Hiroshi Alfonso Dodohara
June 15, 1938- January 24, 2021
Hiroshi Alfonso Dodohara, 82 of Lusby, Maryland passed away Sunday, January 24, 2021 at Washington Adventist Hospital, in Silver Spring, MD. He was born in Lima, Peru to Jitsuo and Takeno Dodohara on June 15, 1938. At the age of 5, Hiroshi and his family were taken from their home in Peru and placed in an internment camp in Crystal City, Texas.
When released from the camp, Hiroshi’s parents settled the family in Seabrook, NJ, where he graduated from Bridgeton High School in 1956. He earned his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA, and his master’s degree from George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
He began his 50+ year career, within the US government, at the Naval Ordnance Station (as it was called back then) in Indian Head, MD. Known as Hiroshi to family and friends he grew up with, to colleagues and friends, since college, he is known as Dody. Eventually transferring to the US Environmental Protection Agency, Hiroshi retired in 2015 at the age of 77.
Hiroshi is survived by his daughter Cathleen Dodohara-Cooper, son in law Donald Cooper, daughter in law, Jennifer Dodohara, granddaughter Lindsey Cooper-Oneyear, grandsons Thomas Cooper, Donald Cooper II, and Jacob Dodohara, and his sister Masako Rosa Dodohara.
Hiroshi is preceded in death by his parents Jitsuo and Takeno Dodohara, brothers Takashi Dodohara and Tamotsu Dodohara, son James Dodohara, and daughter Hanako Dodohara.
There will be a small service for immediate family members only.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to the American Heart Association.
Visitation
Services
No Services Available
Interment
Contributions
American Heart Association
217 E. Redwood Street
11th Floor
Baltimore, MD 21202
Condolences
Sort Comments
7 Feb 2021
9:27am
I first met Dody when he worked for my father, Ivan Tominack, at Indian Head. I saw him some years later at a meeting when he worked at EPA and I worked at Indian Head. What I remember most about Dody was that he was the voice of reason when both sides couldn’t agree.
City
Mechanicsville
State
MD
8 Feb 2021
12:11am
Uncle Hiroshi was one of the best uncles a girl could ask for. He and Jimmy even drove all the way to New York to see me sing at Carnegie Hall. They made that night so much more special by being there. I will never forget all the good times we had together. Another was standing in line for Preservation Hall with our Hurricanes from Pat O’Brians’s in New Orleans. That entire trip was great spending the time with him and dad. I love him very much!
City
Hoffman Estates
State
Illinois
8 Feb 2021
11:45am
I worked with Dodi at EPA. He was such a kind person and I really enjoyed all my interactions with him. As a fellow fisherman, I enjoyed talking with him about and living vicariously through his surf fishing trips; hearing about his catches, and enjoying a sample of them he brought to the office. He was a great guy. I express my condolence to his family and friends.
City
Fredericksburg
State
Virginia
8 Feb 2021
3:59pm
I was lucky to know Dodi. I had the pleasure of working with him at EPA. He was a kind person. Dodi was a very knowledgeable person and made many contributions. My heartfelt condolences to his family.
City
Washington
State
DC
8 Feb 2021
4:05pm
I worked with Dodi at EPA. He and I had a similar sense of humor and we would occasionally glance at one another and roll our eyes or directly share a good joke or story. It was always a treat when Dodi would bring in some of his catch that he would smoke himself. I hope he was able to complete his four corners of the US trip. He invited me along but I couldn’t schedule it, though I did meet him in Massachusetts for pizza as I was heading from, and he was returning from, Lubec, Maine, his first stop on his adventure. He was a kind and steady guy and I’m very saddened to hear of his passing. I send my condolences to his family and friends. Pax Vobiscum.
City
Fairfax
State
Virginia
8 Feb 2021
4:16pm
I had the pleasure of serving as Dodi’s branch chief for 8 years until he retired. He was an extremely hard worker but also a funny and entertaining colleague. He had a passion for his work and was patient and willing to help others. I send my prayers and condolences to his family, which he talked about often and loved so very much.
With Sympathy,
Lynn Vendinello
City
alexandria
State
va
Sort Comments
I first met Dody when he worked for my father, Ivan Tominack, at Indian Head. I saw him some years later at a meeting when he worked at EPA and I worked at Indian Head. What I remember most about Dody was that he was the voice of reason when both sides couldn’t agree.
Uncle Hiroshi was one of the best uncles a girl could ask for. He and Jimmy even drove all the way to New York to see me sing at Carnegie Hall. They made that night so much more special by being there. I will never forget all the good times we had together. Another was standing in line for Preservation Hall with our Hurricanes from Pat O’Brians’s in New Orleans. That entire trip was great spending the time with him and dad. I love him very much!
I worked with Dodi at EPA. He was such a kind person and I really enjoyed all my interactions with him. As a fellow fisherman, I enjoyed talking with him about and living vicariously through his surf fishing trips; hearing about his catches, and enjoying a sample of them he brought to the office. He was a great guy. I express my condolence to his family and friends.
I was lucky to know Dodi. I had the pleasure of working with him at EPA. He was a kind person. Dodi was a very knowledgeable person and made many contributions. My heartfelt condolences to his family.
I worked with Dodi at EPA. He and I had a similar sense of humor and we would occasionally glance at one another and roll our eyes or directly share a good joke or story. It was always a treat when Dodi would bring in some of his catch that he would smoke himself. I hope he was able to complete his four corners of the US trip. He invited me along but I couldn’t schedule it, though I did meet him in Massachusetts for pizza as I was heading from, and he was returning from, Lubec, Maine, his first stop on his adventure. He was a kind and steady guy and I’m very saddened to hear of his passing. I send my condolences to his family and friends. Pax Vobiscum.
I had the pleasure of serving as Dodi’s branch chief for 8 years until he retired. He was an extremely hard worker but also a funny and entertaining colleague. He had a passion for his work and was patient and willing to help others. I send my prayers and condolences to his family, which he talked about often and loved so very much.
With Sympathy,
Lynn Vendinello