The Hon. Dorothy A. Kelly Gay
Trustee
Dorothy Kelly Gay was born in County Galway. Ireland.
Left Ireland to study nursing in England, having completed her studies in General Nursing and Midwifery she expanded her career in Healthcare at Hospitals in Greater London.
Dorothy and her Husband Bert and their two small children immigrated to Somerville in 1968 to take their infant son to have treatment at Children’s Hospital. Their intention at the time was to return to England when his treatment was completed! Fate intervened however and the family were made welcome in their new life by their neighbors and made many friends who were so supportive in their time of need they made the life changing decision to remain in America and raise their family realizing the opportunities that were available to them.
Dorothy started her Nursing Career locally at the Central Hospital, and many years later at The Hebrew Rehabilitation Center in Boston, where she was the Administrative Coordinator of Nursing in charge of the 725 bed facility on the night shift. As her children entered the Somerville School System Dorothy was involved with PTA, thus began her foray into the Somerville Political scene, she was appointed to fill a vacancy on the School Committee for Ward 3. She served 3 terms. Dorothy was the first Nurse ever to serve in Somerville, many changes marked her career she served as Vice Chairman and Chairman and headed up many committees including negotiating contracts with all school employees. Dorothy sought to create a clinic at the High School to be utilized for all the students aware that many of the immigrant and low income students had lit or no access to healthcare. Many challenges and roadblocks had to be overcome eventually The Teen Clinic was operational serving the students. This was a first in the greater Boston area.
1992 Dorothy won her election for a seat on the Governor’s Council representing the 6th District made up of 26 cities and towns from Beacon Hill to Billerica.
Again Dorothy brought much needed change to this outdated body, she served with 7 male members. She chaired hearings for Supreme, Superior, District and Housing Court Judges. Held public hearings for commutations and was instrumental in bringing the plight of Domestic Violence Victims in to the public arena with the Framingham 8, a group of incarcerated women serving life sentences for defending their lives!
1998 Dorothy ran unsuccessfully for the Democratic Nomination for Lt Gov of Ma. While she lost that election, the Mayor of Somerville Michael Capuano was elected to Congress. A special election was Mayor, Dorothy was the first woman ever elected for Mayor in Somerville in May 1999.
Dorothy served until Jan 2004. In February 2004 Dorothy was welcomed back to Hebrew SeniorLife as Dir of Housing overseeing over 2,000 units of affordable senior supportive housing in the greater Boston area, she was later promoted to Vice President of Government Relations for Hebrew SeniorLife. Having enjoyed an amazing fulfilling life in politics and healthcare always working for the greater good Dorothy retired in 2013. Dorothy has remained active in politics as a life member of the State Committee, as a Director of The Somerville High School Scholarship Foundation, Board of Oversight, Mount Auburn Hospital, Fundraising Committee and Trustee The Somerville Museum.
Dorothy has received numerous awards and recognition over her years in politics and nursing. She is particularly proud of the Center in Politics and Public Policy UMass Woman of the Year award 1994.
Other awards include:
Somerville Council of PTA’s Scholarship named in her Honor 1994
Mass Nurses Association Frank Hynes Award for Exceptional Contribution to Nursing and Healthcare 1997
RESPOND Leadership in Preventing Violence Against Women Award 2003
Somerville Homeless Coalition, Inc.
Honored for Efforts of helping the needy and the homeless
2002 Dream of Freedom Museum, Boston
Dorothy A. Kelly Gay featured as the only elected official among influential Irish-American Women
Fire Upon the Hearth Award 2003