With deep sadness, we remember the Honorable Judge Barry Dozor, who passed away in August after a life devoted to justice, family and the betterment of his community. His contributions, both on the bench and in the neighborhoods of Marple Township, leave an indelible mark that
will continue to be felt for generations to come.
Barry and his beloved wife, Rose, became residents of Marple Township in 1973, shortly after they married, during Barry’s first winter break from law school. The couple met as students at West Chester University—Rose studying psychology, and Barry on the path to becoming a lawyer. After completing his law degree from Delaware Law School, Barry established his legal practice, while Rose began what would become a long and meaningful career as a counselor at Delaware County Community College.
Together, Barry and Rose built a life grounded in love, service and deep community ties. They raised their three children—Josh, Ian and Courtney—near Russell Elementary School, and from the beginning, their family became active in local life.
Barry’s dedication to the Marple community was evident early on. He served on the Board of Directors for Hillview Nursery School, even helping secure the land on which the school stands today. Both he and Rose were active in the Russell PTO, the Marple Township Little League, the Boy Scouts and Temple Sholom in Broomall. “My parents jumped in headfirst when it came to community involvement,” said Barry and Rose’s oldest son,
Josh. “My dad especially loved being involved in the Boy Scouts, he himself had been an Eagle Scout while he was growing up in Havertown.”
Barry’s service to Marple extended well beyond his neighborhood. From 1984 to 2001, he served five terms as a Marple Township Commissioner and spent three of those years as President of the Board. He made a lasting impact on colleagues, friends and the community he served with honor. Some of those colleagues who knew him best spoke to us about the extraordinary character and legacy of a man who truly embodied justice and compassion.
John Lucas, 4th Ward Commissioner in Marple, served with Barry for nearly a decade. “When I first became a commissioner, Barry took me under his wing,” recalled John. “He was there to help in any way he could. Just a super guy!” John remembered Barry being a stickler for the local parks. “Barry
always made sure as soon as the weather broke in the Spring, the parks were ready for all the kids and families to enjoy!”
During his tenure, Barry helped shape some of Marple’s most treasured spaces—including the creation of Veterans Memorial Park on Lawrence Road and the construction of the Paxon Hollow Country Club facility. Bob Jordan and Barry were elected Marple Township Commissioners in 1983 and served together for 17 years. “Marple Twp had a great run during this time, including the no-cost acquisition of 26 acres for Veterans Park,” said Bob.
“Barry had the respect of everyone who worked with him. My family and I will miss his gentle and kind personality.”
While Josh was growing up, his dad’s deep commitment to his community was evident to him and his siblings. “I recall going around door to door campaigning with my dad, and he took the time to speak to everyone,” he said. “He always remembered everyone’s name, too.” According to Josh, he loved going out to local restaurants and often stopped at Wawa, where he’d chat with everyone. At home, he took phone calls from people from the
community and was happy to talk to them about any issues in Marple. He pitched in wherever needed and supported fundraisers for police and firefighters. “My dad was even known for driving a snowplow when a storm hit in the winter. He wanted to make sure no blocks were overlooked,” Josh said. Josh recalled driving through Marple with his dad in the Spring. “He loved seeing the positive effect he had on the landscape,” he added.
Marple Township Director of Code and Zoning Joseph Romano had the pleasure of knowing Barry for 38 years. “Barry’s impact on the Marple community is unforgettable. Thirty-two years ago, he created the Marple Golf Outing, ensuring that proceeds would support Marple Township’s beloved 4th of July Parade—a tradition he never missed and always cherished,” said Joseph. “Barry’s dedication brought people together and made the parade the best it could be year after year. While the Golf Outing and Parade won’t be the same without him, Barry’s memory and generos-
ity will live on in every celebration and in the hearts of all who knew him.”
Throughout his career, Barry was a practicing attorney for 26 years, and a municipal solicitor for the Boroughs of Prospect Park, Norwood, Collingdale and Tinicum Township. He also served as the Zoning Hearing Board Solicitor for Marple and the Borough of Darby. For many years, he served on the Council of Trustees at his alma mater, West Chester University.
A partner in the Law Offices of Dozor and Auslander, Barry’s areas of practice were civil and criminal litigation, juvenile and orphan court matters, business law, personal injury, workers’ compensation, medical malpractice, real estate and domestic relations. Sam Auslander was Barry’s dear friend and long-time law partner. “The incredible thing about Barry was how he consistently imparted wisdom, kindness and caring in his work, offering words of encouragement and discernment from the bench,” said Sam. “He never lost sight of the importance of having understanding and
empathy for those less fortunate.”
Barry served for 25 years as a Judge in the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas, serving in the family, criminal and civil divisions. Known for his wisdom and fairness, his distinguished service earned him multiple honors, including the Family Law Section Appreciation Award from both the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the Delaware County Bar Association, as well as the Bar Association’s President’s Special Recognition Award. “People would hope to be in his courtroom,” Josh said. “He listened carefully to his litigants and always came to a fair conclusion. He was really built for the law.”
Delaware County attorney Rocco Imperatrice met Barry through the Bar Association. “I knew Judge Dozor for 45 years and he was one of the most affable, down-to-earth, fair individuals in his practice, his public service and most importantly in his service to the community through the judiciary,” said Rocco. “He had a way of bringing parties that otherwise were intractable in their positions to resolve their dispute, without any further fighting or litigation. He commanded respect by his subtle and genuine personality, and he probably was responsible over his tenure for resolving most of the cases that came before him.”
