Our Mission
Hospice of San Luis Obispo County, committed to the dignity of the human experience, provides volunteer support, education, and counseling to those living with life threatening or terminal illness, their families, and the bereaved.

1345 Oak St.
Paso Robles
805-434-1164

Dorothy D. Rupe: Our Home's Namesake
By Arthur N. Rupe

In that our new facility will bear the name of Dorothy D. Rupe Center, home of Hospice of San Luis Obispo County, we were curious to learn more about the lovely woman who inspired such generosity. We've asked her husband, Arthur N. Rupe, to give us some insights. Here are his reflections upon this kind and talented woman.

Dorothy D. Rupe was born in Baxter, Tennessee on August 17, 1918 to William and Laura Montgomery. The family lived and worked on her grandparents' farm until she was four months old. Then, her parents decided that there was more opportunity in California, and the family migrated to Los Angeles. When William Montgomery lost his job as a laborer and couldn't find other work during the Great Depression of the early 1930's, the family returned to the grandparents' family farm in Tennessee feeling that they wouldn't go hungry on the farm.

A few years later the family moved back to California, and settled in Coalinga where William Montgomery worked in the oil fields. After Dorothy graduated from Coalinga High School with honors, she worked at the local City Hall until enlisting in the Navy during World War II. The Navy sent her to Hunter College in New York and to Indiana University before assigning her to a high level position in San Francisco, where she served until after the war ended. After the war she rejoined her family in El Monte, California and accepted a position as the City Clerk. When her younger sister entered UCLA, Dorothy moved to West Hollywood so her sister could live with her.

I met Dorothy in the late 1950's, and we were married on February 15, 1960. I was attracted to her because we shared many cultural, intellectual and travel interests. The fact that she was a beautiful lady was icing on the cake.

Dorothy became a highly skilled copyright executive in the music industry, and was well respected by her peers for her proficiency. She organized, and for ten years managed, Venice Music, Inc. which owned songs recorded by the Beatles, Elvis Presley, Little Richard, the Rolling Stones, and other popular music stars of the period.

Dorothy was very compassionate and identified with children-"consider their feelings", the elderly, and with animals. She believed in helping the weak and the helpless. The only time I ever witnessed Dorothy become really angry was when she observed a man jerking the leash and slapping his dog. Dorothy, who was by nature shy and always mannerly, rushed up to the man and scolded him, "How would you like somebody to jerk and slap you? You don't deserve to own a dog." The man looked sheepish, turned his back, and skulked away.

In the early stages of Dorothy's Alzheimer's disease, I would drive her to the Santa Barbara Court House where she enjoyed listening to various trials-particularly the jury trials. One of the Judges recognized her as a court watcher, and occasionally invited her in on the breaks for tea and cookies. One day I received a call from the judge's clerk that she had left her purse in the court room. On another occasion I received a call from an ice cream store that Dorothy told them she was lost, and didn't remember where I was to pick her up.

It was at that point I realized that Dorothy could no longer be left alone. At first I hired a day companion, but as her physical needs became more demanding and her memory faded dramatically, I hired CNA's (Certified Nurse's Assistants) for around the clock care.

During the last six month's of Dorothy's life, her physician, Dr. Charles Cronin of Pismo Beach, told me about hospice and recommended their services. I had just a vague idea of what hospice was and what they did. However, I soon learned that the hospice organizations were a Godsend.

Representatives of both County Home Health Hospice (now Hospice Partners of the Central Coast) and Hospice of San Luis Obispo County provided services to our family. County Home Health Hospice staff visited our home frequently, and instructed and coordinated Dorothy's care-giving CNA's on how to make Dorothy's last months and days comfortable for her. Almost equally important, they helped me accept Dorothy's terminal condition, and reassured me that she was receiving the best care possible. Within twenty minutes after Dorothy's dying on September 5, 1994, the hospice nurse came to our home though it was about 2:30 in the morning. The nurse assisted me in attending to the details of calling the funeral home and other matters.

After Dorothy died I went through a grieving period and depression. Hospice continued their compassionate help for me through bereavement services. Briefly, I received one-on-one counseling. Then, I attended several Hospice of San Luis Obispo County support group sessions with other spouses who had also lost loved ones. It was a safe environment that permitted me to express my grief, shed tears, and cope with the loss of my wife whom I loved very much. After several months of these group sessions, I felt I could resume my work effectively and begin a new life.

I still miss Dorothy very much, but I am grateful that I have the means to help sponsor the Dorothy D. Rupe Center. I have the comfort of knowing that others who are terminally ill or grieving the loss of a loved one will find sympathetic help. Most importantly, Dorothy would be most pleased and proud to have her name associated with such a beacon for help and harbor of compassion for those in distress. The mission of Hospice certainly matched her philosophy of life and deep feeling for all those needing help to cope with tragedy.