Laurence "Larry" Dorr

Laurence “Larry” Andrew Dorr died peacefully on December 8, 2021, at age 93. He is survived by his wife, Joyce R. Dorr, daughter, Maria K. Dorr, both of Asheville, his sister, Jacqueline Dorr, of New York, and a whole host of beloved nieces, nephews and in-laws.

Born in Boston on November 26, 1928, to Paul J. Dorr, Sr. and Helen R. Dorr, he grew up in Watertown, MA and Marshfield , MA. He received his B.A. and M.A. degrees from Boston College. As a Jesuit from 1946 to 1967, he taught for three years at the College of Holy Cross in Worcester, MA and then earned the degree of Licentiate in Sacred Theology after four years’ study at the Facultés Théologiques St. Albert de Louvain in Leuven, Belgium. After his return to the United States, he earned his Ph.D. degree at the Carnegie Institute for the Study of Higher Education at the University of Michigan. In 1967, he became the Associate Dean of Education at Central Michigan University. From 1971 to 1978, he held the position of Vice President for Academic Affairs at Kean College of New Jersey. In 1978, he moved to Asheville to become the Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs at UNCA, a position he held from 1978 to 1986, after which he taught in the Philosophy and Humanities Programs until his retirement in 1999.

Larry not only championed education, he firmly believed in helping others and contributing to society. During his time in Asheville, he was involved in the community as a member of the boards of St. Joseph’s Hospital and of MAHEC. Along with teaching Ethics courses at UNCA, he was on the Ethics Committees of St. Joseph’s Hospital and of the VA Medical Center, and was for 13 years a member of the Institutional Review Board serving both St. Joseph’s and Memorial Mission Hospitals. From 1978 through 2011 he also contributed his time to and was part of the Upstream Program (a United Way agency), the Asheville Art Museum Board, Leadership Asheville, Black Leadership Involvement Program, United Way Allocations Committee, Civitan Club, the Pen and Plate Club, and the NC Council for Economic Education.

But what we remember most about Larry are his endless sense of humor, his compassion, empathy and generosity, his love of life and how he always saw the beauty in nature. Conversations with him were always full of eye-opening concepts, recounts of amazing travels, and side-splitting laughter. He made everyone feel welcome and valued. You always felt like a better version of yourself when talking with him.

We will miss the martinis and cigars. We will miss the laughter that made our eyes water. We will miss the breadth of your knowledge and the famous quotes: “The time has come the walrus said to talk of many things: of shoes and ships and sealing wax, of cabbages and kings. And why the sea is boiling hot and whether pigs have wings.” (Lewis Carroll) We are all so grateful to have been a part of your amazing life.