Katherine M. “Kitty” Dooley, of Milton, died at home on June 21.
Born on June 18, 1911, to John S. Dooley and Winifred A.(O’Connor) Dooley, of Roxbury and Hull, she was preceded in death by her siblings, John S. Dooley Jr., Charles Owen Dooley, Winnifred A. Dooley, Anna I. Martin, Elizabeth E. Dooley and Mary Jane Boyd.
Miss Dooley attended the Katherine Gibbs School and was a secretary and office administrator at the law firm Nutter, McClennen & Fish for 39 years. A member of the Boston Philomathea Club, she served on its board in a number of leadership roles.
Her defining roles, however, were those of daughter, sister, aunt, great-aunt and friend. In those roles she found the fullest expression of her long life. She became the hub of her immediate and extended family and is remembered lovingly and gratefully.
Her death brings to a close a storied chapter in the long history between the Boston Red Sox and the Dooley family. Her father, who died in 1970, was the most loyal of the “Royal Rooters.” A semi-pro ballplayer in his youth, he was a pivotal off-field player in a number of early Red Sox moves to establish themselves in Boston, including convincing the baseball commissioner to locate the Boston American League franchise at the old Huntington Avenue grounds, the site of the first World Series in 1903. In 2008, Miss Dooley became the third member of her family to throw out the first ball for a Red Sox season.
She is survived by many nieces and nephews, and their spouses, children and grandchildren.
A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated in St. Mary of the Hills Church on June 25. Burial was in Mount Calvary Cemetery, Roslindale.
Donations may be made to the Irish Pastoral Centre, 953 Hancock St., Quincy, MA 02170.
Arrangements were by the Dolan Funeral Home.