A Tribute to Dorothy Swift –

Ericaceae Breeder, Quiet Educator

RIWPS won’t quite be the same without Dorothy Swift. From the very first RIWPS board to the heartbreak of having to discard the unsold plants before the last plant sale, Dorothy has been in the Society’s inner circle. She died January 7, after a brief illness.

You can’t think of Dorothy without conjuring up a group photo of the Ericaceae family. A Rhododendron cultivar is even named for her, R. “Dorothy Swift.” (Hybrid Rhododendron Plant Description for Dorothy Swift). Her home garden is a showcase of blooming plants: ephemerals, roses, primroses – to name a few – and of course azaleas, mountain laurels and rhododendron. Her garage is a propagating room and staging ground for dozens of Ericaceae she and her devoted assistant, Louis Horne, would spend years growing in what can only be called a labor of love.

With Joan Paulson (1933-2020), Dorothy founded Seed Starters East (SSE) in 1991. She worked there diligently, if quietly, over the years. When she had something to say, her chatty fellow seeders would fall silent and lean in to hear her gentle voice. In addition to her duties with SSE and serving on RIWPS’ board, Dorothy wrote essays for WildFlora on the cardinal flower (WildFlora 25(3)) and winterberry (WildFlora 29(2)). The recent compilation of Cultivation Notes as an eBook is dedicated to Dorothy. She authored Notes on starting plants from seed, the cardinal flower, mountain holly, mountain laurel and rhododendron.

Dorothy was a scientist at heart and by academic training. After receiving a PhD in 1973 from Johns Hopkins University, she worked as an assistant marine scientist at the URI’s Graduate School of Oceanography writing about, among other things, the ecological significance of vitamin B12 in the Gulf of Maine. At the time of her death, she was an adjunct professor of biology at CCRI. Throughout her life she dispensed information, quietly but precisely.

Dorothy also loved classical music and played the piano. Her living room contains the supplies for countless handicrafts that she created. She cultivated friendships in the many circles in which she participated. She was a gracious hostess, opening her gardens to all in the spring and her dining room to a smaller group of friends at Christmas.

Just like the plants that were the focus of her life, we have lost a wonderfully optimistic person who was always willing to share her knowledge and experience.

We extend our heartfelt sympathy to her family and friends.

Obituary    A memorial service is planned for February 8, 2025 at 4:00 PM, to be held at the Westminster UUC, 119 Kenyon Ave, East Greenwich, RI.