On Jan. 29, 2024, Donald R. Dinan, one of my Great Heroes, passed away. In the summer of 1996, as a recent law school graduate, I had the opportunity to work for a time at O'Connor & Hannan in Washington D.C. Don (aka DRD) was my supervisor.
Don worked hard and did so mostly at somewhat unorthodox times. That must have had something to do with the fact that the necessary time was set aside for his great passion: baseball, the Baltimore Orioles in particular. With some regularity, Don would pluck me from behind my desk and we would drive from D.C. to Baltimore in his green Corvette for the 1:05 p.m. home game. When the workday was over for most, we returned to the office.
Don liked to share. With some regularity, he took all employees including partners, children and friends to the Orioles. For transportation, Don arranged coaches, for dinner hot dogs.
Planning was not Don's greatest talent. This occasionally led to problems. For example, Don came into my room one morning asking me to make a dash to Georgetown University and keep his students busy for the duration of the lecture because he had another obligation. That was not my most relaxed public appearance.
Legal-substantive Don was strong; he regularly wrote opinions for the Democratic party. In his field, according to friend and foe alike, there was no better litigator. I think Don's greatest talent saw dealing with people, not as a learned skill, but because Don had a real interest in the people for and with whom he worked.
As a mentor, Don has been invaluable to me. Without Don, I would not have become a lawyer. Without Don, I would not have had a fascination with the peculiarities of the American legal system. Without Don, I would not have been possessed by the Orioles. Without Don, I might not have viewed every case with curiosity and an eye for those involved.
Go Don.