Doris K. Overtoom died quietly on April 9, 2017, at the Merry Heart Nursing Home in Boonton, N.J. She had lived in Madison, N.J., and West Tisbury for the last 25 years of her life, and had previously resided in Florham Park, N.J., for many years.
Doris was born at home on May 23, 1929, to Albert and Sophie Kligge in Hillside, N.J. She grew up there with her twin sister, Florence, sisters Dorothy and Marie, and eldest brother Albert. She and Florence were the youngest of the family, and the family never let them forget it; even when they were young women of 18, the family would ask, “Where are the babies?” The good-looking twins later caught the eye of the Westinghouse Corp., which hired them to model their first washer/dryer “Twin” appliance combo at the Springfield fair. It was there that Doris met her husband, John H. Overtoom from Madison, N.J., who was also working at the fair, selling tractors with his dad. Doris and John married a few years later, on Oct. 30, 1954, and settled in John’s hometown of Florham Park, N.J.
Doris raised four children of her own and also, beginning in 1978, three children of her twin sister Florence, who died at an early age. In 1979 she took on an exchange student from France as well. The house was always full, with lots of people, ideas, and energy. In her spare time, she loved to play tennis with her friends. Her favorite activity was traveling the world. She visited Egypt, and was lucky to see Moscow when the Soviet Union first allowed tourists, and Yugoslavia before it separated into independent nation-states. She visited all of Europe and the Caribbean Islands, but especially loved Italy, returning time and time again while cultivating a love of opera.
Doris was an avid reader, and loved music and art. She was a strong woman, and supported women’s rights throughout her life. In 1982, Doris became an urban pioneer and joined the “back to the cities” movement when she purchased an abandoned brownstone in the Arlington Park neighborhood of Jersey City, N.J. Doris renovated it into two apartments, doing much of the day-to-day construction herself. Doris forged many new friendships with members of the large Russian émigré community residing in Jersey City at that time. Her brownstone stood directly across from the picturesque Catholic Church that later was repeatedly featured in the hit HBO series “The Sopranos.”
Doris spent 25 years summering from May through October on Martha’s Vineyard. Doris and John lived in West Tisbury, and enjoyed being part of the community. She loved to come each spring to spend time with her grandchildren, Olivia and Michelle. They would watch operas together, cook, read, garden, sing, and talk for hours. She so enjoyed being part of their life as they grew up.
Doris was predeceased by her husband of 56 years, John H. Overtoom. She is survived by her children, Karen M. Overtoom and husband Louis of West Tisbury, Douglas L. Overtoom and wife Carol of Haddonfield, N.J.; J. Andrew Overtoom and wife Tricia of Silver Lake, Calif., and Leo J. Overtoom and wife Gwen of Scarsdale, N.Y.; her nieces and nephew, Stefanie Cohen and husband David of Buffalo, N.Y.; Phillip Cohen and wife Sue of South Orange, N.J.; and Laura Riley and husband David of Hilton Head, S.C.; her grandchildren, Olivia and Michelle de Geofroy, Nikolaus and Ian Overtoom, Sam Brown, Kermit and Calliope Cohen, and Casey and David Riley.
A celebration of her life will be held this summer on the Vineyard. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to your favorite charity.
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