Dorothy Bader, 93, passed away quietly, surrounded by her loving family on Jan. 14 at her home in Maine. Dorothy was born on Dec. 4, 1918 in Bronx, N.Y. to Manya (Ganz) and Louis Isaacson. She met and married Charles Bader on June 15, 1941. With Charles joining the Army Air Force at the advent of WWII, they lived in Florida, New Mexico, and California before settling down at the War’s conclusion in Augusta. During that time, they started a family: son, Laurence Michael and daughter, Ellen Ruth.
They were married for 62 years until Charles’s passing in 2003. Once her children began to grow, she became involved with the PTA, Cub Scouts, Brownies, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts as well as supported her children’s music lessons and sporting activities. She provided a Jewish education for her children and was one of the Founding Families of the Temple Beth-El Synagogue in Augusta. She served as President and was a Life Member of Hadassah. She also participated in community organizations and was a member of American Association of University Women.
She was a graduate of the New York City Public School System and pursued courses in Art and Design. However, an experience working with emotionally challenged children at Bellevue Hospital in New York City under the direction of renowned child neuropsychiatrist, Lauretta Bender, developer of the Bender-Gestalt Psychological Test, led her toward a different career path. In 1961, Dorothy graduated from the University of Maine in Orono, concentrating her studies in Special Education. She worked in the Augusta Public Schools as a special education teacher and as a reading specialist at The Stevens School for Girls in Hallowell.
She was one of the founding members of the Kennebec Valley Art Association in Hallowell. During her retirement years, she invited many members to paint at her homes in Pemaquid Point on John’s Bay and Boca Raton, Fla.
Dorothy will be remembered for her keen sense of humor.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles; and sister, Roslyn Ingeneri.
Dorothy is survived by her children and their spouses, Laurence and Elke Bader of Barrington, Ill., and Ellen and Avi Kandel of Metuchen, N.J.; nephew, Philip Ingeneri of Delray Beach, Fla.; niece, Lois Bernstein of Alexandria, Va.; as well as many nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews.
Funeral services 11 a.m., Wed., Jan. 18 at The Levey Chapel, 471 Deering Ave., Portland. Rabbi Susan Bulba-Carvutto of Temple Beth-El in Augusta will conduct the service. Interment followed at the Mt. Sinai Cemetery.
The family would appreciate contributions in Dorothy’s memory be made to Temple Beth-El Building Fund, PO Box 871, Augusta, ME 04332.
Arrangements by The Jewish Funeral Home, Portland.
