Dolly Pachter

VIRGINIA BEACH – Ethel Jane “Dolly” Pachter (nee Rothbart) passed away peacefully on June 17, 2025.

The moment after delivering her on October 10, 1924, their devoted family physician said, “That’s our Dolly.” The name stuck.
Having lived beyond 100 years, her spirit—filled with light and grace—is at rest.

Mrs. Pachter was preceded in death by her mother, Helen (nee Poll) Rothbart/Rosenbaum, her father, Edward Rothbart, and her brother, Michael Rothbart. She is survived by her three beloved children, Rosalyn Pachter, Dr. Abbey Pachter, and Ralph Pachter (Sandi), adored grandchildren Madeline Szul (Scotty), Amy Hooper (Dan), and Samantha Prendergast (Sam), six amusing great grandchildren, and her well-loved personal attendant, Adrienne Young, who kept Dolly laughing during her waning years.

Dolly was a native Chicagoan through her early adult years. She loved literature, poetry, and French, lettered in basketball, and graduated from Faulkner High School. During World War II, she worked as an aide with her girlfriends at Cook County Hospital’s “bedpan brigade,” which afforded her rare gasoline coupons. Dolly supported the USO by “rolling bandages” with her mother. After the war, she worked for a railroad company and at her father’s corporate law practice.

Meeting a dynamic young man named Louis Pachter changed all that, and in 1947 they were married and moved to Miller Beach in Gary, Indiana. Dolly was “a good sport” about moving to the “country.” Louis built them a beautiful custom house on Lake Michigan where they raised their children. He said, “Dolly made it our home.”

Dolly and Louis were a match made in heaven. The couple loved to entertain, made many life-long friends, travelled the world, and enjoyed the fun and pace of family life.

In Gary, her philanthropic endeavors included raising record-breaking donations in 1957 as chair of the Mother’s March of Dimes polio vaccine drive—over a quarter million in today’s dollars. She was president of the Temple Israel Sisterhood and demonstrated living a Jewish life to their children.

After they had grown, Dolly and Louis moved back to Chicago to a bespoke condo overlooking the lake. Dolly was back in her element absorbing the culture, food, and beauty of the city while maximizing time with her family.

Dolly and Louis were foils for each other—the sum of them together was always greater than the two strong individuals. Deeply respectful and playful love was easy to see between them, and they shared 66 adventurous years of marriage before Louis passed away in November 2013.

Dolly was busy in the ensuing years keeping up with her extended family and making new friends across several generations. Her kindness, patience, generosity, and caring kept her in the loop of so many lives.

Dolly exuded class and had flawless style. She was a great listener and confidant and possessed an understated sense of humor with great comedic timing. The guidance she provided to family and friends always exemplified her selfless concern for others. Finding ways to help people and staying in tune to the world around her made her later years rich and fulfilling.

Dolly had the rare qualities of being genuine and authentic. She was special to all who knew her—they often mentioned how much she meant to them. Love, loyalty, integrity, family, and a quiet strength defined the arc of her life. We mourn the loss of this wonderful woman’s remarkable life and revel in the memories of our time with her.

Donations may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice. Alternatively, remember Dolly with “a random act of kindness” to reflect her spirit and perpetual grace.