Katherine M. Dooley, eyewitness to Boston sports and political history

"The Dooley family was a Fenway Park fixture for decades and both Kitty and Lib personified the family's dedication to the team," said Larry Cancro, Red Sox senior vice president of Fenway affairs. "We are saddened by the passing of Kitty Dooley and the loss of such a treasured member of Red Sox Nation."

The daughter of John S. (Jack) Dooley, one of the founding members of the Royal Rooters in the 1890s, Ms. Dooley, who grew up in Roxbury and resided in Milton for more than 40 years, provided vivid recollections of the early days of the Red Sox, the Royal Rooters, and life in Boston in the first two decades of the 20th century to author Peter Nash for his book, "Boston's Royal Rooters."

A chapter in the book recounts the Dooley family’s devotion to the Red Sox. She was also shown sitting in Libby’s Fenway seat in her home as part of a documentary movie "Rooters: The Birth of Red Sox Nation," which included the story of her father and his good friend, Michael "Nuf Ced" McGreevy, whose 3rd Base Saloon in Roxbury (1894-1921) was the principal gathering place for the Royal Rooters.

The saloon got its name because it was the last stop before home for its patrons and 'Nuf Ced's nickname reflected his final say on all things baseball in his establishment.

"Baseball was always a part of Kitty's life," said Nash, who co-owns the new McGreevy's on Boylston Street, where Ms. Dooley was an honored luncheon guest last year. "Her sister, Libby, was known as "the Queen of Fenway Park," and Kitty eventually became a traveling Royal Rooter herself, accompanying her father to Red Sox spring training (for 30 years) in Sarasota, Fla. It was fitting that she left this world on Father’s Day because Kitty never wanted to bring attention to herself when I interviewed her. Her real wish was to honor her father.

"She was an important link bridging a long-gone era of Boston sports history with a new era of modern-day Red Sox fans and she was a great fan of the game in a family with a special connection to the game."

Ms. Dooley, who attended the Katherine Gibbs School, was a secretary and office administrator at the law firm Nutter, McLennan & Fish for 39 years. She was also a member of the Boston Philomathea Club and served on its board in several leadership roles. In 1935, she entertained more than 300 needy children while chairperson of the Junior Philomathea Club.

When Ms. Dooley talked about Royal Rooters like Boston Mayor John (Honey Fitz) Fitzgerald or looked at photos of old-time Hall of Fame baseball players like Hughie Jennings or Hugh Duffy, she brought them to life because she knew them.

As a young girl, she sat on Jennings’s and Duffy’s laps because her dad, a former semi-pro baseball player, was close to them and also to Boston Braves shortstop Rabbit Maranville, whom she called "Uncle Rabbit."

Ms. Dooley once put on neighborhood theater productions with the daughters of Red Sox legend Jimmy Collins, and at age 97, she still remembered the number .438, which was Duffy’s record-setting batting average in 1894.

She often spoke fondly of Boston Globe founder General Charles Taylor and his generosity toward her grandfather, Eugene O’Connor, a hero of the Great Lynn Fire of 1889 and she also would mention nonchalantly of spending summers in Hull (which she did until five years ago) as a neighbor of the Kennedys and Fitzgeralds.

Her father, who died in 1970, helped convince American League president Ban Johnson (who called him `My Little Irishman’) to locate the new Boston franchise at the Huntington Avenue Grounds, site of the first World Series in 1903. He was also a successful proponent of Sunday baseball in Boston. Sister Libby, one of six predeceased siblings, passed away nine years ago.

"Kitty was very happy when the Red Sox won the World Series after 86 years, but saddened that Libby did not live to see that day," said Leary, who noted that Ms. Dooley, Libby and their father all had the honor of throwing out first pitches at Fenway Park. "Kitty never married and family was very special to her. She enjoyed holiday gatherings and her home reflected the history she had seen."

A funeral Mass for Ms. Dooley will be held Thursday (6/25) at 11 a.m. at Saint Mary of the Hills Church in Milton. Burial will be at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Roslindale.