The Rev. Doris Dow Alcott

The Rev. Doris Dow Alcott died of heart failure on April 3, 2012. She was 91 years old. Rev. Alcott was born and raised in Winthrop, ME. She was the daughter of a factory worker and a homemaker.

In 1938, she married Ernest F. Alcott, a descendant of Amos Bronson Alcott, the American Transcendentalist, and his daughter, famous author Louisa May Alcott.

Alcott began her college education in 1976 and graduated from Goddard College in 1980 with a bachelor’s degree in religious education. Additionally, she took courses at Harvard University and earned her MRE through the UUA’s Independent Study Program in 1982. Rev. Alcott was ordained in 1982 at Towson Unitarian Universalist Church in Lutherville, MD. She was called to serve the Towson Unitarian Universalist Church and served as Director of Religious Education there from 1983-1985. She was also the Joseph Priestley District’s first RE Consultant from 1986-1995. Rev. Alcott served on the curriculum team that developed “World Religions for Junior Youth,” the last curriculum kit published by the UUA. She was a member of the Towson Unitarian Universalist Church and the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Harford County in Churchville, MD.

Later in life, she became an active member of numerous ecumenical groups and was active in religious education. Rev. Alcott retired in 2008 but continue to serve as a guest pastor, and officiated at weddings, funerals and memorial services. An experienced traveller, Rev. Alcott visited all seven continents and, in 1993, joined an expedition that travelled to Antarctica. She enjoyed talking to colleagues in chat rooms and once said, “I retired from ministry but not from life!”

Rev. Alcott was predeceased by her husband, Ernest F. Alcott. She is survived by her sons Colin C. Alcott and his wife Janet, of Albuquerque, NM and Bronson E. Alcott of Columbia, MD; by two granddaughters; and two great-grandchildren.

A memorial service for Rev. Alcott was held at the Towson Unitarian Universalist Church, 1710 Dulaney Valley Rd., Lutherville-Timonium, MD 21093, on May 11, 2012 at 11:00 a.m.. Notes of condolence may go to Bronson Alcott, 10654 Faulkner Ridge Cir., Columbia, MD 21044.