Saratoga Springs, NY - Dorothy Ellen Smith passed away Saturday, October 1, 2011 at Crescent Manor Nursing Home (Bennington), which was her residence for the last six years. She was 96. Born October 7, 1914, in the Town of Wilton, she was the daughter of the late Clarence (Collamer) and Nora (Carr) Smith, and lived nearly all of her life in Wilton and Saratoga Springs. She was a graduate of Saratoga Springs High School and Albany State Teachers College. She worked for a time in Albany as a researcher for a law office but spent most of her career at the Skidmore College Registrars Office. She was involved in the transition of Skidmore from a womens school to a coeducational institution in 1971, and participated in the 1960's and 1970's move from the old Union Avenue campus to the new North Broadway campus. In spring 1971, she worked at the old Administration Building at Union Avenue and Regent Street which was occupied by student protesters, who peacefully ended their protest. In June 1979, Dorothy retired from Skidmore as Assistant Registrar to several generations of students who considered her an understanding voice. Dorothy was a 75-year member of the United Methodist Church of Saratoga Springs where she was a member of United Methodist Women, was director of the Sunday school and participated in many activities at the church. She was a long-time member of the Business and Professional Womens Chapter in Saratoga Springs where she achieved several positions as officer in the 1970's. You could always find Dorothy taking her nephew and niece on trips to New York City and other venues, the 1964-65 N.Y. Worlds Fair and the 1967 Expo Worlds Fair in Montreal. Her niece and nephew were indebted to her for the exposure to outside and world events that she made them a part of. During retirement, Dorothy finally found time to travel extensively, often with her traveling companion and long-time good friend, Helen Strader, to Europe and other exotic destinations. Dorothy took care of her father, who lived to be 100 years old, until 1983, and this was a very time-intensive task in later years. Dorothy will be missed by family and friends . In addition to her parents, Dorothy was predeceased by a younger sister, Ruth (Smith) Pierce who passed away in 1940; her grand-nephew Jonathan Freebern who passed away in 2002 and her niece Donna (Hodges) Freebern, who passed away in 2005. Survivors include her sister Elizabeth (Smith) Hodges, her nephew Dennis Hodges and her grand-nephew Justin Freebern, all of Saratoga Springs, as well as cousins in Washington, DC, Connecticut and Houston, Texas. Relatives and friends may call from 11 to 12noon Friday, Oct. 7, 2011 at the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes, 628 North Broadway, Saratoga Springs (584-5373). A service will be conducted by Rev. Dr. Jim Fenimore at noon at the funeral home. Burial will follow in the family plot at Greenridge Cemetery, Lincoln Ave., Saratoga Springs. Donations in lieu of flowers may be made to the Alzheimers Association, 85 Watervliet Ave., Albany, NY 12206. Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com.