate using a printed survey. Dorothy married Richard “Rick” Coe on September 27, 1980. Their journey together included shared interests of playing tennis, skiing and watching sporting events, especially their beloved NY Mets. They were longtime members of St. Jacobus Lutheran Church. The church and its congregation were a special part of Dorothy and Rick’s life together.

The most important part of their lives was their daughter, Christine Coe. Loved beyond measure, Christine was included in all of their adventures. Many hours were spent visiting the zoo, the ballpark, museums and parks together. Dorothy was extremely proud of her daughter and liked to share news and stories of Christine from the day she was born into adulthood. This tight family bond was evident to anyone who knew them.  Eventually Dorothy and Rick moved to Vermont to be near Christine, her husband Damien, and their beloved grand-dogs.

Dorothy’s sense of humor put everyone at ease. Always happy to see you, she made you feel special and welcome. Her laughter was contagious. She was an eager tour guide if you were lucky enough to visit her in the city. She enjoyed sharing Broadway theater productions and favorite restaurants along with all the NYC sights and attractions.
Traveling back to Indiana to spend time with her family and staying with her only sister and very best friend, Betty, was an annual tradition. A trip to the Porter County Fair was always on the agenda. The sisters were inseparable in mind if not always in person. She enjoyed many years of being a “snowbird” in Florida with her brothers and sister. Travel always meant searching for treasures to bring back for friends and family. She loved collecting beanie babies, Snoopy collectibles, seashells and more.
Whether it was catching up with friends at Coffee Club, luncheons with former KHS classmates, or extended stays with family, Dorothy made the effort to stay connected. Spending time with loved ones was a priority. Many, many pictures were always taken and tearful goodbyes showed just how much Dorothy loved her visits with family and friends.

Left to cherish her memory are her loving husband, Richard Coe and daughter, Christine Coe (Damien Laney) of Vermont, brother, Owen Martin (Kathy), sisters-in-law; Betty Lou Martin and Norma Martin, and many nieces, nephews, and friends.  She was preceded in death by her parents, and brothers; Sam Martin, Kenneth Martin and Charley Martin, her sister Elizabeth Reinke and sister-in-law Ann Martin.
Dorothy will be remembered for many things but particularly her vibrant personality that brightened every room she entered, her ready smile and her absolute and unwavering love for family and friends. Saying goodbye for now to this remarkable person, we celebrate the beautiful life she led and the lasting impact she made on the world around her. She would want us each to honor her memory by carrying on and spreading that love and joy to one another. Until we meet again.

Services are pending. Memorial donations may be made to St. Jacobus Lutheran Church in Woodside, NY.