Dolph died Oct. 8, 2022 in Bloomfield, Conn., after a long siege with illnesses before succumbing to Lewy body dementia. He was surrounded by family including his wife of 56 years, Midge; and children Jason and his wife Leah and Sarah and her husband Doug; and granddaughter Isla.
Dolph was born March 5, 1943, in Hartford to Kathryn and Russell Becker, attended Hartford High School, where he met Midge, and was voted “Most Likely to Succeed.” He majored in history, writing his senior thesis on Hartford as a useful study in Jacksonian democracy, joined the Wesley Foundation and the Rod and Gun Club, and took his meals at Campus.
He moved to Boston to work for Prudential but mostly to be near Midge, married her, and they moved back to Connecticut to start a family. For Dolph, this also involved starting his career as a financial planner and life insurance agent, making many friends locally and managing scholarship funds for several local schools. He did find time and energy to root for the Red Sox, the late lamentable Whalers, UConn, and of course the Tigers.
Birdwatching, travel, and long-distance hiking with his golden retriever Sassy were several of his favorite activities. He was known locally and in his class for the depth of his conversation, wisdom, and advice, and for the laughter he always brought with those qualities, as well as for blasting Lionel Richie songs with all windows open when the family took a trip anywhere.
A celebration of his life will be held in May 2023 at Duncaster in Bloomfield, Conn.