Donald Dinan Obituary

Dinan
Donald Robert Dinan
Donald Robert Dinan, 74, of Washington, DC, passed away on January 29, 2024, after a period of declining health.

A son of the late Robert and Jeannette (Farland) Dinan, he was born in Nashua, NH, on August 28, 1949. Don lived in Ellicott City, MD, from fourth grade through college. While in high school, Don befriended his future wife, Amy (Littlepage), whom he married in June 1978.

Don graduated from Mt. St. Joseph High School in Baltimore in 1967. He went on to earn degrees from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1971, Georgetown University Law Center in 1974, and the London School of Economics in 1975. He started his career at the U.S. International Trade Commission and continued to work in the fields of international trade and the protection of intellectual property during his years with law firms. Don taught a course in international trade law at Georgetown Law for over 30 years and served as the General Counsel to the National Tax Lien Association.

In addition to his parents, Don was predeceased by his baby brother, Robert Dinan Jr. Family members mourning his death include his wife; his daughter Emma Ellenrieder with her husband Matthias of DC; and his siblings James Dinan with his wife Elizabeth Miller, Dr. William Dinan, Mary Anne Dinan, and Barbara Guiltinan with her husband Edward, as well as many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Don was a resident of Capitol Hill since law school and played an active role in DC politics for over 45 years. He served as President of the Ward 6 Democrats and as General Counsel to the DC Democratic State Committee. He was actively involved in the campaigns and initiatives of numerous city council members. On a national level, Don served on the Democratic National Committee's Rules and Bylaws Committee and represented DC as a Super Delegate three times at Democratic National Conventions.

Don was a walking encyclopedia, especially on history and his other true love - baseball. He enjoyed foreign travel and strove to visit every museum, church, and historical site at each destination. He loved attending sports games, especially the Baltimore Orioles and Ravens. He was a founder and an owner of the Alexandria Aces Collegiate Summer Baseball Team. Don enjoyed boating, including on his boat "Irish Wake", was an avid Black Diamond skier, and took joy in meeting friends at the Tune Inn and the original Hawk & Dove.

At a young age, Don kissed the Blarney Stone and was endowed with the gift of gab. He always had a story to tell. Don was the life of every party and was usually the last to leave. He enriched and enlivened the lives of many, and he will be dearly missed. Don squeezed 100 years of living into 74 years of life.

A Mass will be celebrated at St. Peter's Church, 313 2nd St., SE, DC, on February 12, 2024, at 9:30 a.m., followed by interment at Congressional Cemetery, 1801 E St., SE, DC. A visitation will be held at DeVol Funeral Home, 2222 Wisconsin Ave., NW, DC, on February 11, 2024, from 2 to 4 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Don's name may be made to Mt. St. Joseph High School, 4403 Frederick Ave., Baltimore, MD, 21229, or to The Society to Preserve H.L. Mencken's Legacy, 1524 Hollins St., Baltimore, MD, 21223.