Obituary of Joseph Foster Dorsey

Joseph Foster Dorsey, age 90, died peacefully on March 30, surrounded by Sheila Fernschild Dorsey, his beloved wife of 69 years, and his family. His large and loving family includes his daughters Sharon D. Wagoner (Eric), Daryl D. Coleman (David, deceased) and Fern L. Dorsey (Richard Cuneo). His grandchildren are Erin Ahrens (Matthew), Dustin Smith (deceased), Alexis Wagoner, David Coleman, Joseph Coleman (Mina), Colleen Coleman, Cali Cuneo, Bae Cuneo, and Cooper Cuneo. His great grandchildren are Brooke Ahrens, Noah Ahrens, Bennett Ahrens, Sofia Coleman, Joseph Coleman, Boris Coleman and Ashley Thornton. Born in 1927 to Harold B. Dorsey and Marguerite Foster Dorsey, and brother to George K. (Bud) Dorsey, Joe attended Rye Country Day School, and graduated from White Plains High School. At Williams College he served as the editor of the university newspaper. His educational path was interrupted due to his time as a First Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. He graduated from Williams in 1949 and began his professional life as an investment analyst and economist at Argus Research Corporation, an independent investment firm founded by his father in 1934. Joe started as an oil analyst, moved on to become the economist for the firm, and its president at age 33 earning him membership in the Young Presidents Organization. He eventually became the chairman of The Argus Research Group, Inc. Under his leadership the company expanded and today includes subsidiaries, Argus Research Co., Argus Investors' Counsel, Inc., Vickers Stock Research Corp., and Argus Vickers Equity Research Ltd. (London). He was a frequent contributor to and guest of many well-known financial publications and programs, and traveled extensively to present at financial conferences, including events run by the International Monetary Fund. With his work and his company always dear to his heart, he finally retired from Argus in September of 2015 after a career that spanned 66 years. His greatest pleasures beyond time with his wife and family were sailing and traveling, a passion that took him and his sometimes-skeptical family to all the corners of the globe at a time when such an adventurous spirit was not easy to oblige. Indeed, his wife and daughters learned early on that a jar of peanut butter and some crackers were required items to pack when Joe Dorsey's family set out to travel. He also led the Larchmont Manor Park Society for 17 years, was on the Vestry at St. John's Episcopal Church in Larchmont, and was an active member at the Larchmont Yacht Club; the Horseshoe Harbor Yacht Club in Larchmont; the Westchester Country Club; and the Downtown Athletic Club. Visiting Tuesday 4-7 PM at John J. Fox Funeral Home, Inc. in Larchmont NY. Funeral Service Wednesday 11:00 AM at St. John's Episcopal Church in Larchmont.