Dana Joseph Pratt

On December 14, 2012, Dana J. Pratt of Washington, DC passed away peacefully. He was the beloved husband of Therese Louis Pratt, whom he met and married in Beirut, Lebanon while there on assignment for Franklin Book Programs of New York City.

Dana was born in Cambridge, MA. He served in the Navy from 1944 to 1947, receiving a Bachelor’s of Naval Science from Tufts University in the process. For the last year of his service he was the commanding officer of PC 566. Subsequent to his Naval service, he went into the field of book publishing. Along with his time at Franklin, this included stints at Princeton University Press, University of Illinois Press, and the Association of American University Presses, where he served as Executive Secretary.

From the AAUP his career took him to New Haven, where he became the Assistant Director of the Yale University Press, a position he held from 1966 to 1978. He then moved on to Washington, DC to take the role of Director of Publishing of the Library of Congress. He served in this capacity until his retirement in 1993, after which he became a publishing consultant.

In addition to his wife Therese, Dana is survived by his three sons: Joseph C. Pratt; Michael L. Pratt (Amy); and Benjamin L. Pratt (Carol). He was a devoted father to them, as well as a loving grandfather to his six grandchildren: Isaac J. Pratt; Logan M. Pratt; Thomas P. Pratt; Jason M. Pratt; Emma T. Pratt; and Renee E. Pratt. He is also survived by his sister, Anita Wallace.

Relatives and friends are invited to call at Joseph Gawler’s Sons, Inc., 5130 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 for visitation on Wednesday, December 19, 2012 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, December 20, 2012 at 10:00am at Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Church, 7142 Alaska Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society, 901 E Street NW, #500, Washington, DC, 20004.