Obituary of Dorothy Rose Rickert

The inestimable Dorothy Rose (McAvoy) Rickert, 96, passed away peacefully Sunday at Central Park Rehab with family by her side. Dorothy was born 1926 in Jersey City to John Paul and Frances Ann McAvoy, and was raised on West 11th St in Manhattan. She attended the French-Catholic Our Lady of Mercy on Washington Square, and graduated high school from St Mary's in Rutherford, New Jersey. She met the charming Bronx native Richard Rickert in 1942 before he left for the Merchant Marines, and married him upon his return, having five sons before Dick died tragically in 1963.

Always a hard worker Dorothy became the bill-collection wizard 10 years for Wells and Coverly downtown Syracuse until they closed in 1981, then for Marine Midland until retirement in 1991. An avid reader and supporter of public television, “Dottie” also loved wildflowers and the New England shoreline. She was a great storyteller who mastered the art of conversation and also of letter-writing, carrying on correspondence with friends and relatives for decades.

She is predeceased by her sisters Barbara and Diane, most of her close friends, her beloved canine Gypsy, and her eldest sons Robert and John both in 2020.

She is survived by sons Richard Jr, William, and Paul all of Syracuse, a daughter Anne Pucine of Saratoga, a nephew and nieces, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

There will be a private graveside service at St Agnes Cemetery as soon as practicable.