Frederick Anthony “Tony” Dorrell, age 93 years old, passed away Monday, March 23 at the Life Care Center in New Market after a brief, rapid decline in his physical condition. His spouse and life partner Joan Comanor was at his side.

Tony was born in Pittsburgh, PA, in 1932, the son of late Frederick and Tess Dorrell. He is also survived by his son Bob (Sheila) of Parker, CO; daughter Lisa (Dave Gorden) of Honeoye Falls, NY; and by his brother Michael (Ruth), nephews Tim (Karen), Mike and niece Diane Dorrell.

Tony was a proud graduate of Penn State University Mont Alto School of Forestry (1954), then served in the US Army for 3 years. Following that he reported to the US Forest Service (FS) where he enjoyed a 40-year career, starting at the bottom and working his way up to a Senior Executive in Washington, DC. Among his notable career experiences, he served as the director of the FS Curlew, ID. Job Corp Center and subsequently promoted to director of the FS Job Corps centers in the Northeastern US. He served as district ranger on several western national forests and Supervisor of the Monongahela National Forest in West Virginia. He worked in the FS Regional Office in Colorado, serving as assistant regional forester for fire and aviation management. He was promoted to FS Headquarters where he completed his career as the Director of Cooperative Forestry. In that role, he facilitated in the formation of the National Arbor Day Foundation (NADF) and after retirement became a board member and Chairman of the Board of NADF. In 1979 he became a charter member of the federal Senior Executives Association. He helped NADF in getting a law passed designating the oak tree as the national tree of the US. In 1989, he was presented with the Presidential Rank Award for Meritorious Executives (the second highest award for career federal employees) in recognition of his role as the FS technical advisor to Congress in the creation of the first-ever Forestry Title in the 1990 Farm Bill. Tony received numerous accolades from partner organizations for his public service, including the National Association of State Foresters, National Woodland Owners Association, and the Association of Consulting Foresters. Tony retired from the FS in 1994 and subsequently worked for several years for the newly formed National Forest Foundation. In 2004, the Civilian Conservation Center Job Corps Hall of Fame award was presented to him for his dedication and support for the Job Corps Civilian Conservation Program.

After moving to Woodstock full time in 2003, he enjoyed working on his own woodlands and became active in the Shenandoah County Democratic Committee, where he ultimately served several terms as committee chairman. Those wishing to honor Tony’s life work are encouraged to plant a tree or make a donation to the National Museum of Forest Service History, P. O. Box 2771, Missoula, MT 59806. A private memorial service will be scheduled later.