Dorothy Lind Hooker

Dorothy Lind Hooker, 87, of Hilton Head Island passed away on September 15, 2024. 

She was born at Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT and was raised an only child.  Her father, Ted, was a lifetime aircraft engineer for Pratt & Whitney aircraft in East Hartford and mother, Alice, was a lifelong nurse at Hartford Hospital.  Dorothy grew up in East Hartford other than living in Kansas City, MO her ages 5-8 when Pratt & Whitney moved the aircraft Division there for fear of German bombardment in WWII.  Her Mom and Dad spent all the years of their life in the same modest 3 bedroom home.  

Dorothy earned an Associate’s degree at Bay Path University in Longmeadow, MA.  At age 21, she began a 41 year career as a secretary and ultimately legal assistant with Pratt & Whitney and United Technologies other than six years as the Head Assistant to the former CT State Treasurer Frank Borges from 1987-93.  In 1993 she rejoined United Technologies until her ultimate corporate retirement to Hilton Head, SC in 1999.   

Dorothy married Richard B. Hooker, (deceased 1991) as a devoted working mother to her only son, John, who they raised in Vernon, CT.  After their divorce in 1981 she remained extremely close to her son John and later, his wife Diana and their children, as a single Mom her entire life.  

Her most beloved years were those spent making many dear friends and walking her pets at “Her Condo” in Hilton Head.  After Dorothy and John purchased a beach condo there in 1985 she visited every vacation possible until her full-time residence there in 1999.  Despite not knowing a soul as a retired, 62-year-old single mother, Dorothy moved from the only area she had known her entire life to a completely new community.  Shortly thereafter she began working part time as the sole office assistant for Castle Construction on Hilton Head for over a decade.  

Dorothy had a deep love for animals. Along with volunteer time at animal shelters, and Humane Society, she leaves us in the memory of her many pets, all beloved - Ryker, Ginger, Susie, Squire, Fritz, Misty, Rocky, Toby and Cassie as she was never without a pet close to her side.

She is survived by her only child, John, his wife of 31 years Diana of Hilton Head; and her two grandchildren, Samantha and Matthew.

Please consider a donation online to fight Alzheimer’s in memory of (see link below) to the Alzheimer’s Association of America.

https://act.alz.org/site/Donation2?df_id=39209&mfc_pref=T&39209.donation=form1&utm_source=google&utm_medium=paidsearch&utm_campaign=giving_google_SL&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI2pnf4KrIiAMViEt_AB1zITT4EAAYASABEgIUXfD_BwE