Diana Arlene Dahlman Hatch

Diana (Dee) Arlene Dahlman Hatch passed away in Hillsborough, NC on 10/12/2025 at 90 years old. Diana was born in Corning, NY on May 28, 1935. She was a 1957 graduate of Syracuse University in the School of Journalism and moved to NYC shortly after graduating. She worked for several companies as a writer and public relations specialist including, Time, Sports Illustrated, and Life magazines, Atomic Energy Commission, and American Cyanamid.
Diana met the love of her life, Richard "Dick" Hatch while living in NYC. Dee & Dick lived in NYC, Washington, DC, Utica, NY, Essex Junction, VT, and Manlius, NY. While in Manlius, Diana worked for The Syracuse Post Standard's Family Living section and then moved to Public Broadcasting at WCNY TV. In 1986 she was offered the Director of Communications position at UNC-TV in Chapel Hill, NC where she worked for ten years before retiring. "Retirement" only changed her work efforts as she became actively involved with The Office of the Aging and served as the North Carolina AARP state president for two terms. Dee not only was a writer but an avid painter and photographer. "My favorite subjects are my grandchildren!" said Dee in an article with The Cary News.
Her advice to the world was to "always be curious but be careful where you poke your nose into!" and from George Carlin, "Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." Dee and Dick were married for 61 years. She is predeceased by her husband Dick and her parents, Elizabeth and Fredrick who immigrated to the USA from England and Germany.
Diana is survived by brother Fred (Belle) Dahlman of Nashville, TN, sister Adele (Tom) Witt of Paris, France, her sons Douglas (Tammi) Hatch of Manlius, NY, and Brian (Leewyn) Hatch of Raleigh, NC as well as her granddaughters, Madison (Viktor) of Peñíscola, Spain, Megan of Chicago, IL, and Cassidy of Manlius, NY, who were the "joys of her life." Diana is also survived by family in Germany and nieces Andrea and Catherine and nephews Mark and Roger. A celebration of life ceremony will be held at Cary Presbyterian Church in the Spring of 2026.
In lieu of flowers, Contributions in Diana's memory may be made to your local PBS and NPR broadcasting station.