Laura was born to Thomas Hal Dodson and Mildred Julia Dunbar Dodson in Dallas, Texas. She died peacefully, surrounded by family, in Fargo, North Dakota, at age 86. She had an older brother, Tom, and a younger sister, Gay. She is survived by both siblings, son Jonathan, daughter Corina, four grandchildren, and several grand and great-grandnieces and nephews.
In 1945, her family relocated to Grand Prairie, Texas, just west of Dallas. Laura graduated from Grand Prairie High School in 1954. She attended Baylor University in Waco, Texas, where she earned a BA in Education, Psychology, and History in 1958. In 1961, she received a Master of Social Work degree from the University of Denver. Laura went on to Union Graduate School where she earned a PhD in Clinical Psychology in 1975.
From 1961-1969, Laura worked as a full-time Psychiatric Social Worker for Fort Logan Mental Health Center in Denver, Colorado. In 1967, she began a private practice as a Jungian psychologist in Denver, which lasted until her semi-retirement some 40 years later. In 1983, she was a visiting professor for one year at the Iliff School of Theology in Denver.
In 1969, Laura married George Anthony Cronin, who died in 1975. As a single woman, she adopted her two children, Jonathan Anthony in 1978, 4 days after his birth in Denver and Corina Catherine in 1983 at age 3, who was born in Peru. In 2000, she married Royce Delmer Forsyth, who died in 2007.
In May 1982, Laura joined Mountain View Friends Meeting in Denver. She served on Death and Memorials Committee from 1987-1989. She also played a significant role on a member’s support committee by asking that individual to consider action that was really going to be in their best interest. She was very generous with her psychological counseling as well as financial support. She had a sympathetic ear for everyone, wanting to do her best to help.
While she had close friends in the Meeting and considered our community her home base, her time was largely spent in meaningful professional and international ways. In 1988, Laura and her mentor, Virginia Satir, who was recognized for her approach to family therapy, were among the first U.S. psychotherapists to visit the Soviet Union. That same year, Laura established the Institute of International Connections (IIC) to carry on Satir’s methodology and support individuals, communities, and organizations in Soviet countries and beyond. They worked with people suffering from the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster and from the ravages of war and other crises in several countries. Importantly, Laura and the IIC developed tailored projects based on the needs, circumstances, and opportunities in each country.
During the pandemic Laura stayed connected with her international friends and colleagues via Zoom. She was planning to attend an online workshop in October 2022 but later canceled due to illness. An online tribute from a friend and colleague in Russia described her as beautiful, kind, loving, lively, and open to any new experience.
Laura loved to travel and spend time with family and friends. Family described her as being terrible at small talk, but wonderful at BIG talk and getting to the heart of things. When she wasn’t running through airports, she spent the winters in Texas with her sister Gay and for the balance of the year made her residence in Plummer, Minnesota.
Laura recently renewed contact with F/friends at our Meeting by joining Meetings for Worship via Zoom. Laura’s friend and colleague, Richard Hoffman, notified the Meeting of her death. Family held a memorial service for her in Plummer, Minnesota. The Virginia Satir Global Network also held an online memorial for her. Laura used her gifts and talents in meaningful community service on a far larger stage than our Meeting community. As a Quaker, she lived her true calling to service on a global scale.
Respectfully submitted,
Death and Memorials Committee