"Dodie" Dorothy Carter Gill

Dorothy Carter Gill (Dorothy, Dodie, Doma), age 73, a devoted member of the Reston and Arlington Virginia communities, passed away peacefully in her sleep on February 11, 2018, with her two sons by her side after an 11-month battle with cancer.

Dodie was an amazing mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, mental health care professional, mentor, psychotherapist, leadership coach, triathlete, entrepreneur, real-estate mogul (yes mom I wrote that :) ), and public servant who led a purpose-driven life complete with academic, professional, and personal accomplishments.

She achieved major academic success at schools such as the University of Pennsylvania, Penn State, Temple, and Virginia Commonwealth University. She was a pioneer in her field and a published author on the key mental health topics of her time including mental health recognition, caring for public servants, and trauma-related conditions.

A nationally-recognized leader in the Behavioral Health, EAP and First Responder arenas, Dodie held numerous local and national industry positions and collaborated with the National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH), the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and The Memorial Institute for the prevention of Terrorism. She worked for Arlington County for over 40 years before retiring in 2006.

Dodie lived a life of massive purpose and contribution through her passion for counseling and supporting Fire Departments, Police Departments, and Emergency Management Services in the DC-metro area, one of the largest regions in the country.

Her work leading the EAP efforts for the Arlington County First Responder communities after the September 11, 2001, attack on the Pentagon earned her further national acclaim. Her comprehensive service model utilized inside the perimeter at the Pentagon was recognized in the After-Action Report as one of the Top 5 response activities that were executed well after the attack.

In the second half of her life, she became a health nut and workout warrior whose many notable athletic accomplishments included competing for the USA in the 1999 World Triathlon Championships in the 55-59 age group after picking up the sport in her mid-40’s.

She will always be remembered as an exceptional individual that was successful at anything she set her mind to. She approached everything with a selfless passion that was contagious, and she never ever gave up.

Her smile and laugh could light up a room, and she was a world-class hugger that was able to magically make text messages such as “I’m hugging you!” feel like the real thing.

She believed that the ultimate lessons in life included learning to give and learning to receive. She spent most of her life giving and was eternally grateful when she learned to receive during her final years.

She loved spending time at the beach with her family and attending Capitals and Wizards games with her sons. She grew up outside of Philadelphia and one of her last expressive moments was communicating her amazement that the Eagles had won the Super Bowl (yes mom I wrote that also :) .

She saw the last 11 months of her life as a true blessing for the perspectives and knowledge that she gained while battling a Stage 4 cancer diagnosis she received in March 2017.

Dorothy loved her family and is survived by her two sons Ethan and Brendan; Ethan’s wife Dawn Sheppard; two sisters Mary Alice Shields and Flora Roberts; grandchildren Haley and Logan; and best friend and business partner Gary Randle.

She left specific instructions for her family and friends to celebrate her life and impact on this world. The celebration will be held on Sunday, March 4, 2018, at 12:30 pm at the National Funeral Home at 7482 Lee Hwy, Falls Church, VA 22042. Attendees are asked to try to wear something purple in their wardrobe or accessory as it was her favorite color. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Cancer Society or Wounded Warrior Project in her name.

In recognition of her impact on the first responder community, the Arlington County Fire Department has coordinated with several other Fire and Police Departments in the region to provide a funeral procession through Arlington and Falls Church that will arrive prior to the celebration (We know you would never have asked for or expected this but you deserve it :) . We love you mom).