Vida "Vicki" (Dobrish) Dobrow

  • Born: April 20, 1936
  • Died: June 28, 2021
  • Location: Lincoln, Massachusetts

Concord Funeral Home

Director - Glenn D. Burlamachi, CFSP
74 Belknap St.
Concord, MA 01742

glennb@concordfuneral.com
Tel. (978) 369-3388

Tribute & Message From The Family


Loving Mother and Grandmother

What's in a name? For Vida (Dobrish) Dobrow, pretty much everything. Literally, "Life of the Good," Vida – or Vicki as she was known to most – lived up to that billing for all of her days, 85 years and change, before her sudden death on June 28.

"Of the good" married "of the good" in a partnership for the ages when Vicki said "I do" to Alan Dobrow, her surviving husband of just shy of 65 years. Every year, Alan saluted their love with romantic cards to celebrate the anniversaries of their first date (June 20), their engagement (December 12), and their wedding (August 26). Their union produced three children, Julie, Marty, and Joe.

Vicki spent her younger days in The Bronx and Mount Vernon and her last 21 years in Lincoln, Massachusetts. In between pulsed the heart of her life, the nearly four decades spent nurturing young people in Great Neck, New York. She was a renowned teacher in the Great Neck Public Schools, teaching all of the elementary grades, with fourth graders as her sweet spot. Her wide-ranging intelligence, ravenous curiosity, and never-ending empathy made for an unforgettable combination in the classroom. Toward the end of her career, she began teaching at the college level, mentoring young teachers as they began their professional journeys.

Julie, Marty, and Joe have been regaled their whole adult lives with versions of this conversation:

"Are you Mrs. Dobrow's daughter/son? She was the best teacher I ever had."

Not surprisingly, the apples did not fall far. All three of the Dobrow children teach, aware that they will never reach the standard set by their mom, but striving to make her proud nevertheless.

Other shining apples in her orchard included her grandchildren about whom she always swelled with pride: Mira Vale (and her husband, Nick Allen), Aaron Vale, Jeremy Vale, Jonathan Vale, Sarah Dobrow, Joshua Dobrow, and Jeremiah Thompson. She also reveled in her relationships with her son-in-law, Larry Vale, and daughters-in-law, Missy-Marie Montgomery and Julie Zagars.

Vicki loved music of all kinds, reading and writing, needlepoint, and travel to the Southwest. Above all, she loved playing a central role in the lives of her children and grandchildren.

Perhaps the old saying about a teacher affecting eternity is an overreach, but there can be no doubt that the positive ripples from this life of the good have extended very, very far and very, very wide.

Arrangements under the care of Concord Funeral Home, 74 Belknap Street, Concord, MA 01742 978-369-3388 www.concordfuneral.com

Condolence & Memory Journal

This is what I recently sent to her, not knowing she had passed:
Hi, Vicki. You were my third grade teacher at Grace Avenue School in 19756. Sincerely, you were my best teacher ever. I remember so many things vividly the way you would sing folk songs to us, tell us about current and past events, and ask us what we thought. You taught me critical thinking at that young age. I remember you read to us that the law said you were allowed to spank us and you didn't say that to threaten us but to start a conversation about corporal punishment, childhood, behavior, the relationship between adults and children compared to that of students and teachers, what it meant to teach someone a lesson, et cetera. I remember another discussion about child labor laws and what we thought of kids working, what sort of jobs we thought a child could do (I recall receptionist was one I suggested) I recall a long project about colonial times and apples how my mom and I made Apple Brown Betty and brought it to school on a special day when we all ate applebased foods brought from home, how we made butter by using a hand mixer and whipping it past the point of whipped cream until it became butter because this was to teach us the principle of how settlers churned butter.
She was the best!

Posted by Daniel Greene - Phoenix, AZ - Student   April 19, 2022

Mrs. Dobrow was an outstanding teacher and a wonderful person. She gave my son an excellent first grade experience and enriched the last bed of so many children. I mourn her passing, but I feel so lucky to have known her. My sincere condolences to the family.

Posted by Susan Nathanson - Acquaintance   July 09, 2021

Dear Alan, Julie, Joey and Martin -

Vicki was so vibrant a person, such a good and kind person, it is hard to accept that she is gone.

Such an important part of our children's growing up and of our time with all of you in Great Neck.

It is, of course, impossible to think of Vicki without renewed appreciation of Mrs. Dobrow's brownies. The very best.

Distance and time have not lessened our feelings of closeness to your family and our sympathy for your loss.

With much love,

Renee and Mike Zarin

Posted by REneeandMike Zarin - Floral Park, NY - Classmate   July 04, 2021

Sarah and I extend our deepest condolences to Alan and Vicki's family. A friend and longtime neighbor on Shoreward Drive.

Posted by David Rothenberg - Elmsford, NY - Friend   July 04, 2021

I was so fortunate to know Vicki at South Middle
As a 6th grade teacher myself. She was a gift to all who knew her.sending my gentle thoughts to the family

Posted by Phyllis White - New York, NY - Coworker   July 04, 2021

Mary and I send sincere condolences to the Dobrow family. No doubt your mom’s legacy will be an enduring blessing. You’ve all upheld your parents love of learning and adventure while sharing your gifts with your respective communities.

Posted by Richard Johnson - Friend   June 30, 2021

Family Album

Community Photos

Mrs. Dobrow with her third grade class at Grace Avenue School, Great Neck, NY, 1975–76.