Dorothy A. Albrecht Gregory, passed away peacefully on June 17, 2023 after an illness.

She was born in Berkshire, New York on May 24, 1939, the third daughter of John and Johanna Klossner Albrecht. She attended Newark Valley Central and went on to graduate with a music education degree from The Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam. During her student teaching semester at Carthage Central, she discovered two things that changed her life: one, that she wasn’t cut out for teaching music, and two, that she would spend her life with the science teacher she met there, her future husband, George Gregory. She was hired to work in the Carthage Central School Library, and while there she was encouraged to pursue a master’s degree in library science. Dorothy then spent two summers at Syracuse University doing just that.

George and Dorothy were married in 1961 and made their home in Black River, New York. From 1964-1972 Dorothy was an elementary librarian for the Jefferson County BOCES. During the summers they built a house on Sawyers Island, Maine, and moved there in 1972. Dorothy was hired by the Maine State Library System and traveled throughout the state consulting with small libraries supported by the state system. While working for the state Dorothy’s musical talents were used as she provided music for staff parties and other special gatherings at Blaine House, the governor’s residence. After George passed in 1997, Dorothy remained on Sawyer’s Island, spending time traveling and taking several cruises including one that toured the entire east and west coasts of South America.

She was a trustee of the Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library, trustee of the Boothbay Region Historical Society, a member of the board of directors of the Opera House at Boothbay Harbor, and a member of the St. Andrews Auxiliary. The Boothbay Region Land Trust, upon Dorothy’s invitation, established the Gregory Hiking Trail for public use on her land at Sawyer’s Island, it is in use today and loved by all who hike it.

A proud graduate of The Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam, Dorothy renewed her ties to the College in a significant way in 2010 as she established the Dorothy Albrecht Gregory ‘61 Visiting Conductor Fund. Dorothy, like many Crane students who preceded and followed her, remembered with fondness her years singing in the Crane Chorus under the baton of Helen Hosmer and distinguished visiting conductors who came to Potsdam, at Hosmer's invitation, to work with Crane students. One visiting conductor truly struck a chord with Dorothy, the iconic French teacher and conductor Nadia Boulanger, one of whose numerous visits to Crane occurred during Dorothy's student years, in 1958, when Crane Chorus sang the Requiem of Gabriel Faure under her baton.

Dorothy described her Crane School student experiences as “life changing,” and became determined to ensure that current and future students would be afforded the opportunity to experience the impact of distinguished visiting conductors. Always a quiet, private donor, Dorothy agreed to make her generosity public so long as Potsdam friends agreed to “teach her how to be public.” Soon after her gift was announced, Dorothy was celebrated in ways neither she nor others would have imagined. Her recognition on campus was instantaneous, with students stopping her and some even calling her name across parking lots, running to embrace and thank her for the impact she was having on their lives.

The timing of her gift coincided with the 125th Anniversary of The Crane School of Music, and the inaugural Dorothy Albrecht Gregory Visiting Conductor was the celebrated German maestro Helmuth Rilling who, in 2011, led Crane Chorus and the Crane Symphony Orchestra in a performance of the Bach Mass in B-Minor, a masterwork performed numerous times, and under several different conductors, in Crane Chorus' history. Dorothy’s gift would soon partner with gifts from Gary Jaquay ‘67 enabling Crane Chorus to travel and perform at other venues outside of Potsdam.

Potsdam and Crane soon became -- in Dorothy's own words -- “life sustaining” for her, and she began to seek a second home in Potsdam. Her decision was final after looking at 5 Hillcrest. The idea of living on the same street as Arthur and Mary Ellen Frackenpohl, and having a backyard that connected to the home of SUNY Potsdam's President was exactly the connection she sought.  She cherished spending her final years in this home, often enjoying quiet time playing a beautiful piano that she acquired to fill this home with music, and frequently enjoying performances and other events on the campus across the street.

Just as Dorothy described her experiences at Crane as “life changing,” so too has she, and her generous gifts, been profoundly transformative for The Crane School of Music, its students, and its family of faculty, alumni, supporters and friends.

Aunt Putt, as she was affectionately known by her family, was predeceased by her parents, sister Louise, brother John, sister Carolyn, husband George, and neighbor Dick Hodgdon, who “adopted” her after George passed.

She is survived by her brother Joseph Albrecht and his wife JoAnne; brother in-law Robert Camp and Margorie Smart; nephew and caregiver Scott Albrecht and wife Sarah; niece Beth Albrecht; nephews, Jay, Paul, and Clay Albrecht; nephews John and Rob Camp.

Dorothy also leaves behind her Potsdam family, including caregiver Larry Leashomb and his wife Vicky, Jason Ladouceur, and Audrey Autenrith. She has a very special bond and love with her Potsdam family, and they are forever in her heart.

Gifts of remembrance may be made to the Potsdam College Foundation, 44 Pierrepont Avenue, Potsdam, NY 13676. All contributions will be added to the Dorothy Albrecht Gregory Visiting Conductor Endowment. Gifts in Dorothy’s memory can also be given to: The Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library, or The Opera House at Boothbay Harbor.

A committal service will be held Saturday, Oct. 7 at 11 a.m. at Oceanview Cemetery, Boothbay.