Dori’s parents, Mito and Elda (neé Sciaky) Tentchoff – immigrants from Macedonia and Greece respectively – initially spoke only French in common. Thus, although she was born in Manhattan, French was Dori’s ‘native’ tongue, a curious circumstance that she felt prompted her life-long interest in language and culture.
She met her husband, Paul Zilsel, during a social justice rally at the University of Wisconsin in 1945. Both Dori and Paul sought always to understand the world deeply, and were equally committed to making it a better place. In 1954, at the height of the McCarthy era, they left the US for Israel with two young daughters in tow, spending a total of five years abroad before returning to the States.
After an amicable divorce in 1966, Dori enrolled in university, ultimately obtaining a PhD in anthropological linguistics just shy of her 50th birthday. She also started running at that time, winning first place medals in her age category in every road race she entered. She was hired by Oregon State University where, for the next 13 years, she taught numerous courses in Cultural Anthropology. Her enthusiasm for exploring issues openly, her insistence that students think deeply and debate in class, her use of film and contemporary literature as tools to understand African, Latin American, South American and Middle Eastern cultures made her an immensely popular teacher. She was a beacon of light to the Palestinian students on campus, who found in this late-blooming woman of Jewish heritage both a mentor and friend. But her forthrightness had a price. She was denied tenure when a faculty member on the college review committee vetoed her application on – as was later revealed – political, not academic, grounds. Although encouraged by her own department to reapply, stress had taken its toll: Dori’s first Lupus symptoms arose that year. She opted to retire early and immigrate to Canada to be with her family.
The challenges Dori faced throughout her life, along with her unflinching determination to seek the truth, fostered a dark, at times catastrophic, perspective. Yet her personal choices were exemplary. Though always generous, she chose to live simply. She left her car behind upon moving to Canada in order to minimize her carbon footprint. She became a vegetarian, and years later a vegan as she became increasingly aware of the cruelty and environmental destruction inherent in animal agriculture. She read voraciously, wrote beautifully and continued to the end to participate as best she could in peace and justice work.
She leaves behind her brother Ivan Tentchoff (Evi); sister-in-law Marilyn Tentchoff; niece Marcie (David) and their children Corin and Jaimie Tentchoff; beloved daughters Carrie Zadrazil and Joanna Zilsel; and the grandsons she adored: Marc Sipress, Andre Zadrazil, Dan Zilsel and Noah Sobolewski. Loving thanks to her awesome rescue team/lunch bunch friends Joanne, Joan, Margaret and Kathleen for always being there, and to Polly, the ‘new but very old’ friend with whom she shared so much. Deepest gratitude to Dr. Wadge, Dr. Lacaille and Dr. Berenstein for many years of superb, compassionate care, and to the wonderful palliative care nurses who, under Petrina’s beautiful guidance, enabled Dori to remain at home to the end.
Your courage, clarity and dignity touched all who knew you.
LOVED, MISSED, NEVER FORGOTTEN