Dr. Dorman Picklesimer, Jr

Dorman “Pick” Picklesimer, Jr. Professor Emeritus of Boston College, passed away peacefully at his home in Del Webb Spruce Creek on October 10, 2026.

 Dorman was born in West Van Lear, Kentucky, on June 3, 1937. The 11th of Rebecca Slone Picklesimer and Dorman Picklesimer Sr.’s 12 children, Dorman rose from humble beginnings in Appalachia to embark on a lifelong journey centered around his passion for education. The first in his family to attend college, Dorman received his Bachelor of Arts in Communications and Theatre from Morehead State College in 1960. From there, he would go on to teach theater at Mount Gilead High School, where he directed acclaimed productions of The Diary of Anne Frank, Our Town, and many other distinguished plays. 

During his time in Mount Gilead, Dorman also served in the Army, from which he was honorably discharged in 1962. Shortly after, he met the love of his life, Claudette Marie Hanaissian. The two were married in May, 1964, and together they resolved to resume the education journey that Dorman had begun years earlier. They relocated to Bowling Green University, where Dorman attained his Master’s Degree in Speech, Communications and Theatre in 1965, followed by another move to Indiana University in Bloomington, where he received his PhD in Communications and History in 1969. It was during his studies in Bloomington that twins Gregory and Stephanie were born. 

The family moved to Millis, Massachusetts in 1969 when Dorman was offered a professorship in the Communications Department of Boston College, where he taught for over four decades. While at BC, Dorman served as chairman of the department from 1986 to 1989, was elected president of the College of Arts and Sciences Faculty Senate, was named the Fultonian of the Year by the prestigious Fulton Debating Society in 2001, and was academic advisor to BC Eagles football legend Doug Flutie, assisting in Flutie being awarded the Rhodes Scholarship. (This was fitting, as Dorman was an ardent Eagles fan who held season tickets for 55 years.) Upon his retirement, Boston College honored his legacy by establishing the Dorman Picklesimer Jr. Outstanding Major Award, presented annually to exceptional Communication majors. The award remains a lasting tribute to his decades of dedication to academic excellence. 

Outside academia, Dorman was equally committed to giving back to his community. He was a longtime member of the Millis Lions Club and an active leader in Lions Clubs International, ultimately serving as District Governor of Massachusetts District 33K. His contributions were recognized with the Massachusetts Lions Eye Research Fund's Sight Award, honoring his dedication to the Lions' mission of supporting vision research and preventing blindness.

 Dorman also avidly supported his children’s activities, serving as Gregory’s Boy Scout Troop Leader and, along with wife Caludette, volunteered for Stephanie’s 4-H equestrian, civic, and public speaking pursuits serving as a local club leader, and as a Norfolk County 4-H Advisory Board member, and as MA State Director of the 4-H Ambassadors, where he nurtured and encouraged children of all ages to develop the essential lifelong skill of public speaking and presentation. He was also a steadfast and enthusiastic partner supporting Claudette’s lifelong equestrian pursuits with their two cherished American Saddlebred showhorses. 

Dorman and his wife Claudette also enjoyed their lakeside vacation home in Meredith, NH where many warm and wonderful memories were created with their family and friends. 

After decades in Massachusetts, Dorman and Claudette began a new chapter in 2012, moving to the Del Webb Spruce Creek community in Summerfield, Florida. There, Dorman continued his lifelong appreciation for the performing arts and became a proud member of Spruce Creek's Entertainment Committee, where he helped bring an impressive variety of talented performers to the community, enriching the cultural and social lives of his fellow residents, a role he found enriching as it was rewarding. 

He also discovered a passion for fitness that ultimately led to several gold medals in the Senior Games. As a trivia enthusiast, he served as captain for Team 7, with his much loved fellow teammates competing every Thursday in the Ballroom with over 38 teams.

 Dorman and Claudette also served their spiritual community as dedicated members of Saint Theresa’s Catholic Church in Belleview, where Claudette served in the Ladies Guild, and Dorman served as head lector for several years, and continuing as lector, combining his love for the spoken word and his innate desire to teach by coaching his fellow lectors in the art and skill of public speaking. 

Dorman “Pick” Picklesimer is preceded by his beloved wife, Claudette, and survived by her twin children, son Gregory Picklesimer (daughter in-law Carla Picklesimer), daughter Stephanie Picklesimer Loprete (son in-law Lawrence Loprete); beloved granddaughter, Hannah Picklesimer; and great grandson, Danny Picklesimer. 

Viewing will be held on Tuesday, October 27th at Hiers-Baxley Funeral Home in Bellview from 4:00pm - 6:00pm. Funeral Mass will be held at St. Teresa’s Catholic Church in Bellview on Wednesday, October 28th at 10:00am, with internment at Highland Memorial Park in Ocala, FL to follow.