Dorothy Dean Stevens

Dorothy Dean Stevens was born on February 20, 1917 in Ellensburg, Washington to Marshall and Ruby Dean on her older sister Mary’s 5th birthday. Years later Mary learned to love Dorothy, in spite of spoiling her birthday, and wrote, “Dorothy always had a joyous outlook on the world. She loved and created beauty, and she’s still tough and purty.” Dorothy took great interest and pride in her family history, especially the stories of her great-great grandparents who crossed the Oregon Trail in a wagon train.

Dorothy’s early years were shaped by family moves to Oakland, Walnut Creek and Pacific Grove. It was in Oakland that Dorothy’s dance lessons began, and with her first visit to the Grand Lake Theater, Dorothy became aware of what could be accomplished on the stage. Her appreciation for the art and the skill of dance led to convincing her high school physical education teacher to allow the entire class to pursue dance and dance exercises instead of the usual athletic sports.

Herold Mahoney entered Dorothy’s life in 1936 as a guest at her family’s hotel in Walnut Creek. Shortly after, the couple was married and had two children, John H. Mahoney of Carmel Valley and Alan M. Mahoney of Petaluma.

After World War II, Dorothy, now divorced, was working as a hostess at the Casa Munras Hotel in Monterey when she met David W. Stevens, the President of the Junior Chamber of Commerce. Dorothy and David were married in 1949 in the garden behind her parents’ house on Ocean View Boulevard, which overlooks Monterey Bay in Pacific Grove. Years later David and Dorothy bought the house next door, which has been Dorothy’s home for the past three decades. David Stevens died in 1987.

In 1947 she established the Dorothy Dean School of Dance where a generation of Peninsula children studied ballet. Many also benefited from her tutelage in Cotillion classes and student tours that she led to Europe. During the European trips, Dorothy arranged for ballet study in London and Paris and exposed her students to performances and lectures on the art and culture of the region.

In 1962 Dorothy sold her ballet school and opened a shop in Carmel, “Footlights and Fancy.” Later in that decade she became the buyer and manager of the shop at Ed Haber’s Carmel Valley Golf and Country Club, Quail Lodge. Dorothy’s creative urges propelled her forward to create DD Designs: a line of etched glassware that she designed, produced, marketed and sold to golf clubs throughout the west, including Hawaii.

Dorothy was an avid and intrepid traveler. In her home is a world map with pin marks and string that outlines her many journeys. In the late 1980’s , Dorothy traveled to China, Japan and South Asia, and drove across the United States. From 1992 to 2003, with her best traveling companion and friend, Sam Tunnell, Dorothy journeyed to France and Portugal, revisited South Asia, cruised through the Panama Canal, journeyed along the Silk Road of Turkey and visited the Mayan ruins of Mexico. Sam and Dorothy’s last trip together was to revisit Pearl Harbor, where Sam was stationed during World War II.

Dorothy stands as a wonderful role model for her family. She was a woman of strength and grace and she possessed a positive outlook and a curious mind. Dorothy was ever ready to make the next stranger her newest friend. Her stories of people and travel have enriched us all. The family is fortunate for her tenacious pursuit in the writing of her memoir, Dancing Through Life on the Monterey Peninsula and Beyond, published in 2009.

Over the last six years, Dorothy was especially blessed by her friendship with her house mate, Peter Stock. She took particular delight in regularly beating Peter at cribbage. Special thanks are due to Dee Farnsworth for arranging all of the wonderful caregivers who helped Dorothy over the past year.

The family is sure that the footlights were turning on in the sky for Dorothy as she danced to the light. Peter Stock wrote to Dorothy’s friends on the news of her passing, “I can assure you that she danced with grace and dignity that is singularly hers, and acknowledged us all in her final bow.”

In addition to her sons John Mahoney (Ann) and Alan Mahoney (Carolyn), Dorothy is survived by four grandchildren: Jay Mahoney of Berkeley, Kevin Mahoney of Carmel, Lisa Mendivil and Corinne Diaz of Petaluma; and eight great grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions in Dorothy’s memory to: St. Mary’s Episcopal Church (146 12th Street, Pacific Grove 93950); the Pacific Grove Library (550 Central Avenue, Pacific Grove 93950); or the Monterey Peninsula College Foundation (980 Fremont Street, Monterey 93940).

A memorial service will be held at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Pacific Grove on Tuesday, December 27th, 2011 at 11 a.m.

Arrangements under the direction of The Paul Mortuary, Pacific Grove, CA.