Obituary of Sidney Dillon

Sidney Gordon Dillon, age 97, died peacefully in his sleep on February 4, 2021 at his home in Basking Ridge, NJ.   Born June 3, 1923 in New York City to Vera Cushman and Milton Dillon of Far Hills, NJ, he was educated at The Hill School, Princeton University and the University of Virginia Law School.  He served in the Navy during WWII.  After UVA, he joined the Morristown, NJ law firm of Dillon Bitar & Luther where he was a senior partner practicing estate and trust law for over forty years.

He married Dorothy Hardin of Newark and Chester, NJ in 1948. A long-time resident of Oldwick, NJ, he served on the Tewksbury Township Planning Committee and the Board of Elections; served as Senior Warden and Vestry Member at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Gladstone; and was a member of The Somerset Hills Lake & Game Club and The Somerset Hills Country Club, NJ and The Sankaty Head Golf Club and Siasconset Casino, Nantucket. 

An avid birder and expert on wildflowers, he was an early environmentalist and participated in efforts to protect New Jersey’s natural treasures including The Pine Barrens and the Great Swamp, the latter once targeted for an international airport site.

Predeceased by his wife of 62 years, and his eldest son, Thomas H. Dillon, he is survived by Dorothy D (Molly) Raymond and her husband David, of St. Petersburg, FL; his daughter-in-law, Patricia Hurley Dillon of Oldwick, NJ; Lucy S. Dillon of Nantucket, MA; Mary D. Bird and her husband Larry of Tucson, AZ; and Charles H. Dillon and his wife Debra Harrington Dillon of Oldwick, NJ; and nine grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Arrangements for a memorial service will be announced at a later date.  In lieu of flowers please consider a contribution to St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Gladstone, NJ or Morristown Memorial Hospital, Morristown, NJ.