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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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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Dorsey Lawson

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