Dennis Whittlesey

Dennis Jeffrey Whittlesey, 83, passed away September 10 at his home in Washington D.C., surrounded by his loving family, after a decade-long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He grew up in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, the youngest of three children born to Judge Wesley A. Whittlesey, a juvenile court judge, and Louise Hermes Whittlesey, an attorney and executive in her family’s brick company. His large extended family included a close-knit collection of aunts, uncles, and cousins.

He graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a B.A. in Journalism and received his J.D. and LL.M. in Taxation from Georgetown University. He maintained a lifelong love of both schools, where he forged deep, enduring friendships.

Dennis was a U.S. Navy public affairs officer and legal counsel during the Vietnam War, stationed at Yokosuka Naval Base in Japan. After returning to the U.S. in 1969, he moved to Washington D.C., where he spent several years as a trial attorney in the Lands and Litigation Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. He then moved into private practice, developing specialties in environmental law and Indian law.

For nearly four decades, he worked with members of Congress, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and tribal leaders to help shape modern tribal governance, including restoration of terminated tribes, fishing rights in the Pacific Northwest, and land rights and federal recognition for tribes in Oklahoma, California, Oregon, and Washington. Dennis’s work also helped usher in an economic renaissance for tribes by crafting tribal-state gaming compacts, helping secure lands that are eligible for gaming, and helping tribes diversify their investments. He later shared his expertise with students as a team teacher in the Indian Law program at Lewis & Clark College.

Dennis was a man of many interests. He had an unshakable devotion to Oklahoma Sooners football. He prized the written word in all forms, particularly literature, history, and the New Yorker magazine. He was a member of the carpenters’ union as a young man, and his handiwork was evident all around him, from the family home to his children’s D.C. public school. He was an early feminist who was deeply committed to justice and equality for all.

Dennis was an exuberant spirit and the life of every party, regaling guests with hilarious stories while making sure no wineglass went unfilled. Remembered by colleagues as a good man and a great lawyer, he was a caring neighbor and faithful friend who never gave up on a friendship. He lived his life with joy, passion, grace, and a devilish twinkle in his eye.

Dennis is survived by his devoted family: Judith Holloway Whittlesey, his wife of 58 years; children Kristin Whittlesey of Nashville, Tennessee, and Kevin Whittlesey of Boston; sisters-in-law Susan Holloway Torricelli and Mary Holloway Richard (James); and a large collection of nieces and nephews and their children. The family is grateful to Ernest Aboagye, as well as Edward Baffoe-Bonnie, for their compassionate care in his final years.

In addition to his parents, Dennis was preceded in death by brother Dr. Wesley A. Whittlesey, sister Nikki Whittlesey Bryant, and parents-in-law Suzanne Arnote Holloway and Harry “Bill” Haynes Holloway.

A celebration of Dennis’s life will take place 2pm Friday, October 2, at Georgetown Presbyterian Church, 3115 P St. N.W.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Native American Rights Fund (www.narf.org/support-us) or the charity of your choice.