Dorothy Radwan ... sang in Seacoast bands; at 94

DOVER - Dorothy (Welch) Radwan, 94, of Dover, died peacefully on Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. Most recently she was a resident at Langdon Place in Dover.

Born on Sept. 4, 1930, in Dover, she was the oldest child of Frank and Beatrice (Boulanger) Welch. She spent most of her life in the Seacoast area.

She was a proud graduate of Saint Mary's Academy. Dorothy graduated from Dover High School in 1949 where she was a cheerleader for three years. The yearbook tagline for Dorothy reads: "Dot. Short and cute. Happy all the time. Sings like a canary."

Indeed, singing was her early love. She loved big band music, sang with several Seacoast bands, and sang on the local radio station on Sunday mornings. And she could dance up a storm.

"Dottie" spoke fondly of escapades with her beloved Aunt Emma. She knew downtown Dover like the back of her hand. She and her brothers would walk for miles to swim at Bellamy Park or take in a double feature at the Strand theater.

Later, while working at Clarostat Manufacturing in Dover, she met the love of her life, Carmel "Cammy" Radwan. They soon fell in love and were married in Denver, Colo., in June of 1952. They raised three children in NH, focused on teaching them the value of hard work and accomplishment. Dorothy's leadership in local 4-H clubs included mentorship of children at the Saint Charles Children's Home in Rochester.

Mom was a great cook and a very hard worker, but most of all she will be remembered for her quick wit and her ability to make others laugh. She loved nothing more than cooking up a huge meal and watching her family enjoy it. And she loved birds, especially Northern Cardinals.

Dorothy is predeceased by her husband Cammy, her parents and two brothers.

Surviving members of her family include two sons, Mark Radwan and wife Patricia of Milford and Steven Radwan and wife Wendy of Strafford; a daughter, Kathy Radwan of Nashua; her little sister, Ruthann (Welch) Day of Dover; three grandsons: Christopher Couch of Portland, Ore., Matthew Radwan of Brooklyn, N.Y., and Jacob Radwan of Strafford, and several nieces.

Dorothy's family would like to thank the wonderful staff at Langdon Place, and especially her very good friend Kathy Oby, for their unceasing and devoted care of Mom.