The Literally Generous Dorians
Love of literature inspired a $1 million bequest from Ira Dorian ’37 and his wife, Lillian, to Firestone Library. Words mattered to them—for Ira, as a Cranford, New Jersey, lawyer and civil servant, and for Lillian, as a writer of humorous verse.
Their gift establishes the Lillian and Ira D. Dorian ’37 Fund to purchase books and materials, stipulating that, whenever possible, these pertain to Armenian culture, a heritage the couple shared.
Retired from the Air Force Reserve as a lieutenant colonel after Army service in World War II, Ira returned to practice law before the New Jersey Supreme Court and in Cranford. One of his proudest accomplishments was helping establish Cranford’s public library.
Lillian, who was a sales promotion director for the ABC television network in New York City prior to their marriage, composed light-hearted poems that were published in numerous publications, including Good Housekeeping and the Wall Street Journal.
The Dorians often returned to campus for Reunions, accompanied by a tiger puppet that Ira waved at spectators along the route.
