Dorothy Thomas Catalano

March 18, 1954 – November 11, 2024

Dorothy Thomas Catalano, lovingly known as Dori, passed away peacefully on November 11, 2024, in Tallahassee, Florida, after a courageous six-month battle with cancer. She was 70 years old.

Born on March 18, 1954, in Bainbridge, Maryland, Dori dedicated her life to helping others through her work as a highly skilled occupational therapist. She was also the heart and soul of her family—an incredible wife, a devoted mother to two sons, and a world-class "Mom-Mom" to her three beloved grandchildren. As the youngest of four siblings, she shared a special bond with her older sisters and brother, who both teased and cherished her. Dori’s kindness, warmth, and intelligence touched everyone she met, and her ability to connect with people was unmatched. She had an extraordinary gift for lighting up a room with her gentle smile and adorable giggle.

After moving to St. Petersburg, Florida as a baby, Dori gained a lifelong love of sunny beaches. She excelled at school, graduating from St. Petersburg High School in 1972 and going on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy with honors at the University of Florida in 1975.

Dori’s professional life spanned nearly four decades, during which she impacted countless lives. She began her career at Easter Seals Rehabilitation Center and later worked at Tallahassee Memorial Regional Medical Center, where she established occupational therapy as a new service. In 1985, Dori founded her own private practice specializing in hand therapy and upper-extremity rehabilitation: Therapy Specialists of North Florida, Inc. In 1991, she was awarded the newly established designation of Certified Hand Therapist (CHT). Although the name and ownership of her professional practice would change over time, its well-respected reputation for excellent therapy would persist. In 2002, Dori established hand therapy as a new service at Tallahassee Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy. She later became director of Tallahassee Orthopedic Clinic’s occupational therapy team until she retired in 2020.

Dori was a pioneer in her field, particularly in the development of splinting technology and methodologies. She was a trusted expert sought out by therapists, surgeons, and other medical professionals for her expertise in hand and upper-extremity physiology. As a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association, the Florida Occupational Therapy Association, the American Society of Hand Therapists, founding member of the Florida Hand Society, and an occupational therapy consultant for the Florida State Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, her compassion, expertise and dedication were well known. She left an indelible mark on the lives of the many young professionals she mentored and the patients whose lives she touched.

Dori’s passion for life extended well beyond her profession. She loved gardening, cooking, reading, spending time at the beach, taking long walks, and talking and laughing with friends. Her greatest joy, however, was her family. She doted on her three young grandsons, constantly finding clever ways to share her love of arts and crafts and the wonders of nature, especially dragonflies and all they symbolize.

Dori is survived by her loving husband, Bob Catalano; her sons, Tommy and Johnny Catalano; her sisters, Deborah Birch and Robin Blanchfield; her brother, John Scott Thomas; her stepbrother, Gene LeDuc; her daughter-in-law, Sarah Catalano; her grandchildren, Benjamin, Luke, and Jude Catalano; her nieces, Kristen Hall and Caitlin Blanchfield; her nephew, Zaymian Thomas; and numerous grandnephews. Dori was preceded in death by her mother, Jeanne Matthews Thomas Leduc, her father, John Benton Thomas and her stepfather, Bryant LeDuc. She will be fondly remembered by her extended Lake Tribe family and her dear friends, The Beach Ladies.

A celebration of Dori’s life will take place at 10:00 AM, Saturday, December 7, 2024, at the Reflection Pool in Maclay Gardens, followed by a reception at Lake Tribe Brewing.

Please consider donating in Dori’s memory to:

• Big Bend Hospice

• Florida State Parks Foundation