Dorothy E Colbeth

Dot was born to Ruth and Frank Regele on May 27, 1924 in Malden, Mass. She graduated from Malden High School in 1942 and was then employed as a court officer at the Malden Courthouse.

She and her parents spent summer vacations at the Island View House on Chebeague Island where she would eventually meet her husband-to-be at a dance at the Island Hall in the summer of 1944. Six months later Dot and Jerry were married just before Jerry shipped out to sea in the Navy. They would be reunited nearly a year later.

After Dot's two daughters were born, there were many moves to many different houses around the country. Fortunately for her family, Dot was an accomplished artist and seamstress thereby making each of her family's houses into warm comfortable homes from the Northeast to the Midwest to the South and back again to Massachusetts and Chebeague.

Later in her life, Dot further developed her artistic talents by studying oil painting at the Rockport studio of portrait painter, Helen Van Wyke. There she painted both still life and landscapes which often captured vivid images of her island neighborhood.dotyounggirl

Dot's love for Chebeague Island was also evident in her passion for the work of the Chebeague Island Historical Society. A charter member, she served as a trustee of the organization for many years and co-chaired the Society's first collection committee. In 1988 she conceived the idea of Chebeague's Historic House Tour where her creative and organizational abilities coupled with her attention to detail were evident in everything she did. The Society dedicated the 2012 House Tour to Dot Colbeth in recognition of her many contributions to the organization.

Dot will surely be remember for her many kindnesses, for her devotion to friends, family, and her faith.

She is survived by Gerald, her husband of 71 years, her daughters Donna Colbeth of Chebeague Island, Jan Ross and her husband Michael of Grass Valley, CA. and a host of nieces and nephews.