Bennett Wilton Dorman

DORMAN, BENNETT WILTON " BILL" Bennett "Bill" Dorman, age 95 passed away on Sept. 27, 2012. Born in New Haven on July 13, 1917, he was the son of Clarence and Anna (Simon) Dorman. Before his retirement he worked for the Geometric Tool Co. and Coleco Industries. He is survived by his devoted wife of 70 years, Catherine (Brennan) Dorman, his beloved daughter, Diane Arduini and her husband Raymond of West Haven; his grandson, Thomas Arduini and his wife, Dayna of Wallingford; great-grandsons Thomas (T.J.) and Ryan Arduini; nephews Edward and Richard Kopjanski, Walter and Jim Brennan, and niece Mary (Brennan) Combs. He was predeceased by his sister, Lorraine D. Kopjanski. Bill served as West Haven City Historian and was an acknowledged historian of the Savin Rock Amusement Park. He was the recipient of many prestigious awards including the Connecticut League of Historical Societies Award of Merit for Outstanding Contribution to the Development of Interest in Local History. He received the West Haven Historical Society's Achievement Award and the Harriet C. North and Mayor of West Haven's Official Citation for Community Service. Dorman's love of sports and his competitiveness began during depression years when his boxing talent earned enough coins to fill many a supper table. Between his boxing, ice hockey, and baseball know-how he soon became recognized as a knowledgeable sportsman. Nothing, however compared with his love of golf and its challenge to do better. Constant improvement was his goal and his scores proved he had become a notable player. He never had a hole-in-one, but had an even harder double eagle and shot two rounds of 59. He played on some of the best golf courses, including Yale's, and would never miss an opportunity to play at the Orange Hills Country Club with his son-in-law, daughter, and grandson or with friends. He loved to shoot pool and once had a consecutive run of over 120 balls. Mention baseball, there was only one team - Red Sox! On the day the Red Sox won the World Series his telephone never stopped ringing. Friends and family called from as far away as Hawaii and Colorado because this was his day! Red Sox Day! Dorman authored and co-authored several books including "Savin Rock - An Illustrated History", a book still in demand today, "The West Shore and its Heritage", "A Brief History of West Haven" with Harriet C. North, and two other histories of Savin Rock. Dorman had membership in the New Haven Museum and Historical Society and served on the West River Environment Study Committee for the New Haven Jr. Chamber of Commerce. He had also been a member of many West Haven town and city Committees including being a charter member of the West Haven Committee for the Preservation of Local History. Dorman served as a Past President and was a Life Member of the West Haven Historical Society and served as Vice-President of the Land Trust of West Haven, also serving on both Boards of Directors. In 2009 he was voted to receive the title of Direct Emeritus by the Land Trust. He also worked diligently in the "Save Our Shores" movement to stop development along sections of the West Haven shoreline. He was a Life Member and Past President for the West Shore Volunteer Fire Department; President and Co-founder and Life Member of the Prospect Beach Fish and Game Club; Board and charter Member of the Ward-Heitmann House Museum Foundation and served as its official photographer. He cherished his membership in Savin Rock's "Club 90" and for 70 years looked forward to his seasonal weekend work at the Yale Football games, ending with his service in Press Box Security. As a local sportsman, he founded The West Shore Bowling League in 1945 (still extant) and served as its President and Secretary. Dorman was a former coach of area youth baseball teams and was an accredited judge for AAU swimming meets, track and field events and baton twirling contests. In his younger days he played piano professionally in area restaurants. He worked as a Volunteer at The Savin Rock Museum and donated hundreds of copies of his old Savin Rock photos where they can still be viewed. His name is inscribed on a plaque in the Museum for his Dedication and Commitment Towards Preserving West Haven's History. He also shared his photos with others who loved "The Rock" many of which can be viewed in local restaurants and in display cases. Bill Dorman gave over 600 gratis historical slide show lectures in Connecticut. His devotion to bringing back recall of the long ago charm of the Olde Savin Rock Amusement Park and his dedicated efforts to preserve its memory as a past treasure of West Haven, CT brought him local and statewide recognition. Family and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial Saturday morning at 11 o'clock in Our Lady of Victory Church. Burial will follow in St. Lawrence Cemetery. There will be no hours for visitation. Donations in his honor may be sent to The West Haven Historical Society, P.O. Box 384, West Haven, CT. 06516. To leave an on-line remembrance please visit www.westhavenfuneral.com.