Dorothy Collins Weaver ’68 passed away on March 8. Dorothy’s Wellesley roots were deep. She was the granddaughter of Dorothy Colville Dann 1919, daughter of Dorothy Dann Collins Torbert ’42, and sister of Nancy Collins Fisher ’72. Dorothy served on the Wellesley College Board of Trustees for 18 years.

Dorothy had a keen intellect, financial prowess, and unflagging energy, while always effusing warmth and a certain intangible flair. Dorothy, along with her brother Michael, was one of the first family office investors in hedge funds; certainly she was one of the first women in the field. In 2010, her hedge fund investing was recognized by her receiving the 100 Women in Hedge Funds Industry Leadership Award. In her role on the Wellesley Investment Committee, she was known for her incisive questions and fresh investment ideas. Jane Mendillo, the College’s chief investment officer at the time of Dorothy’s involvement, recalls that when she was first named as CIO, before she had even left Harvard Management, Dorothy paid a visit to Jane to trade market and portfolio ideas. Jane recalls that her colleagues later asked: “Who was that woman?” Dorothy was someone who got noticed. Once Jane was on the job, Dorothy often called with an idea or a follow-up to an earlier discussion. Jane reminisced, “Dorothy was always gracious, kind, and supportive, but we all needed to be on our toes when she was around.”

Her intellect and energy extended to local, regional, and national public service, volunteer, and philanthropic activities. Dorothy served as chair of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta’s Miami branch, the chair of the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, and she mobilized economic resources through her involvement in We Will Rebuild after Hurricane Andrew wreaked havoc on the Miami area.

Dorothy and her family were inveterate travelers, starting from her moves to Canada and then Colombia shortly after her marriage. One of my most cherished Christmas cards over the years was one from the Weavers on their boat off Newfoundland with an enormous iceberg looming behind them.

Despite Dorothy’s investment and civic accomplishments, she took the most pride in her family, especially in her mother, her husband, David, and her children, Christina and Andres. Her warm hospitality was ever apparent to everyone. Years ago, Dorothy learned, moments before a dinner party was to begin, that I was visiting her neighbors in Maine. With no hesitation, my invitation was extended, proper clothes were lent, and I was welcomed graciously. When I marveled, I was told that was always Dorothy’s way.

Dorothy will be missed by so many of us, but the lives she touched will help carry on her legacy at Wellesley and in the world.