We mournfully announce the passing of our long-time colleague from CUPR, Mr. William (Bill) Dolphin. He passed away Friday morning June 23, 2023 at 77 years old.
David Listokin shared the following reflection:
Mr. Dolphin was born in Kearny and graduated from St. Benedict’s Prep High School and St. Peter’s College. He earned a master’s degree in Sociology from Rutgers University. Shortly after graduating, he began a lengthy career in 1969 with Rutgers University. He retired after over forty years of service and research, almost all that time at the Center for Urban Policy Research (CUPR–now housed in the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy). Mr. Dolphin was a senior planner and data analyst and contributed to decades of important CUPR research. Just a few examples include:
- identification of detailed residential demographic multipliers from Census data that were published first in CUPR’s The Fiscal Impact Handbook (1975) and then in subsequent CUPR monographs that were referenced by planners nationally;
- analysis of the detailed impact of all national EDA Public Works and Defense Adjustment Projects (study that enabled this important economic development subsidy to be continued); and
- research of sprawl in all 3,000 counties in the U. S., an analysis at the core of the pathbreaking CUPR The Costs of Sprawl.
Mr. Dolphin worked with and significantly contributed to CUPR’s leadership, including most prominently Professors George Sternlieb and Robert W. Burchell.
On a personal note, Mr. Dolphin was a loving spouse, father, and devoted grandfather. He is survived by his wife of fifty-five years, Patricia Dolphin, and their sons, Patrick Dolphin and his wife Kathleen, and Martin and his wife Ellen. He is also survived by his grandchildren Shane, Jaclyn, Caitlin, Matthew, Zachary, and Samuel. He was predeceased by his son Gregory Dolphin.
