Goldthwaite "G.H." Higginson Dorr III

Goldthwaite Higginson Dorr III, affectionately known as “G.H.,” passed away peacefully on June 27, 2024, at the age of 92 in Bellingham, WA. He was born on January 11, 1932, in New York City to Russell Higginson Dorr and Ruth Miller Dorr. He had one younger sibling, Virginia. 

G.H. attended Rectory School (Connecticut), Pomfret School (Connecticut), and Sidwell Friends School (Washington D.C.) and graduated from Harvard University where he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and later continued his education at the University of Minnesota receiving a Masters in Museology. 

During his youth, G.H. travelled extensively throughout the world with his parents and sister Virginia. After WWII they travelled around Europe where his father served in Brussels, Turkey, and Paris. Summers included gathering with family at Point O’ Woods (Fire Island, NY), Gypsy Trail (Carmel, NY), and Temagami Lake (Ontario, Canada). 

In 1959, G.H. married Mary Elizabeth “Libby” Williams. Together, they had four children: Thomas Williams, Stephen Higginson, Anne Goldthwaite, and Russell Higginson. Family adventures and memories included ice skating on Lake of the Isles, MN, sailing the Great South Bay, Fire Island, NY, driving across the U.S. three times, gathering starfish in Santa Barbara, camping in northern Arizona’s aspen groves, canoeing and fishing in Canada, body surfing and sailing at Point O’ Woods, visits to the mountains and seashores of the Pacific Northwest, and many gatherings with the family he loved.

G.H. loved art in its many forms as well as how it influenced people. His involvement in the arts reflected his love of connecting people of all ages to fine art, modern art, photography, and sculpture. As Curator at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, Director of the Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Director of the Phoenix Art Museum, Director of the Portland Art Museum (Maine), and President of the Board of Trustees of the Shemer Art Center in Phoenix, G.H. creatively brought innovation and passion of art to the communities that he served. Popular exhibitions included: Motorcycle Art, Kitsch Art, Winslow Homer, and Space Art.

G.H. was also a celebrated photographer with his work being featured in publications such as Arizona Highways and exhibitions throughout the United States. At every family gathering, community event, or outside adventure, he had his camera ready to capture the action. Though self-taught, he loved teaching photography “best practices” to others. G.H. so enjoyed expressing himself through the lens of his camera and sharing his vision of the world through his photography.

In 1983, G.H. met Eleanor “Ellie” Foster. Their friendship blossomed into a beautiful companionship that flourished for four decades. They shared much in common, including a love of creating art, travel, tennis, camping, hosting parties, and being with family. Their Dorr/Foster family gatherings filled their home with love, rousing conversations, and joy. He was especially appreciative of Ellie’s grandson, Joe Perez, who looked after them for decades.

G.H. lived a majority of his life in the Phoenix area, but spent his final years in Bellingham, WA, bringing full circle the family’s connection to the Fairhaven region where his great-uncle Russell Carden Higginson and his wife Ella Rhoads Higginson, Poet Laureate of Washington State, lived. 

G.H. was preceded in death by his parents Russell and Ruth Dorr, his grandfather and namesake, his sister Virginia Maxwell, and his partner of nearly 40 years, Eleanor “Ellie” Wright Foster. He is survived by his four children, Tom (Debbi) of Bellingham, WA, Steve (Molly) of Issaquah, WA, Anne (Matthew) of Boise, ID and Russell (Alice) of Vashon Island, WA, as well as 11 grandchildren.

Private services are being held. G.H. will be laid to rest at Bayview Cemetery in Bellingham, WA near Ella and Robert Higginson. Expressions of sympathy may be made in the form of contributions to The Shemer Art Center, 5005 E. Camelback Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85018.