Joseph Carroll Dorsey

Dr. Joseph Carroll Dorsey gained his wings on February 22, 2023 in Charlotte, North Carolina following a brief and terminal battle with cancer. Joseph passed in his sleep in the early morning under the same roof as his daughter, Jana, close friend and honorary son, Reynaldo and parenting partner, Janet. Born in Baltimore, Maryland on October 24, 1948, Joseph was the eldest of three sons born to the late Harry Eugene Dorsey, Jr. of Baltimore, Maryland and Madeline Beatrice Bunn Dorsey of Rocky Mount, North Carolina. His parents and younger brothers Eric Eugene Dorsey Sr. and Leonard Patrick Dorsey preceded him in death. Joseph was a proud alum of Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland where he received his bachelor's degree in Spanish Language and Literature. He then went on to graduate school in Evanston, Illinois where he received his masters in Spanish and Latin American Literature from Northwestern University. He taught Spanish in Chicago Public Schools for seven years and was instrumental in spearheading programs to take his students on study abroad trips to Spain and Algeria. In the early 1980s, Joseph moved to Santa Barbara, California to embark on his PhD program at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He completed his doctoral studies within the discipline of History in 1989 with his primary areas of research on Iberian Seaborne Empires in Spain and Portugal, Race Relations in Slavery and Emancipation as well as Spanish and Portuguese Literatures. Joseph spoke four languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese and French. Joseph’s most recent academic appointment included a tenured position as Associate Professor of History and African American Studies at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana for twenty years. Prior to Purdue, Joseph held academic appointments at The College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio; Hamilton College in Clinton, New York; Lehman College in the Bronx, New York and Baruch College in New York City. Joseph dedicated his life to his children and his research. His love, pride and joy was rooted in his children, Jana and Clifford. Right behind his children and some might even say his third child would be his lifelong dedication to his research, to the academy and as an educator, mentor and writer. There were several additional pockets where Joseph found joy, including–international travel, serving as the family historian, studying films, combing through archives, listening to Celia Cruz and La Lupe, salsa dancing, taking excellent care of his plants, a hot cup of coffee each morning and staying in touch daily with family and friends via email. Joseph leaves to mourn: his children, Jana Dorsey and Clifford Dorsey-Hall; parenting partner Janet Evelyn; close friend and honorary son Reynaldo Ortiz-Minaya; nephew Eric Dorsey Jr. and niece Tasia Dorsey; daughter in law, Christy Molina; grandchildren Desiree Navedo, Jordan Hall and Ayden Hall; great grandchildren Violet Williams and Aiyanna Hall; close friends Ron Stephens and Cesar Ayala; several close family and friends including: Saundra Bond, Johnnie Minor, David Bunn, Gabrielle Goodman, Cheryl Mason, Patrisha Allen, Lisette Acosta-Corniel, Carol Evelyn, Sheila Evelyn, Swaine Evelyn, Julene Browne, Jocelyn Garlington, Nilda Hall, Alphine Jefferson, Wenzell and Marjorie Carter, Matilda Stokes; several family units including the Dorsey’s, Bunn’s, Evelyn’s, Manning’s, and a host of cousins, in laws, former colleagues, former students, family members and friends all over the world.

Tributes

Joseph Carroll Dorsey

October 24, 1948 - February 22, 2023