Dolores Guidi

It is with such sadness and intimate love that I share the passing of my dear godmother, Dolores M. Guidi, who left us on July 2, 2025, just shy of her 94th birthday.

Born on July 22, 1931, and raised in the Bronx, she attended PS 34 and Walton High School. Aunt Dolores was a trailblazer, a superior mind, and the very definition of elegance. Aunt Dolores was one of the first women to work in not only an all-male law firm, but one of the most prestigious law firms of all times, Coudert Brothers as a fiduciary accountant, in the renowned Pan Am building in New York City— a true pioneer who broke barriers in a time when women were at home, where men thought that was where they belonged, and that never stopped her. It was there, walking in the most renowned lobbies, where she was inspired by the sophistication around her— pilots, flight attendants, and the high fashion they wore. So, she taught herself to sew, recreating and elevating the styles she saw— her designs rivaled those on the runways. My Barbie dolls were dressed to the nines! She crafted keen tiny replicas of my favorites in her wardrobe.

She was the daughter of Romolo Guidi, the head chef at Elaine’s, the legendary restaurant on 2nd Avenue. As a child, I remember her taking me there, sitting at the counter in the kitchen, watching the movie stars, playwrights, and musicians walk in and out like it was just another day. I grew up eating the most exquisite dishes made at home by the original Iron Chef, and I thought nothing of it! Growing up with Aunt Dolores meant being surrounded by talent, wit, class, and a ferocious work ethic. My grammar was corrected, and my outfits critiqued, even though her memory began to fail her in the last few months. She was still worried about her hair and if her clothes matched.

Aunt Dolores never married, which allowed her to travel the world. She took luxury cruises on the QE2, saw the pyramids of Giza, and took a barge cruise in Paris, then on a South American jungle hopping expedition in her late 80s. She met people from every walk of life and had an unmatched curiosity about culture and humanity. She was so interesting, just brilliant!

She was predeceased by her beautiful sister Josephine, my Aunt Josephine, who served as the assistant to Harry Helmsley— another woman of remarkable capability and dedication. Together, these sisters were decades ahead of their time— strong, sharp, and unafraid.

I cannot put into words what it meant to grow up in such a household of brilliant, talented women. Everything I know— about resilience, style, independence, and grace— I learned from Aunt Dolores. Her legacy lives in me and my son, who absolutely adored her. Rest in eternal peace, my godmother, my mentor, my heart. You were one of a kind. ✨💔🕊️