BOXFORD – Dorothy Sayce Falk, 95, of Boxford, passed away peacefully on October 16th, 2023 with her two sons by her side. Born in Chicago, IL she was the daughter of the late Archibald Herbert and Dorothy Holton Sayce. She was the beloved wife of the late Craig Edward Falk.
Raised in Charlestown, New Hampshire, Dorothy (Doffy) attended the Emma Willard School in Troy, New York, class of 1947. She graduated with a BA in history from Smith College, Northampton, MA, 1951. Doffy embraced all that Smith had to offer, including swimming on the synchronized swim team, and attending many “Smithie” reunions. After graduation, Dorothy taught elementary school and dancing for the Arthur Murray Dance Centers. She married Craig in August, 1954, and had three boys, Holton, Bradford, and Jeffrey. The young family moved to Boxford, MA and, together, Doffy and Craig truly embraced this small, vibrant New England community.
Doffy’s generosity, graciousness, spirituality, and community spirit were boundless. She was instrumental in establishing and a Board member for Four Mile Village, Boxford, a nonprofit, senior housing complex. Active in the Boxford Garden Club, she loved hosting the annual plant sale in her yard and barn. Doffy was also a leader and founder of the Great Group, a group of seniors who meet monthly for lunch, crafts, and socializing. Doffy loved singing in the church choir, and was an Elder and a Deacon for the First Church Congregational Church Boxford. As Deacon, Doffy chaired the Missions Committee and wrote, housed, fed, and loaned her car to many missionaries over the years. She was President and longtime Board member of Saint John’s onthe-Lake Chapel on Bear Island, Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire. She was the President of the North Shore Christian Women’s Club, the teaching director for Community Bible Study in Needham, MA, and traveled across the country speaking at Christian conferences. An avid tennis player and swimmer, Doffy enjoyed a good match with her boys and her weekly tennis group. Earning the nickname “Boomer”, she was an accomplished snow skier, racing her family and friends down the mountains of Vermont and New Hampshire well into her early ’80s.
Doffy has received recognition for her community service from a variety of organizations. In 1997, the Emma Willard School presented her with the Lifetime Achievement Award, which honors an alumna leader in the community for embodying the core values of the school’s vision, including love of learning, intellectual curiosity, and character. From the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Doffy received an Official Citation for her “efforts to establish, sustain and promote the Boxford Apple Festival for over 50 years.” The Town of Boxford, the First Church Congregational, and the Garden Club have all recognized her commitment to the care and wellbeing of the community.
Doffy loved spending every summer at Lake Winnipesaukee. She proudly stated that she first arrived at the lake as a baby in a dresser drawer. Summers spent on Bear Island were filled with entertaining family and friends, long cocktail hours on the porch, canoeing, swimming, games, fireworks, lobsters, and boating.
She is survived by her sons, Holton E. Falk (Deborah) of Drexel Hill, PA, Bradford R. Falk (Jenise) of Danville, CA, and daughter-in-law, Elizabeth R. Falk of Danbury, CT. In addition to her late husband, Craig, she was preceded in death by her son, Jeffrey A. Falk, and siblings: Montford H. Sayce and Archibald Holton Sayce. Doffy is also survived by seven grandchildren: Sayce Falk (Maki), Hamilton Falk (Lisa), Allison Drone (Ian), Katie Swenson (Andrew), Peter Falk (Tara), Jacqueline Falk, and Taylor Falk; and eight great grandchildren: Kira and Emi Falk, Hazel and Whitford Falk, Emory Drone, Hayley Swenson, and Evelyn and Archer Falk.
Doffy’s family wishes to thank the caregivers of Home Instead and Care Dimensions Hospice for their loving care of Doffy during her illness. Also, a very special thank-you to her Boxford community friends and “fairies” for their years of love and support.
ARRANGEMENTS: Friends and relatives are invited to attend Doffy’s Celebration of Life service, which will be held on Saturday, November 11th, 2023, at 1:30 PM at First Church Congregational Boxford, 4 Georgetown Rd, Boxford, MA 01921. Private graveside services will be held at Forest Hill Cemetery in Charlestown, NH.
Donations may be made in Doffy’s memory to either First Church Congregational of Boxford at 4 Georgetown Rd, Boxford, 01921 or St. John’s on-the-Lake Chapel at 12 Loch Eden Shores Rd., Meredith, NH 03253. Assisting the family with the arrangements is O’Donnell Cremations – Funerals – Celebrations, 167 Maple St., (Rte. 62) DANVERS, MA.
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