On September 10, 2019, Dorothy Nestor died after a long struggle with cancer.
Dorothy was an artist and skilled craftsperson. After high school she studied briefly at Salem Commercial School, and then changed direction and attended Massachusetts College of Art from 1964 through 1967. She then attended Syracuse University, where she was a research assistant from 1967 to 1969.
Returning to Salem in the 1970's she held various jobs, not always in her chosen field, but always with an eye for creative opportunities. She was a self-employed craftsperson, a costume and set designer for Salem Chronicles, and a volunteer for several civic organizations including Historic Salem, and the League of Women Voters. She was also active in other civic affairs, with a particular interest in transportation and government.
During this period Dorothy and her friend Richard Minutillo decided to form a household, for a time in Salem, then in Brockton Massachusetts and finally in Boston.
In 1979 Dorothy began a series of positions at Northeastern University, moving from Faculty Secretary in the Law school, to positions as Administrative Secretary and Administrative Assistant in the Electrical Engineering Department and the Center to Electromagnetics Research. While employed at Northeastern she took the opportunity to resume her formal education, first with a B.A. Magna Cum Laude from Northeastern in 1986 and then with completion of the Design Certificate Program at Massachusetts College of Art. With these credentials in hand she resumed free-lance and consulting in design and production. Eventually she took a full-time position at Brewster Wallcovering Company from 1991 until she retired in 2008. At Brewster she was responsible for colorations of wallcovering collections, and for the design of borders, sidewalls, bookcovers and other material.
After retirement she continued her interest in volunteerism, and was an active member and volunteer at the Arnold Arboretum. She was a member of the New England Surface and Textile Design Association, and of the Sigma Epsilon Rho Honor Society. She also enjoyed sewing, travel, gardening, and perhaps most of all doting on her grand-nephews. They, and the rest of her family including her sister Mary, along with many other friends, and her loving friend Richard, all miss her very much.