Dorothy Jean Dustmann

Dorothy Jean Dustmann, 62, of Catonsville, MD, died at Gilchrist Hospice Intake in Columbia, MD, Saturday, August 29, 2015, after a rich, rewarding, hard-working life and a valiant 2 year battle with a rare form of cancer. Mrs. Dustmann was born in Baltimore, MD, daughter of the late George and Margaret Klein and a loving sister to George, Margaret and Steven Klein. She grew up in Lutherville, MD where she attended Towson Catholic High School and graduated from Towson High School in 1971. She attended St. Mary’s College for her freshman year, then attended what was then called Towson State College graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1974.

On October 25, 1975, she married Walter H. “Dusty” Dustmann, who she met during her last year at Towson State, and the newlyweds bought a home in Baltimore City on Chinquapin Parkway. On March 5, 1978 Dorothy gave birth to a beautiful daughter, Cara Alexandra Dustmann.

In 1983 after many odd jobs, Dusty re-entered the U. S. Navy and they moved to Edgewood, MD while he worked at the Naval Reserve Center in Baltimore at Fort McHenry.  In 1985, Sean Michael Dustmann was born and during that year, Dusty was transferred to the Naval Reserve Center in Lewes, Delaware and the family moved again.

In 1989, they returned to the Baltimore area residing in Parkville, MD.  During this time Dorothy began studies at Johns Hopkins University where she acquired her Masters in Early Childhood Intervention in May of 1992.  Dorothy immediately began working for Baltimore City Schools for a year and then Baltimore County Public Schools for the next 22 years. She retired on February 1st, 2015 from the Baltimore County Public Schools Infants & Toddlers Program.

During the summer of 2013, Dorothy did not feel well and went in to her primary doctor for a check-up, where she learned of her cancer.  The cancer had a name, Mesonephric Carcinoma, and after surgery, 6 bouts of chemo, and 5 awful radiation doses, Dorothy was told she was cancer free. For two wonderful months during the fall of 2014, Dorothy was enjoying life.  The family took a trip to Lake Harmony, in the Poconos, but during the trip, and not wanting to ruin the vacation, she silently endured the pain that had returned in the area of the surgery.  On returning to Catonsville, she again went to her Oncologist at Johns Hopkins who discovered that the cancer had returned but this time to areas all over her body.  Enduring 6 more bouts of painful chemo and then more chemo of a different kind that made her so sick, Dorothy made the decision to go with hospice care.  Starting in the home and finally full time at Gilchrist Hospice Intake in Columbia where her battle against this awful cancer ended.

During her fight she was upbeat, happy, loved working in her garden,at her home in Catonsville, MD, where she lived for the past 22 years, and just wanted to be close to her family and friends. Dorothy has left us with many fond, unforgettable memories. She will be sorely missed.

One of Dorothy’s final requests was that, in lieu of flowers,