James Dobry

Services: A Mass of Christian burial will be offered on Wednesday, September 13, 2006 @ 10:00 AM in Holy Face Catholic Church, Great Mills, MD with Fr. Joseph Sileo officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Visitation: The family will recieve friends on Tuesday, September 12, 2006 from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM in the Funeral Home chapel, with Prayers being held at 7:00 PM. James Dobry, 85, of Great Mills, MD died September 10, 2006, at his residence. Born November 9, 1920, in Baltimore, MD, he was the son of the late Edward James Dobry and Mignonette Adams Dobry. A prominent self- made businessman and proud, decorated World War II veteran, as well as a philanthropist and politician; he spent the majority of his life in St. Mary's County. After graduating from Great Mills High school in 1938, he enlisted in the U.S. Army in June 1939. Having served in all enlisted ranks and attaining the rank of First Sergeant, he then attended Officer Candidate School, after which he was commissioned Second Lieutenant, eventually reaching the rank of Major. As a Training Officer, he served as Platoon Leader and Company Commander in Virginia and parts of the Deep South. In mid-1944, Mr. Dobry was transferred to Italy, where he trained troops for battle assignments. A member of the 36th Engineer Combat Regiment, he was part of the assault on German forces in France and Germany. As a result of a head and eye injury, he was retired from the Army on medical disability. During his service, he received the European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal(3 Battle Stars), the Purple Heart, the Bronze Star Medal, the American Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal. After retiring from the military, he worked in the Public Works Department as a Special Assistant and Planning Engineer, as well as a Construction Inspector, at Patuxent Naval Air Station for six years. Then he established Dobry Construction Company, which he operated with his long-time assistant, Mary Ann Johnson. He built all types of commercial, institutional, residential, and governmental construction, including schools, churches, shopping centers, hangars, and special aircraft station facilities, as well as multi-family and single family structures. Two of his notable construction projects were the Greenview Knolls housing development and Immaculate Heart of Mary Church. Along with several other community members, he started and operated the St. Mary's Taxpayers Association, for which he acted as Association Chairman. In addition, he also ran for County Commissioner several times. He is survived by his sisters-in-law, Alice Dobry of Santa Fe, NM and Ramona Dobry of La Plata, MD, as well as many nieces and nephews, Brenda D. Patterson of Forest Hill, MD; Thomas E. Dobry, Jr. of Great Mills, MD; Barbara A. Legens of Westerville, OH; Marie E. Kuykendall of Ridgely, MD; William R. Miesowitz of Anchorage, AK, John K. Dobry of Great Mills, MD; Michael Dobry of Laplata, MD; Robert Dobry of Laplata, MD; Linda Copsey of La Plata, MD; Dr. Mary M. Dobry of San Diego, CA; Dorothy A. Dobry of Alburqueque, NM, Alice E. Dobry of Seattle, WA; James P. Miesowitz of Smethport, PA; Laura J. Palmer of St. Charles, MO; Mark S. Miesowitz of Drayden, MD; Joseph D. Miesowitz of Great Mills, MD; Brian K. Miesowitz of Callaway, MD; Elizabeth N. Evans of Callaway and many great- nieces, great nephews and cousins. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his three brothers, Thomas O. Dobry, John B. Dobry, Edward J. Dobry, DVM, one sister, Mary F. Miesowitz, and a sister-in-law, Ruby J. Dobry, as well as his nephew, Daniel J. Miesowitz. The family received friends Tuesday, September 12, 2006 from 5:00-8:00PM at Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, with Prayers being said at 7:00 PM with Fr. Joseph Sileo officating. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, September 14, 2006 at 10:00 AM. At Holy Face Catholic Church, Great Mills, MD. Interment will follow in Holy Face Church Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Joseph D. Miesowitz, Mark S. Miesowitz, William R. Miesowitz, Thomas E. Dobry, Jr., Thomas E. Dobry III, and John K. Dobry. Memorial Contributions may be made to Hospice of St. Mary's, P.O. Box 625, Leonardtown, Maryland 20650. Arrangements provided by the Mattingley-Gardiner Funeral Home, P.A.