Virginia Y. Dayton

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Dayton, Virginia Y. Passed away at home on February 23rd, in the company of her loving partner, John Ratliff, and her four surviving children. Virginia had a rich and distinguished history of service in mental health treatment and advocacy on the state and national levels. She was a founding board member of a residential treatment center for the mentally ill and a day program called Vail Place. Ms. Dayton served on President Jimmy Carter's Commission on Mental Health, as a board member of the American Mental Health Association and on the National Institute of Mental Health Review Commission that awarded grants in the research and treatment of mental illness. She sat on the Board of Directors of Abbot- Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, MN and later on the Phoenix Children's Hospital and subsequently that hospital's Foundation Board. She also served on the Board of the Wendy Center, a then pioneering residential treatment center for adolescents. Virginia had a love of the arts and in particular the theater. While residing in Minnesota, Ms. Dayton was a member of the Board of the Guthrie Theater. After moving to Arizona in 1982, she became a devotee and supporter of the Arizona Theatre Company. Virginia received her B.A. from Newton College of the Sacred Heart in Boston and her master's degree in Psychology at the University of MN. Virginia is survived by John Ratliff and her many children and grandchildren: Mary Delene Lambert, Glenn Lambert, Leslie Pritchett, Thomas Pritchett, James Pritchett, Alan Hogg, Mary Hogg, Mattie Hogg, Sarah Hogg, Peter Hogg, William Hogg, and Lydia Hogg. A memorial service will be held on Saturday at 2:00 PM at Messinger Mortuary, 7601 E. Indian School Rd. in Scottsdale, to be followed by a reception at the Paradise Valley Country Club, 7101 N. Tatum Blvd in Scottsdale. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Phoenix Children's Hospital Foundation, 2929 E. Camelback Rd., Ste. 122, Phoenix, AZ 85016.

Published on February 25, 2010