It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Benjamin H. Dorman, a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, who died suddenly following a brief illness on 28 March 2026. He was 88 years old.
Ben was a man of remarkable character whose warmth, quiet wisdom, and distinguished career touched the lives of all who knew him. Born in Massachusetts on 2 January 1938, Ben was the eldest son of Ben and Alice Dorman, and is survived by his younger brother Merrill, a former US Navy Commander. He attended Phillips Academy, Andover, before going on to Stanford University, where he read Political Science, graduating in 1959 and he subsequently earned his Juris Doctor from the UCLA School of Law in 1966.
Ben practised law for over 63 years. Admitted to the California Bar in 1963, he began his career as an Associate Attorney at Adams, Duque & Hazeltine in Los Angeles before joining the legal department of Fluor Corporation, a leading international engineering and construction company. This chapter of his career took him across the world: to London, where he established the company’s European legal support office in 1972; to Saudi Arabia, where he served as Vice President of Fluor Arabia Limited; and to the Netherlands, where he held the position of Manager of Sales for Fluor Europe. He later returned to London as Vice President of Marketing before leaving Fluor in 1985.
In 1985, Ben established his own private legal practice in the Greater London area, advising both UK and US companies on a wide range of commercial matters including engineering contracts, joint ventures, property development, employment law, and corporate mergers and acquisitions. He was admitted as a Solicitor to the Supreme Court of England and Wales in 1994, and remained an active member of both The Law Society and the California Bar. He served as Legal Adviser to Project Management International Plc from 1987 to 1992, and continued in private practice right up to his passing.
In 1966, Ben married Jonnie Wright, a partnership of nearly 60 years and together they raised two children: Andrew (born 1969) and Lauren (born 1971). Andrew is married to Jamie and they have three daughters — Madeleine, Chloe, and Sophie — and live in California. Lauren is married to Moz Gamble and they have two children, Zac and Rosie, and live nearby in Ascot. Ben was enormously proud of his family and cherished every moment with them.
Ben was a man of remarkable energy and wide-ranging passions. He was an accomplished golfer — formerly captain at the Wentworth Club — and a committed tennis player who had represented Stanford at collegiate level. He ran three marathons, including twice in London and once in Paris, and was both an avid skier and a qualified glider pilot. Travel was another passion and he and Jonnie travelled extensively, exploring the world with their family. Music was another lifelong joy. Ben was a member of the Royal Harmonics Barbershop group and the Windsor and Eton Choral Society, where he served as Treasurer. He was also a devoted supporter of animals — his home was never without beloved rescue dogs — and a committed philanthropist, donating to numerous causes including Guide Dogs for the Blind, the Thames Valley Ambulance Service, the RSPCA, and several children’s cancer charities. He served as a Board Member of TASIS England school and was a passionate advocate for education. He was a very proud alumni of Phillips Academy and Stanford University and supported them throughout his life.
Ben Dorman will be profoundly missed by his wife Jonnie, his children Andrew and Lauren, his grandchildren, extended family and friends.
Funeral Service
The funeral service will be held on Wednesday, 7 May 2026 at 12:00 noon British Summer Time At St Michael and All Angels Church, Sunningdale, Berkshire, UK. For those who are unable to attend in person, the service will be livestreamed at: https://funeral-av.co.uk/ben-dorman-thursday-7th-may-2026. The service will be available to watch for up to 3 months.