Dorothy Kurtz, Class of 1919

Dorothy Kurtz, Class of 1919, intended to leave a legacy. An only child who never married, Dorothy lived a hardworking and frugal life that allowed her to show Friends’ Central a generosity that belied her means.

While at FCS, Dorothy—or “Ditty,” as she was called—was a passionately involved student who remained devoted to Friends’ Central and to her lifelong friends and classmates. She was known as a skilled and spirited athlete who served as the captain of the field hockey and baseball teams and was also a member for the basketball and tennis teams. As a senior, Dorothy worked on the yearbook staff and was a leader of school spirit.

For 37 years, Dorothy worked as a switchboard operator at Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company. During this time, she maintained close relationships with her FCS classmates and with the School itself. She was extremely proud that, in her 75 years as an alumna, she never missed a year of annual giving.

When Dorothy was 41 years old, she notified Friends’ Central that she had named the School as a beneficiary of her $500 life insurance policy. She asked that this money be used to start the Class of 1919 Scholarship Fund, encouraging her classmates to follow suit to help the fund grow. Over the years, she managed her investments wisely, and she often indicated to the School her intention to be as generous as possible to her alma mater.

Dorothy has impacted the lives of countless FCS students who have received scholarship support each year since 1996. In the 2020-2021 school year, the Dorothy J. Kurtz Scholarship Fund provided $25,000 in financial aid to deserving students.

Generations of FCS students and faculty have benefited from thoughtful and generous planned gifts from alumni/ae such as Dorothy as well as gifts from faculty, staff, parents, and friends. The Eliza Blackburn Society, named in memory of Eliza Blackburn ’22, honors the members of the FCS community who have left a legacy at FCS.

If you are interested in learning more about the Blackburn Society and leaving a legacy at FCS, please contact Colette Kleitz, Chief Development Officer, at 610-645-5076.