Dorothy M. Collins

Dorothy Falvey Collins

Dorothy Margaret (Falvey) Collins died March 16, 2005 at a local hospital following a brief illness. She was 88.

Born in Cambridge, Mass., June 30, 1916 to John H. and Margaret (Jordon) Falvey, she was educated in the Peabody Grammar School, Cambridge and was a graduate of Cambridge High and Latin. She earned the Bachelor of Science in Education degree at Framingham State College in 1938.

Recognized as an outstanding tennis player in her youth, she at one time was the Women's Tennis Champion of Cambridge. From 1936-1942 she served as a recreation supervisor for the City of Cambridge.

Having majored in elementary education, she taught in Wayland, Mass., from 1938 to 1945, first at the Hilltop School and later at the Wayland Center School.

Married in 1944 to Robert J. Collins, the couple moved to Bedford in 1946. She returned to teaching in 1962, first at St. Raphael School and subsequently at St Patrick School and later at St. Francis of Assisi, all under the Manchester Diocesan School System. A highly respected elementary teacher, Mrs. Collins taught first grade in various schools of the Manchester School System from 1967 until her retirement in 1985, the last several years of her teaching career being spent at Parker Varney School.

Mrs. Collins served from 1971-1974 on the Board of the former Immaculata High School (now Trinity). A member and treasurer of the original Sacred Heart Hospital Associates, she continued her membership in the current Catholic Medical Center Associates. A founding member of the Saint Anselm College Faculty Wives Association in which she held offices as treasurer and president, she also served as a hostess at commencement and other college-related activities.

In recognition of her devoted service to the Saint Anselm College community, in 1989 a student residence, Falvey House, was named in her honor. She holds the rank Lady Grand Cross in the Papal Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem to which she was named by Pope Paul II in 1984.

Among her professional memberships are the Manchester Education Association, the New Hampshire Education Association, the National Education Association, and the Retired Educators Association. She was a communicant of St. Raphael Church, and a long-time member of the St. Raphael Ladies' Guild.

Mrs. Collins leaves behind her husband, Robert J. Collins of Bedford, NH; Four children, Dr. Robert J. Collins, Jr., of Rockville, MD., Mrs. Kevin J. (Christine) Powers of Salem, NH, David G. Collins of Bedford, NH and Dr. Brian. C. Collins of York, ME; 13 grandchildren. She was pre-deceased by her only sibling, Mary Falvey Brooks of Arlington, Mass. in 1997.

A mass of Christian burial was celebrated in the Abbey Church of St. Anselm College on Saturday March 19, 2005. Burial followed in St. Joseph Cemetery, Bedford, NH;

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Collins-Falvey Scholarship Fund, c/o Development Office, St. Anselm College, 100 St. Anselm Drive, Manchester, NH 03102.