Paul W. 'Pete" Dillingham

Paul Whittier Dillingham, Jr. was a native Lowell, MA and a 1953 graduate of Harvard College. He entered the Navy Officer Candidate Program at Newport, RI and was commissioned an Ensign in the Naval Reserve in November 1953. He was augmented into the regular Navy in 1958. He retired as a Vice Admiral in 1984. He attended the Russian Language Division of the Naval Intelligence School in Washington, DC and had major operational tours in Bremerhaven, Germany and Nicosia, Cyprus. He served as the Naval Security Group’s Department head and Executive Office at the US Naval Communications Station, Spain. He served as Commanding Officer of the US Naval Security Group Activity, Misawa, Japan. He was promoted to Flag Rank in August 1979 and assumed command of the Naval Security Group Command in 1980. He also attended the Naval Postgraduate School, George Washington University, and the University of Rhode Island where he took Masters degrees in Business Administration and Marine Affairs. He is a 1974 Distinguished Graduate of the Senior Officers’ Naval Warfare Course at the Naval War College. The Admiral’s decorations include the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Meritorious Service Medal and Naval Commendation Medal. After his naval service, he was a Vice President of Cray Research, a supercomputer company. An all-around athlete, he played varsity football, basketball and track in high school and while at Harvard was on the diving team. In four years, he lost only on dual meet (to a Navy diver) and he was selected New England Champion, Eastern Collegiate High and Low Board Champion and all American Diver in 1951 and 1953. He was married to Patricia M. Dillingham (nee Murphy) of Arlington, VA and is survived by their sons, Timothy P. Dillingham of Hopewell, NJ, Paul W. Dillingham, III of Catonsville, MD and Pal Gjesdal of Oslo, Norway and their wives, Dr. Barbara J. Reale, Rosemary Courtney Dillingham and Ann Gjesdal, and their grandchildren Catherine R. Dillingham of Philadelphia, PA, Leah M. Dillingham of Nashville, TN, David R. Dillingham of Encinitas, CA, Patrick R. Dillingham of Belmar, NJ, Grace C. Dillingham of Catonsville, MD and Paul W. Dillingham, IV of Catonsville, MD. He moved to the Eastern Shore of Maryland in 1989 to a beautiful historic farm in Rock Hall, MD on the Chesapeake Bay where he and his wife restored a 1692 colonial period house and cultivated the gardens and grounds creating a haven and home base for his sometimes far-flung family after years of service-dictated traveling. He was an active member of the community, serving on the Vestry of St. Paul’s Episcopal parish for many years where he managed the historic cemetery, was active as a board member of the Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, and led the effort to sustain the presence of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s performances on the Eastern Shore. He and Patricia were active volunteers and supporters of the Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge, reflecting his life-long commitment to conservation. He was especially proud to be recognized by Rock Hall as a “Home Town Hero” for his military service. He served as an advisory to the President of Washington College, Chestertown MD during several of their strategic planning processes. He served Kent County on several advisory committees related to efforts that might have compromised the beauty and agricultural economy of the County including state proposals to site a third Bay Bridge in Kent County and to dispose of dredged materials from Baltimore harbor on farmlands in the county. He was a descendant of William Brewster of the Mayflower and was an active member and officer of the Descendants of Colonial Clergy.

Paul W. 'Pete" Dillingham

March 5, 1931 - November 18, 2025