Dorothy Betty Gold Zalkin

In loving memory of Dorothy Betty (Gold) Zalkin, who passed away at the age of 91 in Asheville, North Carolina, after a sudden illness.

Dorothy was born in Bronx, NY, to the late Harry and Clara (Steinberg) Gold. She was raised in New York City, spending summers working at her parents’ New York Catskill Mountain resorts, until moving permanently to Woodridge, NY, upon her marriage to Jack Meyer Zalkin. Jack and Dorothy were former owners of Zalkin’s Birchwood Lodge, however their pride and joy was the development of Birchwood Acres Campground, later franchised as Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park, in Greenfield Park, NY. While the resort was later managed by family, Dorothy worked there every summer up to the age of 83, when the resort was sold. Dorothy wintered for many years in Florida, and her Weston, FL, condo was her permanent home until 2021, when she moved to Asheville, NC.

Dorothy loved and was generous to her family, children Cari and Michael, daughters-in-law Hannah and Martha, grandchildren Gabriel and Andrea, and great-grandson Hudson. When they were small, she took her grandchildren on trips far and wide, spoiled them and taught them values. There were no greater friends to her than sister-in-law Peggy Gold and Eileen Krieger. She was a friend to many, was an excellent listener and greatly admired. She was a smart, successful and astute businesswoman who was greatly appreciated and respected by her customers. Her business was a labor of love.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her father and mother Harry and Clara Gold; husband Jack Zalkin, who was the love of her life; siblings Murray Gold and Seena (Gold) Nelson, sister-in-law Peggy Gold, niece Debbie Gold, and nephew Charlie Nocella. She is survived by daughter Cari and son Michael, daughters-in-law Hannah Patenotte and Martha Zalkin, grandchildren Gabriel Zalkin, Andrea Zalkin and fiancé Sean Engvold, great-grandson Hudson Massey, nieces and nephews Vicki Stremus, Paula Gold, Tommy Nocella, Frank Nocella, Bobby Gold, Marc Nelson, Tiffany Gold and beloved Krieger children Billy and Marci.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Groce Funeral Home, Asheville NC and Schoem’s Funeral Home, Paramus, NJ.