NEFI is saddened to report the passing of our dear friend, Townsend family matriarch and longtime energy industry stalwart Dorothy Townsend. Having reached the remarkable age of 100 this past August, Dorothy, or Dot as her friends knew her, lived a truly amazing life; and while her passing leaves a notable space in all our hearts, the collective heart of our industry will always be fuller for having known her presence and shared in her warmth and strength.

Dorothy Townsend grew up Dorothy McElroy. In 1946, she married Warren Townsend, a World War II veteran and one of six sons of Townsend Oil’s founding owner, Mial E. Townsend. Dorothy joined Warren in the family business right away and soon became the trusted “voice of the company” that greeted and assisted customers when they called the office. She and Warren would have four children together, including daughters Ellen and Mary Lou and sons Mark and Jim. Mark and Jim joined the business in the early and late 1970s respectively and today serve as Townsend Energy President and CEO. After more than 50 years in the industry, both readily acknowledge that their mother’s influence continues to be felt at Townsend Energy. “The values that she and Dad instilled in Mark and I are represented in the Mission Statement and Core Values of Townsend Energy today,” said Jim. “All those who knew Dot, and were fortunate enough to call her a friend, were inspired by her, and are better today for having known this great lady, our Mom.”

While the story of a family business growing stronger while staying true to its roots is noteworthy unto itself, the story of Townsend Energy and Dorothy Townsend is all the more striking because she continued to work for the company well into her 90s, coming into the office just about every single day and helping out in any way she could. She assisted in customer service and bookkeeping, but according to Jim, her official title was “Life Coach, and what a coach she was.” Over the years, Dorothy’s kind voice and beaming personality would become familiar not only to Townsend Energy customers and employees but also the industry at large. Mark added, “My mother and father loved the employees, customers and this industry, and raised us to do the same. She was very proud of the fact that even the 4th generation was in the business and carrying on that tradition. We will all greatly miss her.” A longtime member and supporter of NEFI, she was the oldest living NEFI Legend of Oilheat, a title she was proud to share with Jim as the only mother-son duo to hold this distinction.

“Dorothy Townsend left an admired legacy, which has made an impact on the world around it,” said NEFI President & CEO Sean Cota. “She was a shining example of leadership, persistence, ethics and hard work. Dot and Warren’s leadership in business and the community was contagious. They expected the best from everyone while being the best themselves. We are saddened by the loss and enriched because of who they were.”
Please join NEFI in expressing our sincerest condolences to the entire Townsend family, as well as all of Dorothy’s many colleagues and friends. She will forever be deeply missed and fondly remembered.

Visiting hours will be on January 9, 2018 from 3:00pm-8:00pm in the Campbell Funeral Home, 525 Cabot Street, Beverly, MA. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on January 10, 2018 at 11:00am in St. Margaret’s Church located at 672 Hale Street, Beverly Farms. Interment will be in the Beverly Farms Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to St. Jude Research Hospital at 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or Care Dimensions at 75 Sylvan Street, Suite B-102, Danvers, MA 01923.

You may view the full obituary or leave an electronic message at: www.campbellfuneral.com.