PORTLAND – Dorothy “Dee” Fassett Kelsey passed away on the afternoon of July 19, 2022 at Northern Light Mercy Hospital. She was 72 years old.

Dee was born in Boston, Mass. and grew up in Winston-Salem, N.C., where she graduated from RJ Reynolds High School in 1968. Dee graduated from Colby in 1972 with a degree in Sociology, and later studied International Development at the School for International Training in Brattleboro, Vt. Dee lived all over the country and the world before settling permanently in Portland, Maine.

Dee was deeply spiritual, and became a Transcendental Meditation instructor in the early 1970’s, where she trained under the same Maharishi that guided The Beatles and other stars of the time. Later, she developed a close friendship with Baba Ram Dass, a well-known spiritual guru. Dee was also very involved with the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) for many years and was an active member at Portland Friends Meeting where she served as Religious Education Coordinator and in other roles.

Before settling in Portland, Dee lived in Palo Alto, Calif. and worked for Hewlett-Packard. When she moved back to Maine, she had already developed a successful career as a mediator and meeting facilitator. She and her business partner, Pamela Plumb, published their book, Great Meetings, Great Results in 1998, which fueled the remainder of her professional life. She loved her work and was good at it, building a reputation for herself and her business in Maine and across the country.

Dee explored the world in creative ways, such as hitchhiking and homestays, collecting stories and always making friends along the way. She was an avid traveler, a passion that she passed on to and fostered in her daughter, Emily. Dee visited Sweden, Spain, Thailand, England, Costa Rica, and many other countries before Emily was born, and over the years, the two visited England, Scotland, Mexico, and Canada together.

Dee had a green thumb and cultivated beautiful flower gardens at her home in Portland, which is where Emily grew up. Dee was a devoted mother. She was always supportive of Emily’s interests and activities and was eager to offer her help wherever it could be useful. As both a mother and a friend, she was a great listener, always had a shoulder to lean on, and offered insightful advice.

Dee will be remembered for her unwavering kindness, her ability to make friends wherever she went, and the strength and depth of those friendships.

Dee is survived by her daughter, Emily Kelsey of Copenhagen, Denmark; her sister, Jean Rosenblum of Windham, Maine, brother, John Kelsey of Destrehan, La.; and niece, Amy Rosenblum-Martin of New York City; as well as many wonderful friends who share the title of family.

A memorial service to celebrate Dee’s life will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Sunday August 7, 2022 at the Friends School of Portland at 11 US Route 1, Cumberland Foreside, Maine.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests those who wish to express sympathy consider making a donation to their favorite charity

in Dee’s name



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