Dorothy Mildred De Cenzo

Dorothy Mildred De Cenzo, beloved sister, wife, mother, grandmother and aunt, went to her Lord on Aug. 8 in Coupeville. As descendant of colonial and pioneer families, she was born on Sept. 29, 1919 in Gardenia, California to Ione M. Anthony and Norman Augustus Leake, M.D.

Dorothy was a woman of many gifts, talents, and, most significantly, extraordinary courage. A victim of polio as a young woman, she refused to let her disabilities restrict her; she struggled to overcome them her entire life. A petite woman of 5’ 2” with bright blue eyes and brunette hair, her husband called her “Dot” and compared her to the “little red hen” that would and could to do everything herself. Typical of “Dot” was her elopement with her beloved Herbert to Carson City, Nevada in May of 1942. Even an automobile accident on the way didn’t stop them. They remained sweethearts until his death in May of 1997.

A native Californian, she attended Torrance High School in Torrance, Calif. Her father was one of the first physicians practicing in that city and sometimes was paid with poultry and produce. Before settling down to raise a family, Dorothy worked briefly as a legal secretary for her uncle Ellison Leake, who was born in Mount Vernon in 1890.

The wife of an aeronautical/aerospace engineer, Dorothy lived in Jamestown, New York, Manhattan Beach, Arcadia and Yorba Linda, Calif., and Las Vegas, Nevada.

Dorothy is survived by her children Diane D. (Stephen T.) Schwarzmann of Coupeville and Steven E. (Donna Janice) De Cenzo of Chandler, Arizona and her grandchildren Alexander and Nicolas De Cenzo. Her brother, Raymond (Millie) Leake and nephews Norman and Lawrence Leake and families also survive as does nephew Gary (Hilary) Leake and family. Her brother and sister-in law, Victor De Cenzo and Irene De Cenzo reside in Casco, Michigan.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Herbert A. De Cenzo of Aurora, Minn., her stepfather Willard Anthony, her stepmother Mae Leake and her sister Marguerite (Blair) MacDonald. Memorial services for Dorothy Mildred De Cenzo will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, August 25 at Sunnyside Cemetery in Coupeville. Father Fletcher Davis of Saint Augustine’s in the Woods will officiate. Arrangements were entrusted to Burley Funeral Chapel.