Dorothy ‘Dot’ E. Fobare

Dorothy was born on July 17, 1931, in her Grandfather Windrel’s living room at 298 Broadway, Saranac Lake, to Joe and Bessie Patnode.

Dorothy moved around quite a bit during her childhood, living with her grandmother in Lake Clear, where she attended the local two-room schoolhouse, and with her grandfather in Saranac Lake, where she attended St. Bernard’s elementary school. She also attended a boarding school in Plattsburgh run by “The Nuns,” as she would say. She and her family moved to Utica after her younger brother Joe died in an automobile accident. Dorothy moved back to Saranac Lake after high school and worked at the shoe factory.

Dorothy married Philip L. Rote, a Paul Smith’s College student and veteran of the Korean War. They were married about eight years, during which time she traveled extensively, as Philip was in the military.

Dorothy moved back to Saranac Lake after her grandfather passed away and renewed her friendship with Chester Fobare. They were married in 1967 and had 47 great years together.

She also worked as a bookkeeper for Fobare and Sons Plumbing and Heating, her husband’s family business. Dorothy and Chester bought the Prescott House with Carol and Richard Yorkey, and they fixed a great deal of damage that had been done to the house. They owned it for 30 years and ran it as a girls’ dormitory for North Country Community College.

She was very active in Saranac Lake, volunteering for many organizations including the Saranac Lake General Hospital and later Adirondack Medical Center; she was also a member of the hospital’s auxiliary. She was a founding member of Historic Saranac Lake, member of the North Country Community College Foundation and the Community Lunch Box program, serving as treasurer for all three organizations for many years. Dot was a faithful member of St. Bernard’s Church in Saranac Lake, where she volunteered on the church choir and the Art and Environment Committee. She was also a member of the United States Air Force Officers Wives Club and the Saranac Lake Elks Club BPOE 1508.

She was preceded in death by her husband Chester in 2014, her parents, and two brothers: David Patnode and Joseph Patnode II.

Dot is survived by many nieces and nephews: Carol and Steven Patnode of Florida, Robert “Cooper” and Michael Patnode of Massachusetts, Jerry and Paul Fobare of Saranac Lake, Steve Cheney of Wisconsin, Polly VanNostrand of Ballston Lake, Lori McCasland of Queensbury, Amy Cheney-Seymour of Vermontville, Pam Bristol of Florida, Tod Fobare of Texas and Ty Fobare of Tennessee.

She is also survived by brother and sisters-in-law: Mac and Peppy Fobare, and Beverly Fobare, all of Florida, and Jerry and Paula Cheney.

Funeral arrangements are in care of the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home in Saranac Lake. A Mass of Christian burial will take place at 10 a.m. at St. Bernard’s Church in Saranac Lake on Monday, Feb. 1, 2021, with the Rev. Martin Cline officiating. Burial will take place in St. Bernard’s Cemetery in Saranac Lake in the spring. Family and friends attending in-person funeral services are asked to please follow all COVID-19 recommendations including social distancing and wearing a mask. Due to extenuating circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Fobare family understands that it may make it difficult to attend funeral services in person. For those unable to attend, the funeral service will also be webcast on Fortune-Keough Funeral Home’s Facebook page.

Friends wishing to remember Dorothy E. Fobare may make memorial contributions to the Historic Saranac Lake and St. Bernard’s School in care of the funeral home. Family and friends can also share their memories and sign the online guestbook at fortunekeoughfuneralhome.com.