In Memoriam

Dorothy R. Mohler
Class of '25

Dorothy Rigg Mohler ’25, a Catonsville, MD, matriarch who left 73 descendants and was a World War II plane spotter, died of kidney failure April 19, 2009, at her home. She was 104.

Dorothy Rigg was born in Reading, PA, in 1905 to Dr. Samuel B. Rigg and Maizie V. Concerned for the welfare of his granddaughter, who was living in Reading's "poor section" with her mother after a divorce, John Rigg enrolled “Riggie” at age 9 in the St. Joseph College boarding school, where she lived each academic year until she turned 18. Summers were spent at her grandfather's farm enjoying horseback riding and other sports.

Riggie's love of learning grew early under the stewardship of her grandfather, and later on the SJC campus. She credited the Daughters of Charity with helping to develop deep faith in God and guardian angels.

As a 13-year-old, she met her future husband, Donald I. Mohler, a builder, who was then 23, while on a Thanksgiving visit to Catonsville with a school chum. "What a crush I had on this older man," she said in a history. "The year I turned 16 he finally noticed me, and we had our first date." They married in Ephrata, PA, on November 10, 1923. Dorothy was 18; Donald 28.

During their engagement, her husband, co-owner of Mohler Brothers Realtors, built his bride-to-be a home in Catonsville, a suburb of Baltimore. The Mohlers outgrew it, so in 1936, he constructed another residence, where she lived until her death.

For more than 70 years, she presided at Christmas Eve and Christmas Day celebrations, surrounded by friends and family. She also used the home and its porch for Catonsville Fourth of July parade festivities.

Family members said Dorothy recalled her role in World War II. Nine days after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, she and 18 other Catonsville women joined a local corps of airplane spotters. They climbed a tower to watch for enemy planes. She also was a Red Cross volunteer, joining other Catonsville residents to fold linens and bandages for wounded troops.

Dorothy was a member of the Volunteer Board at Bon Secours Hospital, Baltimore. She also helped establish Loyola University Maryland's John R. Mohler Trophy to recognize an outstanding athlete. The trophy is named for her son, who died in 1956.

Survivors include two sons, Walter Rigg and James W. Mohler; a daughter, Sally Mohler Norton; 18 grandchildren; 39 great-grandchildren; and 13 great-great-grandchildren. Her husband of 63 years died in 1987 at age 92. Another son, Dr. Donald I. "Dutch" Mohler Jr., also predeceased her.

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