Dorothy Egan, known as a true lady, dies at age 92
BY MARY LANCASTER
To those who knew her, Dorothy Harrison Egan was a grand dame, the epitome of a proper lady and a devoted community member and philanthropist. Mrs. Egan died peacefully at home last Wednesday night at the age of 92, leaving a rich legacy.

Dorothy, with her husband Bud, in 1984.

Mrs. Egan was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia and was raised on the South

Hampton, Nova Scotia farm of her parents, Frederick and Mary Elizabeth (Donalds) Harrison. After graduation from Mount St. Vincent University in Halifax, where she earned a degree in nutrition, Mrs. Egan entered the United States at Calais, Maine on May 5, 1941. Soon after that she moved to Nantucket and for many years was employed at Nantucket Cottage Hospital as a registered dietician.

She and her husband "Bud" founded Marine Home Center, where she remained a life-long director even after the company was sold. In 1988 they started the Albert F. Egan, Jr. and Dorothy H. Egan Foundation, and established the Egan Institute for Maritime Studies (now known as the Egan Maritime Foundation) at the Coffin School. Mrs. Egan was vicepresident and a foundation trustee until her death.

"I considered her a very good friend and one of the last grand dames," said Wayne Holmes, who became acquainted with Mrs. Egan as her husband's attorney. "She was very proper, and if you had tea at her house, you'd never forget it."

In 2003, Mrs. Egan began the Dorothy Harrison Egan Foundation providing scholarship assistance to

needy students in the medical professions, particularly those wanting to live on Nantucket and serve the community's citizens. She offered generous financial support to the creation of the 'Sconset Chapel gardens and was involved with the restoration of St. Mary's Church, where she was an active member and donated flowers from her own garden.

Mrs. Egan also worked with the Nantucket chapter of the Red Cross and sponsored many outside events at Sankaty Head Golf Club. She enjoyed bridge and music, loved animals and was a talented artist whose passion was painting outdoors, recalled Nat Philbrick.

"She was a wonderful lady and was a real lady with a capital L," said Philbrick, who came to know Mrs. Egan through his association with the institute as its founding director. "She was just a really neat person."

Mrs. Egan was predeceased by her daughter Mary Jane and husband Albert F. "Bud" Egan. She is survived by inlaws and several nieces and nephews.

AMass of Christian Burial was held at St. Mary's Church on Monday, Dec. 4, followed by interment in St. Mary's Cemetery. Contributions in Mrs. Egan's memory may be made to The Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, 20 Walnut St., 318 Wellesley Hills, Mass. 02481.

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