In celebration of National Women's Month, we are sharing the remarkable story of one of our residents at Riverside East, Dorothy Willoughby.
Born in Scotland, Dorothy moved to America in 1952 to become a stewardess for American Airlines, a career she chose for the freedom to travel the world. Notably, she flew on the first American Airlines jet service from San Francisco to New York.
Her life took a romantic turn when she met her husband, Bob, while he was a passenger on one of her flights. Although she accidentally gave him the wrong phone number, she was able to use the address on his business card to write him a letter. He met her at the gate before her next flight, and after only five dates, they were married in Grass Valley in 1959. They eventually settled in Pacific Palisades and raised their son, Christopher.
The family lived an international life, spending time in Ireland, England, and France. In fact, Dorothy lived in a castle in Ireland and spent 35 years retired in the South of France.
While Dorothy is very modest, her son recently shared a photo of her with Audrey Hepburn, revealing more about her husband's prestigious career. Bob Willoughby virtually invented photojournalistic motion picture still photography, working closely with icons such as Judy Garland, Louis Armstrong, and Natalie Wood.
Although Bob passed away in 2009, Dorothy continues to delight us all with her wonderful stories.
