Obituary of Dorothy Gillespie

Dorothy "Dottie" Gillespie, of Pine Bush, passed away on Thursday August 13, 2015 at Orange Regional Medical Center after a long illness. She was 82 years old. Dottie was born February 15, 1933 in New York City. She was pre-deceased by her mother Annette Pastermack Jackson, father William Deloy Jackson, and brother William Jackson. Dottie had a passion for dance that started at the age of 4. She would attend dance classes 6 days a week. At age 16 she took on her first professional job, touring the east coast and Canada with the Rockettes (you might have heard of them) for the summer into October. Which was tough as she started school a month and a half behind but still managed to pull off A's in her school work. After graduating Andrew Jackson High School (funny because she is a descendant of Andrew Jackson), at 17 years old, toured with the Roxyettes during the summer, and after the tour continued to dance at The Little Roxy theater in New York City. They would work 6 day weeks, 4-5 shows a day. At 21, she auditioned, and won a spot to do live commercials on TV in Hollywood California for a show you may have heard of called Truth or Consequences, (hosted by Jack Bailey) and Queen for a Day. The commercial was for Old Gold cigarettes, and she was Old Gold "Regular", dancing cigarette pack. She met her then to be husband, Reuben (from Pine Bush) where they got engaged, married and became pregnant with their first born. Dottie danced in that box until she was 9 months pregnant before she hung up her dancing boots for motherhood. Her passion for dance did not end there. Dot and Reub moved back to Pine Bush where she started a dance school, had 2 more children, then in 1962, she began her career at Pine Bush High School as the choreographer for the school musicals. This became her true love, aside from my father and us kids, of course. She loved working with her "kids" as she so lovingly referred to them all. She told me just last year "those were the most wonderful times". In 1968, she started another high school performing group called the Bandfront. These young ladies would lead the Marching Band and perform dance routines to the music they played. The group started with 9 and grew to 18 when she retired in 1981. In between all of that she volunteered to give the juniors a crash course in ballroom dancing for the proms, did choreography for the Town of Crawford Recreation Program musicals, the Pythian Sisters, 4H Girls, and even the Pine Bush Synchronized Swimming team. Dottie was the Assistant Director and Choreographer for a local Gospel Singing group called "Celebration". She also performed for many of the local Senior Citizens groups, and sang in the United Methodist Church choir of Pine Bush, which she loved dearly. After a few years of "retirement" Dottie joined Sweet Adelines International, and performed with The Song of the Valley chorus out of Goshen. There too, she would do the choreography for the groups performances. Dot's skills weren't confined to the stage. She also was a babysitter, bookkeeper for Friendly's Restaurant, sales clerk, substitute Phys. Ed. Teacher, scorekeeper for Little League, Cub Scout Den Mother. She volunteered at Radio Vision in Middletown and the Town of Crawford Library where she would read for story hour to preschoolers. In September 1960, Dottie helped (Chairman) to reorganize the Pine Bush Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary and became the first President of the group. She went on to hold the offices of Secretary, Recording Secretary, and trustee. Dottie was a loving, energetic, positive force in our lives and anyone who met her. She was married, and now reunited, to the love of her life Reuben L. Gillespie (deceased). She leaves behind, a daughter, Suzann Baldi and her husband Louis, and two sons, Jeffrey Gillespie and his wife Linda, and Craig Gillespie and his wife Martha, 9 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, 2 great great grandchildren. Family and friends may gather to celebrate Dottie's life on Thursday August 20th 2015, from 2-4 pm and 7-9 pm at the William M. Gagan Funeral Home Inc. 1525 Burlingham Rd. Funeral Services will be held at the Mountainview United Methodist Church, 91 Main St, Pine Bush on Friday August, 21st at 10am with Pastor Robert B. Hewitt officiating. Interment of ashes will take place at New Prospect Cemetery immediately following the service. In lieu of flowers Donations may be made to the Pine Bush Volunteer Fire Dept., Ladies Auxiliary, Pine Bush Volunteer Fire Dept., or the Mountainview United Methodist Church. Arrangements entrusted to the William M. Gagan Funeral Home Inc. www.wmgaganfuneralhome.com