The Honorable John P. Capuzzi, Sr. and Judge Dozor originally crossed paths many years ago in the 1980s when they were on opposite sides of the court. They met when John was serving as President of Yeadon Borough Council and Barry was an attorney representing a client. Despite being on opposite sides, they impressed each other with their knowledge of the law, and thankfully, the matter was resolved.
Their paths would eventually cross again while raising their families in Broomall, and when their chambers were next door to each other. “Barry was such a genuine person,” said Judge Capuzzi, who enjoyed having lunch with his friend three days a week. “He was a combination of Abe Lincoln, Larry David and Mr. Rogers. He had a great sense of humor but there was not a mean bone in his body. He was a genuine person who was friendly and kind to everyone. And he cared deeply about the people in Marple.” John and Barry rode in the Annual Marple Newtown Fourth of July Parade together for many years, one of Barry’s favorite Marple traditions.
County Court of Common Pleas Judge William C. Mackrides and Barry followed a similar but not common path to the bench, and Judge Mackrides also had a two-partner firm that covered most areas of law. “Barry and I met in 1982. We went right from our practice to the bench without an intervening Magisterial District Judgeship, a position on County Council or as District Attorney,” explained Judge Mackrides. “I always admired his work ethic. Nobody worked harder, not only for himself, but to help his colleagues and acquaintances. He was the social glue that held the Judges and many others at the Courthouse together. He never walked past anyone without saying hello and asking them how they were doing, and he never let anyone get past him without some greeting or conversation. He was a genuine people person who treated everyone like they were important. He considered it the honor of his life to serve the people of Delaware County and the justice system. We will miss him. We lost one of the good guys!”
Marple Newtown School Board Director Matthew Bilker said he’ll miss Barry’s energy, his heart, and his presence. “He was a profoundly good man,” he said. Matthew met Judge Dozor in 2011 when he had just begun a judicial clerkship with Judge Capuzzi in the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas. “Judge Dozor came bouncing into the room and asked if I was Matt Bilker,” he recalled.
“When I said I was, he took out a black and white Boy Scout photograph and asked me if I recognized anyone in it. I did not. He pointed out himself (from fifty years before) and my dad, who was his age, and my grandfather, who was the Troop Leader. I remember thinking how incredible it was that he heard my name one time from my boss, went home, dredged through his old memory box, and brought this photo in, just to show me and make me feel welcome.”
Matthew also said that for the last fourteen years, Judge Dozor never hesitated to provide practice tips, check in on how his practice was going, and they even worked together at the Delaware County Bar Association on a number of panels and initiatives. “Most recently, he gushed to one of my law partners about how proud he was of a big civil verdict that I had in Delaware County,” Matthew said. “As a relatively young lawyer, I felt like he always
had my back. The funny thing is, I don’t feel like that was unique to me. I think he had everyone’s back.”
Barbara Harvey met Judge Dozor at the age of 16 at a youth group event. “When I moved to Marple Township he encouraged me to become active in the wonderful Marple Community,” she said. “I followed Barry’s lead and ended up getting involved in Republican party politics and eventually serving on the Marple-Newtown School Board.” One of Barbara’s greatest moments was seeing Barry sworn in as a Judge in 2003. Appointed to the bench by Governor Tom Ridge in 2001, he was elected to his first term in 2003 and then retired in March 2025. “Judge Dozor was a kind and caring person who was a valued friend and an asset to the entire community,” she added. “He worked tirelessly supporting his community and making it a better place to live and work. He was also a loving husband, father and grandfather. Family meant everything to him and I was proud to call him my friend. He truly will be missed in Delaware County and the Township of Marple.”
Judge David Lang first met Barry through Marple Republican politics. “He was always generous with his time and advice. But the thing I always remembered about Barry was how close he was to his father,” said Judge Lang. “We talked about our dads frequently.” Judge Lang also recalled that as a lawyer and a judge, Barry was the consummate professional. “He was smart and had the right temperament but what I saw was a man who never forgot where he came from. He was a good guy. That might be the best compliment of all.”
Although Judge Dozor retired from the bench last year, he didn’t slow down. In fact, he quickly began work as a mediator and arbitrator, determined to continue helping people resolve disputes. In his spare time, he loved spending time with his children and grandchildren, especially in Long Beach Island, where he loved to go fishing. He could also be found rooting for his Philadelphia sports teams. An avid gardener, Barry took pride in gardening at his Broomall home and later, where he lived in Garnet Valley. “I feel that it was a metaphor for how he lived,” said Josh. “The way he tended to his plants and flowers was the same way he cared for people in the community, so they could grow and flourish.”
A memorial service was held for Judge Dozor on August 26, and it was evident how many lives he touched. Hundreds of mourners, including township officials, firefighters and police officers, filled Levin and Sons Funeral Home to pay their respects to the Dozor family.
Marple Friends & Neighbors extends its deepest sympathy to Barry’s wife, Rose, and his children, Josh, Ian and Courtney. His legacy lives on in the parks he helped create, the families he served in court with compassion, and the countless lives he touched along the way. May his memory be a blessing.