John Alston Dorgan, Jr.

John Alston Dorgan Jr., 86, of Fairhope, Alabama, passed away peacefully on August 17, 2026.

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His generous spirit, sense of joy, and willingness to share his passions with others will live on in all who knew and loved him.

John was born on September 27, 1939, in Mobile, Alabama, to John Alston Dorgan Sr. and Mary Theresa Ennis Dorgan. He was the eldest of ten children and was raised in Mobile alongside his siblings Robert, Billy, Anne, Tim, Pat, Dee Dee, Mary, Peggy, and Beth. The family lived on Church and Ann Streets, with summers spent “down the bay” and in, 1955 “over the bay” at the Dorgan’s Zoo on Mullet Point.

John was a proud alumnus of McGill Institute, Auburn University, and the University of Tennessee. He honorably served his country in the United States Navy aboard the USS Saratoga including a tour through the Mediterranean and Europe. Following his military service, John built a distinguished career as a civil and structural engineer with Tennessee Valley Authority, David R. Volker and Brown & Root. He later served as County Engineer for Baldwin County, where his work helped shape the infrastructure of the Eastern Shore community for generations to come.

John settled in Fairhope in 1980, where he lived out his love of life on the water. An accomplished and passionate sailor, he was a past member of the Fairhope Yacht Club and competed in and won numerous regattas over the years. He found great joy sailing on Mobile Bay. For many years, John taught sailing classes at the University of South Alabama and later opened Dorgan Yacht Sales on Dog River, sharing his knowledge and passion for sailing and helping the next generation discover the joys of life on the water.

John was a man of deep faith. He devoted many years to the study of religion and shared his knowledge and devotion by teaching Confraternity of Christian Doctrine (CCD) to young people within the Catholic Church. In a beloved tradition that spanned many years, John also portrayed Santa Claus, bringing comfort and joy not only to children but also to patients in hospice care, whom he visited in character to lift their spirits.

John held lifelong passions for jazz music, yoga, and spinning classes, all of which brought him great joy throughout his life.

John is survived by his beloved wife, Carol Ann Dorgan; his five children and their spouses, Michael John (Patti), James Richard (Lauren), Brian Conrad (Donna), Oliver Kyle (Sheila), and Katie Ryan (Mychal); and his grandchildren, Matthew, Millie, Noah, and Nicholas.

He was preceded in death by his parents, John Alston Dorgan Sr. and Mary Theresa Ennis Dorgan, brother Pat and sister Beth.

John will be remembered for his devotion to his family, his deep faith, his service to his country and community, and his enduring love for life on Mobile Bay. His generous spirit, sense of joy, and willingness to share his passions with others will live on in all who knew and loved him.

Celebration of Life
Saturday, September 26, 2026 St. Lawrence Catholic Church Fairhope, Alabama

• 9:30 AM — Rosary
• 10:00 AM — Visitation
• 11:00 AM — Celebration of Life / Funeral Mass
• 12:00–1:30 PM — Lunch Reception in St. Lawrence Parish Hall

Interment of Ashes
Sunday, September 27, 2026 Belforest Catholic Cemetery Daphne, Alabama

• 1:00 PM — Interment of Ashes Immediate family