Franklin A. Dorman ’48

Frank Dorman was an activist and champion of social justice. He was a United Church of Christ minister and community organizer. The needs of the poor and disenfranchised, along with eliminating war as a means of solving complex issues, were the focus of his life’s endeavors. Before he died July 3, 2012, he had accumulated 19 arrests for nonviolent civil disobedience.

A native of Englewood, N.J., Frank prepared for Princeton at Exeter. At Princeton he played lacrosse, was a member of Tiger Inn and roomed with Ernie Ransome, Henry Fish, Tom Cleveland, and Charles Green. He earned his A.B. in modern languages. After college his first teaching assignment was at Tabor Academy, which led to two years in Spain for a master’s degree from Middlebury and then joining Pingry School as a Spanish teacher and lacrosse coach.

In 1965 the civil-rights movement attracted him to the Selma March and subsequent ordination to the ministry. Fifteen years later he was at Harvard Divinity School and wrote three genealogy books.

Frank’s marriage in 1948 to Geraldine produced five children. They divorced in 1973 and later he married Jennifer Jones, his wife of 33 years, who survives him. He leaves seven children: Franklin, Betsy, Ann, Jim, Marena, Debby, and Sarah. We have lost a friend who made a difference.