Kirk Terry Dornbush

October 31, 1933 - November 21, 2024

Ambassador Kirk Terry Dornbush died of natural causes on November 21, 2024. He was 91.

Terry was born on October 31, 1933, to Colonel Kirk and Claire “Bobbie” Dornbush in Atlanta, Georgia. He attended Georgia Military Academy and North Fulton High School in Atlanta. Terry was a life-long member of “The Buckhead Boys.”

Terry graduated from Vanderbilt University magna cum laude in 1955. At Vanderbilt, Terry met and fell in love with fellow-student Marilyn Jane Pierce. They married on June 3, 1956, spent the next 68 years together and raised a family of three, Laura, Kirk and Claire.

From his earliest days, Terry could always be found in a leadership role. He was a proud Eagle Scout later serving as scoutmaster with the legendary Elliot Galloway. At Vanderbilt, Terry was a member and president of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity, a regiment commander in the ROTC and later served as a captain in the US Army Reserve.

Terry had a successful business career, first in finance and later as an entrepreneur. He began as a securities analyst at Courts & Co. becoming a partner in 1963. In 1969 Terry started The Dornbush Company, specializing in private financings, mergers and acquisitions. Together with his brother Robert, Terry was co-owner of Southeastern Bonded Warehouses and the Dixie Bag Company. He served on many business boards including Venture Advisors Fund, Hickory Furniture Company and First Women’s Bank.

Terry was a passionate about many things, especially health, fitness and the outdoors.Indeed, when it came to health and healthy eating, few could match Terry’s daily exercise routines and healthy meals. He was particularly fond of skiing -- be it barefoot on the warm water of Lake Altoona or on the snow of Deer Valley, where Terry could be found on the slopes all day into his eighties.

A two-time cancer survivor, Terry was passionate in the pursuit to develop treatments and cures for cancer. He served as chair of the Georgia Cancer Coalition and led the organization's efforts to combat cancer in Georgia. In 2003, Terry helped found Iconic Therapeutics, Inc., a successful biopharmaceutical company developing treatments for cancer.

Terry was also passionate about politics. He was a tireless and loyal supporter of the Democratic party. In 1976, Terry co-chaired the Atlanta finance committee for Jimmy Carter’s presidential campaign. He was a good friend and early supporter of both Georgia Senator Wyche Fowler and Congressman John Lewis. Terry was the Georgia finance chair for Al Gore’s presidential campaign in 1988, and later, a member of the 1992 Clinton-Gore national finance committee.

After being nominated by President Clinton, Terry was sworn in as Ambassador to The Kingdom of the Netherlands on March 16, 1994. He served as Ambassador to the Netherlands from 1994 to 1998. When his diplomatic tour ended, he and Marilyn moved to Amsterdam and kept dual residency in Atlanta and Amsterdam until 2012.

Terry loved The Netherlands. He and Marilyn hosted then-prince, now King, Willem-Alexander at a reception for Dutch athletes at his Atlanta home during the 1996 Olympics. He was the original sponsor of the Netherlands-American Foundation’s Terry Dornbush Annual Award (for achievement in social, educational or cultural affairs).

Terry was a member of the Episcopal Cathedral of St. Philip where he was on the Chapter and served in a variety of leadership roles.

Everything Terry did, he did with extraordinary energy, enthusiasm and optimism. Terry was a uniquely kind and accepting person. He leaves a legacy reaching far outside Atlanta.

Terry is missed by his wife Marilyn, three children (Laura Iarocci and her husband Joe; Kirk and his wife Barbara; and Claire Archer), six grandchildren (Alex, Allison, Amelia, Hunter, Laura Caroline and Lauren) one great grandchild (Tomas), his brother Robert and his wife Dianne.

A Memorial Service will be held at The Cathedral of Saint Phillip, Mikell Chapel, on December 21st at 10:00, 2024. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Cathedral of St. Philip or Vanderbilt University.