Dennis Dorin

Dr. Dennis Daniel Dorin passed away on July 15, 2024, at the age of 82 at home with his family.  He leaves behind his daughter Cathy Dorin-Black, son-in-law Luke Black, and grandson Lawson Black of Chapel Hill, NC; son Brooks Dorin and daughter-in-law Angie Dorin of Myrtle Beach, SC; step-granddaughter Valleri Glover of Nashville, TN; and sister Linda Dorin of Charlotte, NC.  He was preceded in death by his wife of 56 years, Jo Ann Cannon Dorin, who passed away in March.  They were born 11 days apart and died 4 months apart.  Dennis was 11 days older and claimed that made all the difference in wisdom.  He also leaves behind many dear friends in Chapel Hill and Charlotte, whom he loved dearly.

Dennis was born in Brooklyn, New York on May 11, 1942, the eldest child of Michael Dorin and Marie Davison Dorin.  He grew up in a diverse neighborhood amongst the children and grandchildren of immigrants.  In 1958, his family moved to Phoenix, Arizona then Glendale, AZ where he completed high school.  He received a scholarship to Arizona State University in Tempe where he became the first one in his family to attend college.  He excelled at Arizona State and graduated with honors, even while enjoying his spare time with his fraternity brothers in Sigma Pi.  He wrote an honors paper about the legal repercussions of water use in Arizona, which is still very relevant today.  Dennis was then offered a scholarship to attend the doctoral program in Political Science at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.  Having never been to Virginia, he hopped on a train and arrived in Charlottesville, where he quickly fell in love with the college town.  He was a lifelong Wahoo from that point forward.   Dennis’ research at UVA centered on the Supreme Court, particularly on Justice Tom Clark.  He regularly conducted research at the Library of Congress and Supreme Court, and was able to meet personally with Justice Clark many times. They developed a warm relationship.  His dissertation was titled Mr. Justice Clark and State Criminal Justice, 1949-1967.

During his time at UVA, Dennis met a southern girl with an attitude, Jo Ann Cannon, who was pursuing a masters degree in Education at UVA. They were married on June 15, 1968 and were basically inseparable companions until her death earlier this year.

After graduate school, Dennis accepted a job as professor of Political Science at American University in Washington, D.C., where he and Jo Ann settled for a couple of years.  He began a program called “The Washington Semester,” where he would bring his students to meet influential political figures for seminars and lively exchanges of ideas.  He would continue this program later at UNC-Charlotte.  Over the years, he brought countless student groups to seminars with senators, congressmen, media figures, cabinet members, and 14 Supreme Court Justices including Sandra Day O’Connor, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Anthony Kennedy.

In the early 1970s, Dennis and Jo Ann moved to Charlotte, NC where he accepted a position of professor of Political Science at UNC-Charlotte.  Here they had two children, Brooks and Cathy, who grew up in Charlotte with a stable home, friends, and lots of pet pekingeses.  Dennis wrote many articles on subjects of constitutional law, capital punishment, and civil rights and liberties.  One of his biggest academic passions was the subject of racial discrimination in the application of capital punishment.  During his 30 years at UNC-Charlotte as a professor and advisor to the Pre-Law Society, he inspired many students to pursue careers in law and politics.  Many of them became like family and kept in touch with Dennis for many years.  Dennis retired in the early 2000s as Professor Emeritus.

In 2010, Dennis and Jo Ann left their longtime home in Charlotte to move to Chapel Hill, NC to be near their daughter Cathy and son-in-law Luke.  Soon a grandson, Lawson, was born and they helped raise him - playing games, reading to him, taking him to the pool, and out to lunch.  Dennis and Jo Ann spent their last years taking frequent trips to Myrtle Beach (where Dennis could indulge in shelling), eating at favorite restaurants with friends and family, walking their dogs, and watching football, college basketball, and baseball.  After declining health, Dennis and Jo Ann moved in with Cathy and Luke for added support.  After Jo Ann passed away, Dennis spent his last months enjoying good food, good movies, and good company.  He had famous late night chats and movie nights with his son-in-law Luke and enjoyed a lot of laughs and good conversation with his dear caregiver and friend, Mary Witherspoon.

Dennis was full of life and passion.  He cared deeply about injustice and helping those who have been disenfranchised.  This passion made him an inspirational teacher to generations of students, as well as a loving dad who always taught you to not be afraid to do the right thing.  He brought humor to a house that has now gone silent.   He was and always will be loved by the family and friends who were lucky enough to know him.  We love you always, dad.

Contributions may be made in honor of Dennis to the scholarship in his name at UNC Charlotte, payable to the UNC Charlotte Foundation and mailed to: UNC Charlotte Foundation, Office of University Development, 9201 University City Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28223 (Memo: Dr. Dennis D. Dorin Legacy Fund)        https://giving.charlotte.edu/DennisDorinScholarship

Donaldson Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to serve the Dorin family.