Extraordinary life: Salemhaven Resident Dorothea Baron Dies at 85

Dorothea M. Baron, a resident of Salemhaven nursing home whose extraordinary life was marked by her perseverance in the wake of a near-fatal brain aneurysm, died on Christmas Eve.

After emerging from a 10-day coma nearly a half-century earlier, she celebrated her 85th birthday in November.

Born on Nov. 6, 1935, in Plainfield, N.J., she was the daughter of William and Rose (Crogan) DeLoskey. She moved to Somerville in 1945 and graduated from St. Clement High School in 1953.

While at St. Clement, she was a standout varsity basketball player and captain of the cheerleading team.

She attended Bridgewater State College as a physical education major and later held a variety of jobs in metro Boston, including staff positions at MIT and Tufts University. She also worked at Boston Woven Hose and Bedford Airport.

Mrs. Baron overcame numerous life challenges, most notably the November 1972 brain aneurysm. At one point, words on her medical chart skeptically stated, “We don’t have much hope for this woman.”

After she regained consciousness, her head now shaved from brain surgery, the athletic woman struggled to move her body at all. The life-of-the-party, fun-loving quipster had to learn how to speak again, how to walk again, and how to write again—this time, with her left hand.

Through dogged determination and unyielding grit, the mother of four young children became an inspiration for countless individuals. After moving her family to Marshfield in 1973, on occasion Mrs. Baron turned her home into a brief shelter for families enduring hardships. She also served as a volunteer to encourage and empower countless people going through struggles.

Throughout the 1980s, she was a quality control inspector for South Shore Industries in Marshfield, which helps adults with disabilities gain training and skills. Although the work was mentally and physically demanding, Mrs. Baron displayed grace, good humor and a tireless work ethic in her role.

A moment that captured so much of her essence came at a public meeting in support of South Shore Industries.

As quoted in The Patriot Ledger, she provided a sample of her uncanny vocabulary when she told public officials to stop “the folderol." The reporter also observed that her voice was “choked with emotion,” which indicated her care for others, especially those who are too often overlooked or undervalued.

In her four decades-plus of employment, other jobs included bookstore clerk, customer service associate at Plimoth Plantation, and receptionist for a Marshfield acupuncturist.

One of Mrs. Baron’s favorite roles was being an extra in 1986 on “The Witches of Eastwick.” That movie gig inspired an “as told to” front-page story in the local newspaper, the Marshfield Mariner, on which she collaborated with one of her children.

She was a member of many organizations, including Catholic Daughters of the Americas, and she was a former parishioner of Assumption Church in Marshfield. She volunteered her time at the church, and often assisted parish nuns with errands. In addition, for many years, she was a regular volunteer for a family crisis hotline.

Known affectionately as Dot, Dottie or Dottie Mae, Mrs. Baron was both a bright light and a sharp-witted straight shooter to family, friends and acquaintances, alternately offering words of wisdom (“Easy Does It”), a reality check (“How important is it?”), or a folksy observation (“Gimme a break, wouldja!”).

She inspired laughter in and devotion from others with her wit, her ability to poke fun at herself and life, and her filter-free take on just about everything.

When things became too unmanageable (a favorite word), she was known to detach (another nugget) by meditating, saying the Serenity Prayer, or reading books and studying word origins. The ultimate conversationalist, she had a piercing wit, loved a good cup of tea, was always up for a competitive game of Scrabble, and enjoyed puzzles, books, and music.

After leaving Marshfield in 1990, she lived in Plymouth, Sandwich, and Salem, N.H. Starting in July 2018, she resided at Salemhaven, a nursing home that provided excellent care and resources.

At Salemhaven, Mrs. Baron was a beacon of good cheer, humor and vitality for fellow residents and staff alike. That light glittered strongly even as a leg infection she developed in Fall 2019 ushered in her eventual demise.

This past Spring, despite the nursing home’s best efforts, she was among those who contracted the novel coronavirus. Although she lost 14 pounds and was visibly weakened, Mrs. Baron retained her spirited, wise-cracking ways and loving fortitude over the final seven months of her life.

A woman of deep Christian faith, she died peacefully after a long illness. For much of her final five days, two of her children were by her side to provide hands-on loving comfort—a farewell that pandemic restrictions have prevented so many other families from experiencing across the globe.

Mrs. Baron leaves four children, Judith Tremblay of Plaistow, N.H.; Philip Baron of Chicago, Ill.; Andrew Baron and his wife, Deborah, of Leominster, Mass.; and Matthew Baron and his wife, Bridgett, of Oak Park, Ill.; nine grandchildren, Connor, Brennan, Liam and Ryan Tremblay; Andrew, Elena and Justin Baron; and Zachary and Maggie Rose Baron.

Survivors include her eldest sister, Anna, of Framingham; and nearly two dozen nephews and nieces. She was pre-deceased by her older sisters, Marian Kearns of Texas and Jeanne Sliney of California. Her former husband, Philip C. Baron, died in 2008.

A private Celebration of Life event will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Rosie’s Place, 889 Harrison Ave., Boston, MA 02118; or to a women’s shelter of one’s choice.

Disclosure: the writer is one of Mrs. Baron's children.