Brinkmann, Dorothea “Thea”, (nee) Carl, formerly of Leonia, New Jersey, passed away in Farmington, CT, on September 30th after a long illness. She was the wife of the late Erich Brinkmann. Born in Langendreer, Germany in July, 1915 she immigrated to this country when she was twelve. She embraced her new country with pride and appreciated the opportunities that it afforded her. She graduated high school with highest honors and attended business school. She acted for a short time in the German theater in St. Louis, MO. She married and moved to New Jersey eventually settling in Leonia were she was a resident for forty-three years before moving to CT. After raising her family she went back to work as a bilingual secretary and office manager for Werner and Pfleiderer, a German engineering company, for twenty years before retiring. She traveled extensively but her real passion was for her family. She leaves behind a daughter, Ingrid Brinkmann Makocy and son-in-law Steven of Southington, CT, granddaughters, Cristiana Makocy Walkley of Wake Forest, NC, Marlis Makocy Clingan, her husband Robert Clingan, of Southington, CT, Heidi Brinkmann of Boca Raton, FL, a grandson, Jason Brinkmann of Fort Lauderdale, FL and twin great-grandsons, Riley and Aidan Clingan of Southington, CT. She is predeceased by her sister, Lilly E. Merz of Richmond, VA, her son Erich A. Brinkmann of Fort Lauderdale, FL and her nephew, George Carl, of Highland Springs, VA. She lived her life with a light, loving, generous heart and was always proud of her family. We will miss her sweet countenance, her beautiful blue eyes and her loving nature. Family and friends may visit Volk Leber Funeral Home, 789 Teaneck Road, Teaneck, NJ on Sunday 2-4 and 7-9PM.