Woman of the Week, Dorothy Maud Vey, Evening Telegram, 1946, June 29, p.8
Manageress of W. and G. Rendell, insurance and commission agents, is Miss Dorothy Vey, who is proud of the fact that her firm, which represents the Phoenix Assurance Co., Ltd., of London, was the first insurance company office to operate in Newfoundland, being established in 1782.
A former student of the Prince of Wales College, where fellow schoolmates will remember her as Captain of Pitts House for two years, and Prefect, and where she was prominent in sports, Miss Vey took a commercial course and went with the firm of Job Bros., Insurance Department, where she worked for four years as stenographer. For the last six years, she has worked with the firm of W. and G. Rendell.
When in 1942 Mr. A.C. Rendell owner of the firm, was suddenly afflicted with blindness which necessitated his leaving the business temporarily, Miss Vey took over during his absence. “There was no one else to take over,” Miss Vey explains simply. She carried on the worked so capably that she has ever since been Mr. Rendell’s right hand, conducting the business with remarkable efficiency.
She carries a power of attorney from Mr. Rendell, whose comment is that she carries a heavy load of responsibility, and has done a good job.
Speaking of her work, Miss Vey says offhandedly, “I handled the finance and claims, bringing any particularly ticklish problems of a legal nature to Mr. Rendell. My work covers the filing of applications, issuing of policies, settlement of claims, all accounting to Head Office, as well as the supervision of half a dozen absentee landlord estates.” She is also responsible for considerable amount of money which she handles each year, and it is safe to assume that she holds one of the most responsible positions in the commercial life of St. John’s.
The company’s head office in Montréal also thinks highly of Miss Vey, and has expressed its appreciation of her capabilities are more than one occasion.
Miss Vey also holds a diploma as a professional photographer, having completed a course with the New York Institute of Photography.
“Sheer boredom,” she laughs, “led me to take this seven months home study course. Photography is a fascinating study and makes a most absorbing hobby.”
Also a keen bowler, Miss Vey is the daughter of organ builder W.I. Vey who has built church organs here, and who, in fact, is the most experienced man in the city capable of looking after church organs. Miss Vey may also be rated as an accomplished pianist – just another of her hobbies in which this remarkable woman excels.