Joseph Francis Dillon

It is with great sorrow that the family of Joseph Francis Dillon (born October 15, 1938) announces his death at the age of 86 on October 22, 2024, at St. John’s Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. Joe, or “Joey” as he was affectionately known by many, was a preeminent tax attorney in Detroit, MI for several decades, and an active member of numerous professional and social organizations, including numerous bar associations, the Detroit Athletic Club, Lochmoor Club, and The Vineyards in Naples, FL. He was a mentor to many during his career, and active in multiple charitable organizations. He also served in the Army reserves for several years. In his (rare) leisure time, he loved skiing, golf, squash, bowling, and bocce ball. His kind, good humor, gentle nature, and bright blue eyes (with a glint of Irish humor and mischievousness) will be missed by all who knew him.

Joe was a first-generation American-Irishman, born in Brooklyn, NY to parents Joseph and Elizabeth Dillon, who emigrated from Ireland as young people. With sheer determination, hard work, and self-motivation, Joe propelled himself from having two paper routes and playing stickball on the streets of Brooklyn, to having a bright and long career as a successful lawyer. Growing up, his family lived in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, and he attended St. Vincent Ferrer grammar school and LaSalle Academy high school, graduating as class Valedictorian. He later attended St. John’s University in Brooklyn, New York, where he studied accounting and graduated with a business degree, again as class Valedictorian. He then earned his law degree at the University of Virginia Law School, where he was honored to serve on the law review.

He successfully passed multiple bar exams and was admitted to practice law in Virginia, New York, Michigan, Ohio and Florida, and began his career working in the Chief Counsel’s Office of the Internal Revenue Service in Washington, D.C. He subsequently moved to Detroit, MI, where he served as a tax trial attorney for the IRS for 3 years. Joe then moved on to private practice, practicing tax law and, later, adding international trade as an area of expertise. With the addition of international law to his practice, Joe travelled extensively to and within Asia, creating a new network of professionals. He was an extremely bright and talented attorney and earned a national reputation litigating complex tax controversies during his career. He was listed in the Best Lawyers in America beginning in 1987 and for many years thereafter. He served as a name partner at Raymond, Fletcher, Dillon & Titcomb and, later, Raymond & Dillon, P.C. He went on to serve as a senior attorney at two other prominent Detroit law firms, before retiring in 2008. It was also Joe’s pleasure to serve as an adjunct professor of taxation, teaching tax law at the University of Detroit Law School for 11 years during his career.

One of Joe’s greatest experiences was meeting former President Gerald R. Ford in the oval office during his term as President, and he proudly hung the photograph of that meeting in his office for many years. He also travelled extensively throughout the world, including many trips to Asia for work, trips to the Caribbean to relax, and ski trips to awe-inspiring mountain destinations in Europe and the U.S., where he gave his trademark eagle’s cry of “Caw, caw...!” as he traversed down the slopes. His wife Diane and children accompanied him on many of these trips, and they are among the happiest family memories.

Joe is survived by his wife Diane L. Dillon, his children Elizabeth Bartolucci (William), J. Alexander Dillon (Melissa), Michael Perez, Kimberly Valice (James), grandchildren Nick, Evans, Chris, Jimmy, Will, Ben and Madeline, and his siblings Maureen Hassan and John Dillon (Sandi).

He was a loving and supportive husband, father, and brother. He earned the nicknames “Happy” or “Hap” and “Happy Joe Lucky” thanks to his optimistic outlook and love of life. He will be dearly missed.

He will lie in state on Tuesday, October 29, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady Star of the Sea (467 Fairford Rd., Grosse Pte. Woods, MI) immediately followed at 11:00 a.m. by a funeral mass. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Joe’s memory may be made to Dementia Society of America (www.dementiasociety.org) and the Alzheimer’s Foundation (www.alzfdn.org).