In Memory of . . . Dorris Dow Alcott (1920-2012)

The Reverend Doris Dow Alcott died of heart failure on April 3, 2012. She was 91 years old.

Rev.
Alcott was born and raised in Winthrop, ME. She was the daughter of a
factory worker and a homemaker. In 1938, she married Ernest F. Alcott, a
descendent of Amos Bronson Alcott, the American Transcendentalist, and
his daughter, famous author Louisa May Alcott.

Alcott
began her college education in 1976 and graduated from Goddard College
in 1980 with a bachelor’s degree in religious education. Additionally,
she took courses at Harvard University and earned her MRE through the
UUA’s Independent Study Program in 1982.

Rev.
Alcott was ordained in 1982 at Towson Unitarian Universalist Church in
Lutherville, MD. She was called to serve the Towson Unitarian
Universalist Church and served as Director of Religious Education there
from 1983-1985. She was also the Joseph Priestly District’s first RE
Consultant from 1986-1995. Rev. Alcott served on the curriculum team
that developed “World Religions for Junior Youth,” the last curriculum
kit published by the UUA. She was a member of the Towson Unitarian
Universalist Church and the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Harford
County in Churchville, MD.

Later
in life, she became an active member of numerous ecumenical groups and
was active in religious education. Rev. Alcott retired in 2008 but
continued to serve as a guest pastor, and officiated at weddings,
funerals and memorial services. An experienced traveller, Rev. Alcott
visited all seven continents and, in 1993, joined an expedition that
travelled to Antarctica. She enjoyed talking to colleagues in chat rooms
and once said, “I retired from ministry but not from life!”

Rev.
Alcott was predeceased by her husband, Ernest F. Alcott. She is
survived by her sons Colin C. Alcott and his wife Janet, of Albuquerque,
NM and Bronson E. Alcott of Columbia, MD; by two granddaughters; and
two great-grandchildren.

A
memorial service for Rev. Alcott will be held at the Towson Unitarian
Universalist Church, 1710 Dulaney Valley Rd., Lutherville-Timonium, MD
21093, on May 11, 2012 at 11:00 a.m.. Notes of condolence may go to
Bronson Alcott, 10654 Faulkner Ridge Cir., Columbia, MD 21044.

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