Dennis Meyer Obituary (2022) – Washington, DC

MEYER

DENNIS I. MEYER (Age 86)

Dennis I. Meyer, esteemed attorney and entrepreneur, as well as a devoted husband and loving father, died June 7, 2022, at his home in Alexandria, Virginia. He was 86.

Dennis (affectionately known as Denny) was born in Dayton, Ohio, October 20, 1935. His parents and his brothers, Jack and Bob, predeceased him. Denny’s tireless work ethic began when he was a young boy. At a very early age, he had a newspaper route, helped out in his family’s meat market, and during the school holidays took shifts at his local post office.

He attended the University of Dayton, and remained loyal to his alma mater, where he served on the Board of Trustees from 1986 until 1995. After his undergraduate years, he moved to Washington, DC, to attend Georgetown University School of Law, from which he received both his JD and his LLM in tax. Dennis always maintained a close relationship to the Law School (at one time he was Chairman of the Board) and also to the College, as demonstrated by his devotion to the Georgetown Hoyas basketball team. He never missed a game when they were playing in town. In 2010, he received the prestigious John Carroll Award from Georgetown University for his contributions to the Law School.

After graduating from law school, Denny joined the firm of Baker & McKenzie in 1960, where at age 39 he became Executive Committee Chair. He was committed to the democratic process and making sure that everyone’s voice was being heard, a leadership style that is now a hallmark of the firm. He is widely considered one of the founding fathers of the Baker & McKenzie tax practice, which has become the premier tax practice in the world. Denny’s mark at Baker & McKenzie will last forever.

Denny co-founded Potomac Investment Associates, a leading real estate company in the DC area, whose notable project was the development of the Avenel golf community. In the 1970s Denny’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to purchase the Daily Express trucking company in Carlisle, PA, which is now one of the largest specialized trucking companies in the nation. Denny was also a chairman of the Business Bank, a local lending bank in the Washington area. It grew to multiple branches and was recently sold to United Bank.

To say that Denny lived a full and happy life would be an understatement. He was an avid golfer, tennis player, and traveler, who loved going out to various restaurants. When Denny wasn’t in the office, he enjoyed working in his garden, tending to his boxwoods and azaleas. He was happiest when he was surrounded by his large, extended family and numerous friends.

A lifelong devout Catholic, Dennis was a Knight of Malta who believed in giving back to others and was a benefactor of numerous, varied philanthropies. His strong ethical compass made him an ideal member of the Board of Trustees at Trinity Washington University and at the Keenan Institute at Duke University. At St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School, in Alexandria, (which all of his children attended), Denny was the Chair of the Foundation Board from 1994 to 2004 and on the Board of Governors from 2006 until 2012. Dennis believed in the importance of education and in supporting financial aid initiatives at all of the schools where he and his children were educated. He had a special affinity for the students at the Washington Jesuit Academy.

Dennis is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Rita Meyer, and six devoted children and their spouses: Matthew Meyer (Jennifer), Michael Meyer, Catie Meyer, Peter Meyer (Kit), Denise Prince (Stuart), and Abigail Meyer (Max Quinzani), along with 16 grandchildren whom he loved beyond measure: Claire Meyer, Alexandra Meyer, Catherine Meyer, Jack Meyer, Rita Peterson, Luke Peterson, Peter James Meyer, Christopher Meyer, Graham Meyer, Quentin Meyer, Helen Prince, Peter Prince, Sally Prince, Michael Prince, Cora Quinzani, and Virginia Quinzani. He is also survived by his brothers-in-law, who admired and respected him: Matthew Murray, Peter Murray, Christopher Murray, and Vincent Murray. Many nieces and nephews also loved their Uncle Denny.

A funeral service will be held Wednesday, June 15, 10 a.m., at The Cathedral of Saint Matthew the Apostle, 1725 Rhode Island Avenue, NW, Washington, DC.

Published by The Washington Post from Jun. 12 to Jun. 14, 2022.