In Memory: Martin John Dockery, Age 85
Martin John Dockery passed away on April 25, 2024 at the age of 85. Over the course of his life, he was a devoted son, dedicated sibling, loving father, caring spouse, doting grandfather, occasional scholar, decorated soldier and an eminent attorney.
Born in Brooklyn, New York to Martin P. Dockery and Catherine Dockery of County Roscommon Ireland, he moved at a young age to White Plains, New York where he was raised along with his siblings Mary, Elizabeth, Eileen, Emmett, Una and John. After graduating from Archbishop Stepinac High School in 1956, he attended Boston College. He would often boast of graduating in the top 99% of B.C.’s 1960 class, an example of his ever-present humor.
Following graduation, Martin spent four years in the U.S. Army. Starting in 1962, he served for one year as an advisor to the South Vietnamese military. He detailed this experience in a book entitled Lost in Translation: Vietnam: A Combat Advisor’s Story. Martin’s military service also included an assignment with the Old Guard where he had the honor of acting as an usher at the funeral of President John F. Kennedy.
Martin next attended law school at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., graduating in 1967. In Washington, D.C., he met and married Meliora Ordish, and they had two children, Martin and Tim, after moving back to New York. In the early 1970s, he moved to Rye, New York where he maintained a home ever since.
Martin practiced in the field of municipal bond law where he was a partner at the firm of Mudge Rose Guthrie Alexander & Ferdon and later at the firm of Whitman Breed Abott & Morgan. He often insisted that his young children use the adjective “eminent” before describing him as an attorney. While meant in jest, his career was indeed impactful as his fingerprints may be found on infrastructure projects across this country. His interest in the law was more than professional as he developed a love of the history of the law and became an avid collector of old law books.
Upon retirement, he returned to Vietnam and volunteered teaching English. In Saigon, he met and married Thao Nguyen, and they had two children, John and Eileen. Martin shared his insights on these years in his second book, Vietnam, Full Circle: A Combat Veteran Returns. They returned to Rye, New York in 2009.
Martin is survived by his wife (Thao Dockery), his sisters (Mary McDonald, Eileen Matthews and Una Dockery), his brothers (Emmett Dockery and John Dockery), his children (Martin, Tim, John and Eileen), his grandchildren (Owen, Luke and Elliadora) and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
His generosity, provocative humor, intelligence, compassion, love of family, and enjoyment of a good debate will be tremendously missed.
