Poughkeepsie – With the heaviest of hearts, we announce the June 5, 2016 passing of Dorothea Irene Steeber. Born to parents Nathan and Leah Slotkin on December 9, 1946, Dottie, as she preferred to be called, oldest of 2 siblings, grew up in New York City. Family was very important to her and she often told stories of escapades in her early childhood and reminisced about summer trips to Rocking Horse Ranch with her family as a child.
In 1968 she married her first husband Charles and embarked on a 15 year career as a domestic engineer. She excelled at it, making a house into a home and loving her three children unceasingly. She loved to cook and to entertain, taking cooking lessons and always trying new recipes. In 1983 she began working for a public relations firm located in Yorktown, New York and soon became known as their “Good Will Ambassador”. She and Charles separated in 1986 and their divorce became final in the late 1980’s. In 1987 she met her partner William Smith whom she lived with and loved for the rest of her life. They resided together in a home in Poughkeepsie where she continued to indulge her love of cooking and they would often host large family gatherings. On her birthday in 1999, she began her career with the New York State Police. She worked in the records department at the Troop K barracks in Millbrook until her official retirement on May 26th, 2016.
Dottie’s sharp wit and her ready smile made her someone you wanted to know. She was always ready to listen, offering advice or help whenever asked. She had a penchant for telling dirty jokes and usually had one up her sleeve. She was deeply loved and her passing has created an empty chasm that will be impossible to fill.
While she loved her partner, and her three children, she absolutely adored her grandchildren. She was never happier then when she was surrounded by them and when she was, her smile would stretch from ear to ear. She delighted in spoiling them rotten and the 6 of them were the center of her world.
She leaves behind her partner of 29 years William Smith, and 3 devastated children: Tracy Lovejoy-Kitzweger and her husband John of Highland, New York; Stefanie Kahn and her husband Jason of Putnam Valley, New York; and Jonathan Steeber and his wife Jennifer of Haskell, New Jersey. Her 6 grandchildren are Calvin Lovejoy, age 20; Jayna Kahn, age 12; Rachael Kitzweger, age 9; William Steeber, age 9; Alexa Kahn, age 9; and Juliana Steeber, age 4. She also leaves behind her brother, Joel Slotkin and his wife Paula of Lexington, Massachusetts; her cousin Judy Russin and her husband David of Levittown, New York; several nieces and nephews and a number of step-children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A funeral service will be officiated by Rabbi Leah Berkowitz on Tuesday, June 14th at Poughkeepsie Rural Cemetery at 1:00 pm.
