Doris Procopio

Doris "Dore" J.Procopio, wife and mother, activist and arts patron died at age 74 at Kettering Memorial Hospital on Saturday, March 9, 2013 after a brief struggle with cancer.

A lifelong resident of Dayton, Ohio, Dore was born on April 11, 1938 to the late Flo and Floyd Mallette. She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Luigi S. Procopio, her two sons Joseph and Luigi II, their significant others, Ellen Levy and Peter Zakutansky (son-in-law) all of Washington, D.C., She had many loving nieces, nephews and friends.

Her sons could not have asked for a prouder, more devoted mother, and her marriage was a testament to the higher ideals of commitment and love. She was a lifelong activist for the progressive principles that undergirded her beliefs and actions. A fervent proponent of inclusiveness and LGBT equality, Dore publicly campaigned to the very end of her life for world peace, acceptance, and compassion in all things. Dore was also a loving, loyal, and beloved friend, who connected deeply with people wherever her life took her, from yoga classes to peace rallies to performances of the Dayton Philharmonic. An avid gardener in her later years, Dore spent many evenings in the warm weather months dining al fresco in her backyard garden with her husband and many friends. Her passion for the arts was imparted to both of her sons, and she was a lifetime patron of Dayton's arts community, with an adventurous appetite for local concerts, plays, dance recitals, and museum exhibits.

She was a librarian for thirteen years at the Wright Memorial Library, eagerly spreading her appreciation of literature, music, and film with the library's patrons, who often came specifically to seek out her thoughtful recommendations. In lieu of flowers, the Procopio family requests that donations in the name of Dore Procopio be offered to the Dayton International Peace Museum, 208 W. Monument Ave, Dayton, Ohio 45402-3015.