John Craig Dorsey

John Craig Dorsey
June 4, 1946-November 14, 2024

John Craig Dorsey died peacefully surrounded by his family on November 14, 2024 in Raleigh, North Carolina.

A Celebration of Life will be held at White Memorial Presbyterian Church, 1704 Oberlin Road, Raleigh, NC on Friday, December 6, 2024 at 2:00 PM. The family will receive friends following the service in the Jane Bell Gathering Space.

John was born in Berea, Ohio on June 4, 1946. He was the son of Anne Hewitt Dorsey and James Hazlitt Dorsey. He is survived by his older sister, Ellen Hewitt Dorsey, his wife, Suzanne Marie Dorsey, his children, Leah Dorsey Harris (William), Hayes Richard Dorsey (Katherine), and Anne Kathryn Dorsey (Jamie), his granddaughter, Ellis Harris and his step-grandchildren Graham and Henry Kingston. John and Suzanne’s second granddaughter (Hayes and Katherine) is expected to arrive in late December. He was preceded in death by his parents.

John grew up in Berea and graduated from Berea High School in 1964, where he lettered in baseball, football and basketball. He gathered a wonderful group of friends with whom he still keeps in touch.

Wittenberg University was the next step in John’s journey. While at Wittenberg, he played basketball and joined a fraternity, Phi Kappa Psi, where he served as president his senior year. The friendships he made at Wittenberg have lasted a lifetime.

John joined the Admissions Department at Wittenberg upon graduating, where he focused on recruitment. While he found this work enjoyable, he felt called to pursue a career in law. John attended The George Washington University Law School in Washington, DC., earning a Juris Doctor Degree with Honors in 1973.

Following graduation from law school, John moved to Columbus, Ohio. There, he first joined the practice of the Schottenstein Law Firm. Later, he moved to the Teaford and Bernard Law Firm, eventually becoming Teaford, Rich, and Dorsey. He represented many companies and individuals during his time in Ohio.

In 1983, John married Suzanne Marie McCool in Columbus, Ohio. They had a loving and caring relationship that lasted more than 40 years. After their first child, Leah, was born, they moved to Raleigh, North Carolina in 1985. There, John joined the law firm Manning, Fulton, and Skinner. He practiced tax, estate planning, and ERISA work for 39 years. He was a conscientious, devoted and well-respected attorney.

John found true joy in giving back to his community in Raleigh, as exemplified by coaching his children in the City Leagues and YMCA teams. He was a dedicated member of the Raleigh community, assisting many organizations. Most notably, he was integral in the formation of The 200 Club of Wake County, continuing to serve on the board for over 20 years. John was also honored for his distinguished service of more than 20 years as a trustee for the North Carolina State Bar Money Purchase Pension Plan.

John loved his family pets, particularly the family beagles, Belle and Lucy. He remained an enthusiastic fan of all Cleveland professional teams throughout his life and was an original season ticket holder for the Carolina Hurricanes.

We are especially grateful for the support of our friends and family and the loving care given to our husband, father, and Grampy by Dr. Steven Liebowitz, the staff at the North Carolina Heart & Vascular Hospital, the UNC Rex Cancer Hospital, and Transitions LifeCare.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to: The 200 Club of Wake County, North Carolina Heart & Vascular Hospital, or Transitions LifeCare.