A Tribute to Dorothy (Dotty) Fletcher

This month we pay tribute to Dorothy “Dotty” Fletcher who passed away on 25th April (Anzac Day) 2025, leaving behind a legacy of strength, warmth, and inspiration. Revered by all who knew her, Dotty faced Alzheimer’s disease in her later years with the same dignity, resilience and grace that had defined her life. 

We’ve come to know Dotty through her daughter and CHeBA supporter, Liane Fletcher, who founded A Dementia Conversation; a community series launched in April 2024 in honour of her mother, which provided an open forum for discussion about the complexities of dementia. The events, which featured CHeBA Co-Directors Professor Henry Brodaty, Professor Perminder Sachdev and Leader of CHeBA’s Genomics & Epigenomics group Dr Karen Mather, helped raise crucial funds for research into dementia prevention. At the two events, Liane spoke of Dotty’s influence and the inspiration her mother provided her in becoming a staunch advocate for reducing stigma around dementia and providing a platform for fundraising. 

Dotty was born in Sydney on 13 January 1940 to Austrian-Jewish parents Emil and Olga Huth, who fled Vienna in 1938 amidst the rising threat of war. Dotty’s father, a student of Freud and former Chief Medical Officer in Vienna, was forced to escape through a hospital window, and with his wife and daughter, leave Vienna within 24 hours, eventually settling the family in Rose Bay. There, after retraining, he became a local doctor, known as much for his generosity as his medical expertise.

A gifted student and sportswoman, Dotty attended Kambala and formed lifelong friendships, excelling in tennis and golf. At just 15, she left school to support her mother following her father’s sudden death - an early example of the selflessness and strength that, according to daughter Liane, shone from her throughout her life.

Though she never had the opportunity to pursue higher education, Dotty remained intellectually curious throughout her life. She was known for her deep knowledge, sharp insight, and embrace of both Western and Eastern medicine. She had an eye for business innovation, a love of ballet and opera, and a unique fashion sense fondly remembered by her community in Double Bay.

Family was Dotty’s greatest joy. She was a devoted wife of Sam, mother, grandmother, aunt and great aunt, loving nothing more than creating special moments for her family. Dorothy and Sam were blessed with three children - Liane, Julie, and Mark - sons-in-law Michael and Tim, daughter in-law Melissa, and five grandchildren: Rachel, Jessica, Koby, Tori, and Oliver. Liane shares that Dotty always created a warm, welcoming home where everyone felt loved, included, and well fed! Dotty was an exceptional cook and baker and would always share her much-loved almond & sugar biscuits.

​A member of the Bonnie Doon Golf Club and a committed Pilates and Gyrotonics enthusiast, Dotty remained active and engaged well into her later years. Her zest for life extended to travel - meticulously documenting every journey and joyfully reconnecting with relatives across the globe.

Diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2018 at the age of 78, Dotty faced the illness with quiet strength. However, about 3 years prior to her diagnosis we noticed changes in her behaviour which were out of character – the forgetfulness, the repetition, the vague looks, and burnt dinners. Initially swept under the carpet for some time, it became unmanageable, and she needed help & support on a day-to-day basis.

​Once a vibrant, organised person, she became withdrawn and by the time of diagnosis she had lost the ability to run a household and function normally as she always had. 

Dotty had previously survived two cancer diagnoses and never allowed illness to define her. Instead, she focused on supporting her husband in the family business, connecting with family and friends, embodying the principles CHeBA promotes in the pursuit of healthy cognitive ageing: physical activity, intellectual engagement, and social connection.

When Alzheimer’s took hold, many found it difficult to offer their support, and the network that surrounded Dotty and her family changed.

Through ‘A Dementia Conversation’ events, Liane is advocating for normalising dementia conversations, to encourage family members and friends to shift their perspective and become more educated in the disease, to confront their own fears and misconceptions, to challenge the stigma that surrounds this condition, and to create a more inclusive, compassionate community for all.