Delores Dawson was born on November 23, 1939, in Rockford, lL. She died from a catastrophic injury following a fall in her home.
Delores was the third of eight children born to Bruno and Christine (Yaklich) Olszewski. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ronald, her parents and two brothers, Paul (Donna) Olszewski, and infant, Michael John Olszewski. She is survived by a brother, Jerry (Patty) Olszewski, and four sisters, Bernice Olszewski, O.P., Darlene Hamaker (John, deceased), Bernadette (Stan) Tebbe, Mary Ann Ward, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Delores devoted her entire life to education. Her brilliant career in education began with the Adrian Dominican Sisters. She received a B.A. and an M.A. from Siena Heights College (now University) in Adrian, Michigan. She went on to earn a Ph.D. in Early Childhood Education from the University of Michigan. She was a gifted, creative educational leader, first as a dynamic teacher and principal and then as Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources for Ann Arbor Public Schools. Her impact expanded through her work as an Education Field Services Consultant for the State of Michigan and also as a member of the Coalition of Essential Schools. She believed deeply in the need for equal access to quality education and she fought to make this a reality in every role she had throughout her long career.
ln 1970, Delores met the love of her life, Ronald Dawson. Ronald was born in East Bedfont, Middlesex, England. He graduated in Mechanical Engineering at the Twickenham Technical College in England. He was recruited in London for a position in St. Charles, Missouri, and was transferred to Ann Arbor in 1970. That was the beginning of a great love story. ln 1975, Delores and Ron were married and they spent the rest of their lives treasuring every adventure that came their way. They loved their combined family on both sides of the Atlantic and their generosity knew no limits. In a remarkable example of devotion, Delores spent seven years caring for Ron in their home -along with her outstanding caretaker team- as he battled cancer until his death in 2020.
ln Delores’s final days, she listened to an outpouring of love, admiration and gratitude from beloved family members and from lifelong friends. lt was a love fest in honor of a woman whose entire life was defined by the love she showered on others. She was a gentle, beautiful woman with a loving spirit that was freely shared. She treasured long friendships and delighted in those that were new. She lived with great intensity at all times and of course that intensity reached its peak whenever she was shouting, “Go Blue!!” She attended the Michigan/Ohio State basketball game with dear friends on February 5th and she texted photos of that happy evening far and wide. Delores also loved her book club, exercising with her “stepsisters,” visits to the arboretum and enjoying symphony concerts as often as she could. She lived life fully, passionately and faithfully.
A funeral mass will be celebrated at 11:30 am on Saturday, April 22, at St. Mary Student Parish, 331 Thompson Street, Ann Arbor, Ml, 48104. Church will be opened at 10:30 am for those who would like to pay respects.
Memorials honoring Delores may be made to St. Mary Student Parish or to Adrian Dominican Sisters, 1257 E. Siena Heights Drive, Adrian, Ml, 49221.