Dorsey Whitney Lawson

If you can keep your head when all about you
   Are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
   But make allowance for their doubting too;
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
   Or, being lied about, don’t deal in lies,
Or, being hated, don’t give way to hating,
   And yet don’t look too good, nor talk too wise;
...
If - by Rudyard Kipling

Obituary

Dorsey Lawson passed away at her home June 25, 2024 surrounded by family.  Dorsey grew up during the depression, learning the values of family and relationships over material possessions.  She showered her own family with love, providing a loving space for her children to grow.

In her first job she used her gift with languages to help children in public schools in East Los Angeles adjust to life in a new country, giving them the same love and warmth she brought to her own family.  In her next career she played a leading role in establishing, RESULTS, a non-profit citizens lobby, that produced amazing, real world result in the lives of children around the world by inspiring people to discover the power within them to lobby the US government to target money on the most effective programs for combating hunger and disease afflicting children world-wide.  Late in life she continued using her natural talent at teaching languages to help adult immigrants from throughout the world learn English, bonding with her students.

Dorsey also led a profound spiritual life.  As a college student she began practicing yoga before most people had ever heard of it.   She was also an early practitioner of meditation, a practice she continued throughout her life.  She reveled in intense meditation retreats and even made a pilgrimage to ashrams in India.

So many people were drawn to Dorsey throughout her life, she had a light that inspired people and brought the best out of everyone.

She is survived by her four children Michael, Melanie, Brian and Marcella; her sister, Shirley; brother, Jack and several grandchildren.

There will be a celebration of Dorsey’s life on Saturday, October 19 in Pasadena, please send an email to lawsonfamily561@gmail.com if you would like details about how to attend or how to view a livestream of the event.

The family asks that donations in lieu of flowers be sent to Results Education Fund, 1101 15th St NW #1200, Washington, DC 20005.

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October 20, 2024

My earliest memory of my aunt Dorsey was of a person who loved to have fun. Example would be my mom's description of their sailing experiences when we would gather together with the Lawsons for a day of sailing at Alamitos Bay. Aunt Dorsey would love to sail downwind, aka the fun direction. I think she had that right and I became a lifelong sailor myself. As I matured I discovered that Dorsey had similar traits to my mother, devoted to her family and committed to her causes. My last meeting with my aunt Dorsey was after a ukulele event when I drove her home. Just the two of us chatting during the ride to her Pasadena home. We had a nice dinner with Brian and I remember thinking to myself that I wished I had known her better and more deeply.

Jim Markus

October 18, 2024

When I recall meeting and hosting Dorsey Lawson to work with Sam on the FIRST RESULTS International Conference . She struck me as a Goddess / Queen the way she carried her beautiful self. I was also so thankful that she flew from Pasadena to Washington DC to be with Sam and work on the agenda for the weekend of our Conference. She was a pillar for RESULTS to come into existence and sustain itself as an organization. 40+ years validates all of the above!! Truly a Saint!

Lenny Chorazy

October 17, 2024

Dear Lawson family, your beloved mother was an enormous role model for me. I was in RESULTS in 1988-1990 and came to Washington for the World Summit for Candlelight Vigils. Dorsey was my guiding light. Pure love thru and thru. The world will miss her influence and presence. I do! Love Shirley Tainton

Shirley Tainton

October 12, 2024

Dear Lawson Family,

My sincere condolences for your loss. I had the great fortune of getting to know Dorsey at the Community Learning Center where she taught English to adults. We shared the same room, as I was a newly hired school counselor for the alternative school, my desk was in the corner of a classroom. After the high school kids would clear out for the day, Dorsey would come in and use that room for her teaching. She was so good at it! I used to love being in the room while she taught using the crossroads videos for her curriculum. It was clear to me that she was a model citizen and top tier teacher. She must have been 75, and was an excellent teacher! Her adult students cherished her so much, they would shower her with gifts (edible and non-edible :) ). I missed her when the class ceased to continue. Thank you for including me in the notification, and I will do my best to come pay my respects and honor her in October.

Sincerely,

Raul Acevedo M.S., PPS
School Counselor, TCHS

Marcella Lawson

September 25, 2024

I will sorely miss Dorothy, who I met through being the Watch Block Captain and seeing her on her walks. She was always bright and cheerful in spite of her physical limitations. It was a pleasure to talk to her and help her in small ways.

Mitch Marich

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