People We've Lost
DOROTHY PETERSON COOKE, SUE KROPFF, MILDRED (DOLLY) BELLE ALLEY CUMMINGS
Note: “People We’ve Lost” is a new feature of the Bar Harbor Story where we share obituaries of people that the island lost in the previous 1-2 weeks. We’re doing this because we think everyone deserves to be remembered. If you have an obituary for a loved one or friend that you can’t afford to place in other spaces, please let us know and we’ll share it here for you. All our past stories are here.
DOROTHY PETERSON COOKE
BAR HARBOR
Dorothy Peterson Cooke, 92, died of complications of influenza at Birch Bay Village on March 16, 2025. Dorothy was born Jan. 10, 1933, to David Alexander Peterson and Marjorie Burton Peterson of Bar Harbor. Her grandfather, William Burton, was the head gardener at Kenarden Lodge in Bar Harbor, and her childhood was influenced by that magical place.
Named "Miss Mount Desert Island" and Junior Speaker, she graduated from Bar Harbor High School in 1951 and from Emerson College in Boston in 1955. That year she married the love of her life, John Eliot Cooke (Harvard '54), but his life was cut short by a tragic kayak accident in 1962.
Dorothy was a beloved 5th grade teacher to generations of students at the Emerson School in Bar Harbor, where she particularly enjoyed directing plays. In her prime she performed leading roles in community theater, including "The Odd Couple" and "Night of January 16th." After her retirement in 1993, she worked as a docent and was later named an Honorary Director of the Bar Harbor Historical Society. She was known for her interest in American history and the history of Mount Desert Island, which she wrote about for Down East Magazine and other publications. In 2017 she was featured in the documentary "Fire of '47," directed by Peter Logue.
Dorothy inherited her spectacular storytelling ability from her grandfather, who, like her, specialized in tall tales and ghost stories. She was widely loved for her charisma, grace, and bawdy sense of humor.
Dorothy is survived by her daughter Carolyn Cooke and her son-in-law Randall Babtkis of Point Arena, Calif.; by her granddaughter Callie Lana Cooke Babtkis and her partner Francois Dalembert of Wakefield, Mass.; by her grandson Zachary Cooke Babtkis, granddaughter-in-law Laura Melissa Garcia, and her great-granddaughter Aliza Garcia Babtkis of Los Angeles, Calif.; by her nephews Peter Allen, David Allen, and Thomas Allen, and by her niece Judy Allen Hanson of Bar Harbor and Florida. Dorothy was predeceased by her sister Betty Allen of Sarasota, Fla., and by her longtime friend Ken "Mucker" Smith of Bar Harbor.
Gifts in Dorothy's memory may be made to Jesup Memorial Library, 34 Mount Desert Street, Bar Harbor. Memories of Dorothy are welcome at www.jordanfernald.com.
MILDRED (DOLLY) BELLE ALLEY CUMMINGS
SOUTHWEST HARBOR
Mildred (Dolly) Belle Alley Cummings, age 96, passed away peacefully at MDI Hospital surrounded by family on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. She was born on Sept. 6, 1928, on Islesford, Maine, a daughter of the late Frederick and Evelyn (Moore) Leighton.
Dolly married Carroll Alley in 1945. They enjoyed their years living on various lighthouses before settling in Southwest Harbor, family camping, making her homemade doughnuts and jumping on her moped to deliver them to local businesses, and absolutely loved that the neighborhood children found their way to her yard to play alongside her children. After being widowed for several years, Dolly married Harold Cummings in 1993; she was always on the go, volunteering/working bingo, lots of travel with friends, playing slots at the casino, and especially enjoying family time. Dolly was proud to be a member of the American Legion Auxiliary.
Dolly is survived by her sons Larry Alley and wife Debbie of Southwest Harbor; Gary Alley and wife Debby of Southwest Harbor; Wayne Alley of Helena, Mont.; and Troy Alley and wife Kari of Hickory, N.C.; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her second husband, Harold Cummings (d. 2016) and her first husband, Carroll Alley (d. 1988), her parents, her 6 siblings, Frederick Leighton, Carl Leighton, Helena Balance, Francis Leighton, Virginia Leighton and Shirley Leighton.
Private services will be held in the spring. In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Southwest Harbor/Tremont Ambulance Service, P.O. Box 437, Southwest Harbor, ME 04679.
SUE KROPFF
