– Don Dinan, co-founder of Alexandria Aces, passes away at the age of 74
– Alexandria Aces co-founder, Don Dinan, dies at 74.
Don Dinan, co-founder of Alexandria Aces, dies at 74
By James Matheson | [email protected]
Donald Dinan, a prominent Washington, D.C. political figure and co-founder of the Alexandria Aces, passed away on January 29 at the age of 74.
A resident of Washington, D.C. since graduating from Georgetown University Law Center in 1974, Dinan was known for his creativity and determination. He recognized the potential in Alexandria and seized the opportunity.
In 2005, Dinan saw the inaugural season of the Cal Ripken Collegiate Baseball League as a chance to give back to the DMV area through his love for baseball.
“Don loved baseball and he loved helping student-athletes,” said Frank Fannon, president and owner of the Aces. “We are honored to have won our first championship in 2022. We dedicated this victory to him because he brought the team to Alexandria.”
Dinan served as the owner and president of the Aces from 2008 to 2020 before passing the torch to Fannon. During his tenure, he organized unforgettable experiences for college ballplayers, including trips abroad to compete against elite teams.
In 2016, Dinan led a Cal Ripken Summer League squad on a five-day trip to Cuba, where they played three games against Cuban national teams.
“It was a wonderful experience to have all the players travel to Cuba, and it was a rare opportunity,” Fannon said. “We will truly miss Don. He had such a fascinating life and was involved in so many things that the Alexandria Aces was just one chapter of his remarkable journey.”
Born in Nashua, New Hampshire, Dinan grew up in Ellicott City, Maryland. He attended Mt. St. Joseph High School in Baltimore, where he met his future wife, Amy.
“Don was always proud of his family and his roots,” Fannon said. “He had strong ties to Maryland.”
Dinan earned a bachelor’s degree from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1971 and went on to receive his law degree.
“Don was one of the smartest people I ever met; he knew a lot about everything,” said Gary Adler, a longtime friend and colleague. “But at the same time, he was just a regular guy. It was a great combination: a genuinely good person who loved to have fun.”
Aside from his involvement with the Alexandria Aces, Dinan was also a dedicated baseball fan. As a lifelong Orioles supporter, he would take friends to Baltimore to watch games at Memorial Stadium and show them around his high school grounds.
“Don loved baseball, and he was a fan of every team in the American League East; we always joked about that,” Adler said. “We attended many games together. He knew Baltimore inside out, so he always found a shortcut.”
Throughout his legal career, Dinan specialized in international trade and intellectual property protection. He taught a course on international trade law at Georgetown Law for over 30 years.
In addition to his work in politics and baseball, Dinan served on the Rules and Bylaws Committee of the Democratic National Committee and represented DC as a superdelegate to the Democratic National Convention three times. He was also the president of the Ward Six Democrats and the general counsel for the district’s Democratic State Committee.
“Listening to Don’s wealth of knowledge was truly remarkable,” Fannon said. “It’s a tragedy to lose such an incredible person. Even though he lived to be 74 years old, it still feels like it was too short.”
In lieu of flowers, the Dinan family requests donations in Don’s name to two of his Maryland fraternities: Mt. St. Joseph High School or the Society to Preserve HL Mencken’s Legacy.
Don is survived by his wife Amy, his daughter Emma Ellenrieder and husband Matthias, four siblings, and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
A viewing will be held at DeVol Funeral Home on Sunday from 2 to 4 p.m., followed by a funeral mass at St. Peter’s Church on February 12 at 9:30 a.m. Burial will take place at Congressional Cemetery after the service.
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1. Don Dinan, co-founder of Alexandria Aces, passes away at 74
2. Alexandria Aces co-founder Don Dinan dies at the age of 74.
