DORLEE RETINGER
April 14, 1930 – January 14, 2026
Long Island Chapter

Surrounded by family, our dear friend and longtime member Dorli Retinger passed away peacefully on January 14, 2026, at the home of her son Stanislaw, in Springfield, New Jersey.

Dorli was born and raised in Northern Switzerland, in the town of Schleitheim, one of five children of Jacob and Hermine Peyer. In April, 1950, at the age of 20, she arrived in New York after sailing from France.

She was selected as a stewardess for Pan American World Airways and flew to many exotic locations during the fifties. She married Witold Retinger, a Cargo Operations Manager for Pan Am, in 1960. They started life together in Queens Village, NY, and moved to Nassau County less then a year after the birth of their first son, Stanislaw, in 1962. About 2 years later, their second son, Michael, was born. Dorli and “Ret” raised their family at the house in Bethpage and that is the place she would consider “home”, although she always maintained a strong tie to her native Switzerland.

Witold passed away in 1982 after battling cancer and Dorli briefly considered a return to a life in Switzerland. Instead, she decided to remain on Long Island. She joined World Wings, held various officer’s positions in the Long Island Chapter, and was our the Recording Secretary till she turned 90. As long as she was physically able to do so, she still visited family in Switzerland, never missed a World Wings Convention, the Manhattan Chapter’s Spring Luncheon, or one of the Long Island Chapter’s social and fundraiser events. She frequently provided rides to members who needed
transportation.

Dorli loved gardening, playing tennis, volunteering at her Church and working in their Thrift Shop. She loved her family, especially her grandchildren and her great-granddaughter.
We all will miss Dorli for a long time to come — rest in peace, dear friend!

Condolence cards may be send to:
The family of Mrs. Dorli Retinger
36 Seitz Drive
Bethpage, NY 11714

There will be a wake at McCourt & Trudden Funeral Home, 385 Main Street, Farmingdale, NY 11735 on Thursday, January 29, 2026, from 5pm – 9pm.

Memorial Mass will be held at the Farmingdale United Methodist Church, in Farmingdale, on Friday January 30, 2026, at 11am.