Published online. Names of living survivors redacted.

Nina Pauline Dodd (Pauly) died peacefully on February 8, 2023 at Carolina Meadows in Chapel Hill. She was 94 years old. 



Born in Wilkinsburg, PA she was a graduate of Freeport High School where she was the valedictorian of her class. When she graduated, there were not many educational opportunities for women in US colleges. However, Penn State University offered her a spot for one year at Slippery Rock State College, and if she did well enough there, she could transfer to Penn State. Penn State had to restrict enrollment to accommodate the soldiers coming back from World War II. Pauly was able to transfer to Penn State where she graduated with a degree in Journalism, was the features editor at the Daily Collegian and president of her sorority, Zeta Tau Alpha. While there, she met the love of her life Arthur Van Zandt Dodd (Art), one of the WWII GIs taking up all the space.



Armed with her journalism degree, and Art with his master's degree, they headed off together to work for the military. Pauly worked as a writer in the Office of the Chief of Military History at the Pentagon for four years, editing and indexing a 90-volume series on the history of the Army during WWII. After four years, the young couple then left Alexandria, VA for Boston. 



While Art pursued climate research at Natick Labs and his PhD, Pauly worked for Wellesley College's library, and became increasingly active in Wellesley, MA politics serving on various town boards and committees, the Wellesley College Scholarship Foundation, and the Boston-Penn State Alumni Association. She helped run the political campaign for Margaret Heckler, who was successfully elected to represent Massachusetts in the US House of Representatives in 1966. During this time, Pauly was also busy raising two active, young boys.



In 1968, Art and Pauly moved with their two sons to Chapel Hill, and while Art ran the Army's Atmospheric Sciences Division, Pauly not only ran the household and raised the boys but worked as an editor for various departments and professors at UNC-Chapel Hill, most notably for the Institute of Government. In retirement, Pauly and Art moved to Carolina Meadows, where they lived happily for many years and became active members of the community.



Pauly loved her country. She was an active and lifelong member of the Davie Poplar Society for the Daughters of the American Revolution, and once remarked that while her Revolutionary War ancestors were inciting the Whiskey Rebellion in western Pennsylvania, Art's ancestors were trying to quash it. Pauly loved her time as a lifelong member of the Zeta Tau Alpha community, and spent many years active in the Chapel Hill Christian Science Church. Pauly loved intellectual pursuits and learning that she passed on to her sons. She spent many childhood summers (and adult ones too) with her family at the Chautauqua Institution in western New York State soaking up music, literature, and politics.



Her family honor and will miss so much about her, with a few of her gifts being her sense of humor, kindness, patience, integrity, and ability to handle adversity with grace.



A Memorial Service will be held at Carolina Meadows on March 18, and final burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery where she will be reunited with Art. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be directed to the Carolina Meadows Employee Success Fund.