Dorothy Knox Van Herwarde

Falmouth, ME - Dorothy Mae “Dottie” Knox Van Herwarde, 96, passed away peacefully on April 28th, 2024 in Falmouth. Dorothy was born on September 25, 1927 in Belleville, NJ to the late Horace and Mabel (McCormack) Knox. During her early years when Dorothy worked as a secretary in Manhattan, and being an avid skier and tennis player, she and her brother joined the Calvert Club, an activity and ski club based in Nutley, NJ that had weekly winter trips to different ski areas in the Catskills and the northeast. It was there at that ski club that Bill and Dorothy met and started a new life together and that was the beginning of a great, exciting journey. They moved to Nutley and raised their family and as a practicing Catholic was a big supporter of St. Mary’s Church and School. During that time, Bill and Dottie welcomed many into their summer lake house in Green Pond NJ that they purchased in 1959. This was a home where happy sounds always came out of the kitchen and porch as their kids and eventually grandchildren gathered each summer making lasting memories for all. In Green Pond, Dorothy shined as a great friend to all, creating many lifelong relationships that were as strong as any bond. She was champion tennis player, winning the Green Pond Women’s Singles in the early 1960’s. But it wasn’t just competition with Dorothy, it was the camaraderie and she was a very well-loved part of her community. She loved to cook large family meals, the more the merrier. There are too many time-honored special recipes she created to mention but her breakfast tradition of adding cream cheese to her famous scrambled eggs will be carried on as will her skill at cream sauces that will be hard to duplicate. Dorothy and Bill spent their retirement years in great locations such as their place on historic Bellevue Avenue’s “Mansion Way” in Newport RI where they continued to play tennis in and around the famous Newport Casino Lawn Tennis Club. She and Bill traveled extensively as well, with notable month-long trips to Hawaii, Alaska and more. They then moved to one of those favorite spots, Vero Beach, FL, for many more fun winters on the tennis and bocce courts and playing Dottie’s championship-quality bridge with friends and family. Dottie was sister to her beloved brother and partner in crime, Horace Knox, just a few years older. As time passed, she had a good lifetime of joy with sister-in-law Claire Knox as well as sister-in-law Anne Sullivan, Bill’s sister, and her husband Donald and their growing families. The last 8 years of Dottie's life was spent enjoying what Maine had to offer; making friends in each community she lived in and cherishing visits from all her beloved family. God bless Dorothy for a life well spent. Dorothy was predeceased by her loving husband William "Bill", son James, and daughter-in-law, Karen. She was a wonderful Mom to her four loving children, William and his wife Ellen Van Herwarde, Carol and husband Patrick Gannon, Joan and husband William Smith, and Thomas. Dorothy was an adoring Nana to 11 grandchildren, Katherine, Christine, Alexandra, Jacqueline, Thomas, Sean, Harrison, Grania, Kara, Jeremy and Liam; 5 great-grandchildren, Olivia, Taylor, Walker, Ian, and Cal. The family would like to extend a special thank you to the wonderful staff at Sedgewood Commons and Affinity Hospice for their love and care of Dorothy. Family and friends are invited to visit at 11am on May 4, 2024 with a funeral service at 12pm at Conroy-Tully Walker, South Portland Chapel, 1024 Broadway, South Portland, ME. “Sleep Nana sleep but may you still hear our childish laughter up there in the highest Heaven” V.Perrin Love, your grandchildren, Katherine, Christine, Alexandra, Jacqueline, Thomas, Sean, Harrison, Grania, Kara, Jeremy and Liam.