Dorothy (Dottie) B. Milbury
RC of Exeter
August 13, 1939 – April 6, 2024
Dorothy (Dottie) B. Milbury, 84, since 1983 a long-standing member of the Rotary Club of Exeter, NH, passed away at her home with her family by her side on April 6, 2024. Dottie Milbury left a legacy in the Exeter Rotary Club, in the Town of Exeter, and in the Rotary District 7780. In 1983 she was “invited” into the Exeter Rotary Club. This made her the first female member of the Exeter Rotary Club, which led to her being the first female President of Exeter Rotary Club for 1990-1991, and, the first female club president in the entire 7780 District. Dottie opened the door for women Rotarians and kept that door open by offering mentorship to women in Rotary for almost four decades. However, female leadership was not Dottie’s only lasting contributions.
Dottie was a well-known business woman in real estate welcoming families to the NH Seacoast area. For many new citizens, Dottie was their first contact. She welcomed them warmly and helped them become established members of the community. Her strong work ethic, her honesty, loyalty, kindness and strong desire to help others, along with her love for her profession and community, did not go unnoticed.
In 1983 she was “invited” into the Exeter Rotary Club. Twice she received the highest form of recognition a Rotary Club can bestow, the Paul Harris Fellow Award. She was nominated for the internationally acclaimed Athena Award and in 2020 she received the Citizen of the Year Award in Exeter. She was also a member of the Exeter Area Chamber of Commerce for many years. These are just a few examples of how much the greater community appreciated Dottie.
Many of Exeter Rotary’s current members looked to Dottie through the years as an example of how to engage in service and draw people to Rotary by exemplifying the meaning behind “Service Above Self.” Dottie also established the Rotary Club’s support of the annual Seacoast School of Technology Scholarship Awards and Special Olympics State Summer Games program at UNH.
Dottie’s love of community inspired her to bring joy and light to the Town of Exeter by leading the Club’s traditional luminary project. Each year on Christmas Eve Rotarians and community members have gathered together to light thousands of candles that illuminate the downtown area. Families come from near and far to enjoy the luminaries, and it has become a cherished tradition for many families in New Hampshire and Maine. 2024 was the luminary’s 28th year. It speaks to Dottie’s leadership that this tradition will not end because she is no longer with us. Because of Dottie’s superior leadership everyone knows the role they need to play to keep this tradition alive for another 28 years.
Her dedication to the Special Olympics was an example of her wish to have the Rotary Club help the greater community. It was important to Dottie that families with special needs children and adults saw that they were supported and part of the greater community. In May of 2023, Dottie stood during the whole dinner service, scooping corn for over 1,000 athletes and greeting each one with a big smile on her face while she chatted with them over the chow line. Fellow Rotarians knew Dottie was in pain- at 83 years old she just had back surgery and was suffering from a lung ailment. However, in spite of being offered chairs and breaks, Dottie continued to serve. There was no stopping Dottie when there were people who needed help. Yet another way Dottie set the example for us Rotarians by her commitment to “Service Above Self”.
Even in hospice, Dottie was a Rotarian first. Her last wish was to attend one more club meeting, showing her love and determination as a Rotarian. The club was actively working to create a hybrid meeting just so we could spend more time with our inspiring friend. Unfortunately, Dottie never made it to that last meeting. Dottie Milbury is someone who has given us so much -- ceaseless efforts to make the world a better place, a good neighbor and most of all a devoted friend. That is a Rotarian and we would not be the Rotary Club we are today without Dottie’s membership.