Dorothy Virginia Peri

Dorothy Virginia Rylander Peti, 94 Former Continental Airlines Executive Died peacefully Sat., 1/8/11, at Swedish Hospital following a short illness. Former Assistant Secretary for Continental Airlines, she was the 2nd woman to hold office with the airline. Her loving family surrounded her - son, David, daughters, Patricia (Patti) her long-time caregiver and Paula with husband Mark Tiernan. Also, survived by grandson Alexander Eugene, junior at the Univ. Of Calif., Santa Cruz. Born in Detroit, MI, 12/9/16, Dorothy moved to Denver with her parents, H.J. Heinz Executive, Robert and Carolyn Rylander. She attended Denver Public Schools - Park Hill Elementary, Gove Jr. High and East High School and was a past Queen of the Order of Job's Daughters. Dorothy received a two-year scholarship to the Univ. of Denver, enrolled at Barnes School of Business for additional certification and training and returned to DU for her 4-yr. Bachelor of Science degree in Commerce, with a major in business administration and finance (1944). During that time, she worked full time at both Sloan Foundation and as a legal secretary while taking night classes in the downtown campus. She was initiated into Sigma Kappa Sorority and elected vice-president of Associated Women Students for Phi Gamma Nu Professional Business Sorority and served as its collegiate president and alumnae president following graduation and was then elected National Grand Vice-president in charge of its chapters and expansion. In February 1943, Dorothy joined the treasury dept. of Denver Continental Airlines. She quickly moved to confidential secretary to Robert H. Purcell Vice-president, secretary/treasurer. Within two years, in 1945, at 29, was promoted to Assistant Secretary of Continental Airlines, only the 2nd female executive to hold office within the airline. She was a member of Zonta International, a professional women's organization and elected president of the Denver unit of Women's National Aeronaut Association (1944). Dorothy was one of the first female members of Cherry Hills Country Club, Denver Athletic Club, Mount Vernon and Denver Aviation Club where she served on its board as well. In 1950 Dorothy met the love of her life, Denver Sears executive James (Jim) E. Peri. Within several months of their first ""date"" at the Denver Post Summit Opera Series, they were engaged and married 10/28/50, followed by a VIP honeymoon in January. Dorothy left Continetal in 1952 at the birth of her first child and in later years, she returned to her legal secretary roots with a postion at Neef, Swanson and Dawson, Nagle. Sherman and Howard. She retired in 1981 as office manager of Capital Office Supply. Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband of 28 years, James Peri; her parents Robert and Carolyn (Johns) Rylander and older sister, Helen Robert, who died in infancy. Memorial Donations may be made in Dorothy's memory to the University of Denver, Office Of Gift Processing, Dept. 585, Denver, CO 80291 or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105. Memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, January 19, 2011 at Christ the King Catholic Church, 830 Elm Street.