Allen Leon Dolgoff
July 1, 2026
Services
Obituary
Allen Leon Dolgoff (Al), 85, of Chester and Annapolis, Maryland, peacefully passed away on July 1st, 2026 after a valiant battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. Known as a very charismatic personality, his word and handshake were as binding as any legal document. Al welcomed every adventure and challenge, and consequently lived a full and colorful life.
Growing up in Brooklyn, New York, as a youth Al played neighborhood sandlot baseball with Sandy Koufax. At about age 20, he raced for a Ford Motor Team and at 60 he raced at the Richmond International Raceway. He enjoyed speed!
In 1961, Al joined the Navy and though he was only an enlisted man, he flew as co-pilot off the carrier Essex, hunting submarines during the Cuban Quarantine and the beginnings of Vietnam. He was proudly awarded golden wings, usually reserved for officers.
In 1965, Al wed his childhood friend Edith Sklar (Edie) and began a 61 year marriage of love and devotion
Upon discharge the same year, Al started an illustrious career in the IT industry, eventually founding a networking company, Data Systems Marketing, in 1973. DSM became one of the largest networking companies on the East Coast, networking the White House, Johns Hopkins, and numerous national security agencies. After 25 years as CEO, Al sold the company and retired at age 59.
Music was a big part of Al’s life. He was an accomplished guitarist and singer, performing at Tootsie’s in Nashville and with a band in Pasadena, Maryland for 12 years.
At heart, Al was a cowboy! Having worked on a farm in Upstate New York at age 14, he later raised horses on his own small farm on Kent Island, and for 25 years he went to Wyoming to work on a 35,000 acre cattle ranch with 3,000 head of cattle.
During Al’s ranching years, he found a new talent as he had several original articles and cowboy poems published in Western Horseman Magazine.
Ever the adventurer, Al rappelled mountains, navigated whitewater while rafting, and won a bronze medal in downhill skiing in Banff, Canada. He lived life to the fullest.
Al is survived by his wife, Edith (Edie) Dolgoff, his beloved daughters Erica Dolgoff and Lisa Peri (and her husband Jeff Peri), his two granddaughters Kayla (Mattie) Peri, and Alexandra Peri, his sister Judy Jacobowitz (and husband Edward Jacobowitz) and brother-in-law Harold Sklar (and wife Doris Ross), and his many nieces, nephews, and family friends.
Funeral services are private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at https://www.alz.org/get-involved-now/donate.
Growing up in Brooklyn, New York, as a youth Al played neighborhood sandlot baseball with Sandy Koufax. At about age 20, he raced for a Ford Motor Team and at 60 he raced at the Richmond International Raceway. He enjoyed speed!
In 1961, Al joined the Navy and though he was only an enlisted man, he flew as co-pilot off the carrier Essex, hunting submarines during the Cuban Quarantine and the beginnings of Vietnam. He was proudly awarded golden wings, usually reserved for officers.
In 1965, Al wed his childhood friend Edith Sklar (Edie) and began a 61 year marriage of love and devotion
Upon discharge the same year, Al started an illustrious career in the IT industry, eventually founding a networking company, Data Systems Marketing, in 1973. DSM became one of the largest networking companies on the East Coast, networking the White House, Johns Hopkins, and numerous national security agencies. After 25 years as CEO, Al sold the company and retired at age 59.
Music was a big part of Al’s life. He was an accomplished guitarist and singer, performing at Tootsie’s in Nashville and with a band in Pasadena, Maryland for 12 years.
At heart, Al was a cowboy! Having worked on a farm in Upstate New York at age 14, he later raised horses on his own small farm on Kent Island, and for 25 years he went to Wyoming to work on a 35,000 acre cattle ranch with 3,000 head of cattle.
During Al’s ranching years, he found a new talent as he had several original articles and cowboy poems published in Western Horseman Magazine.
Ever the adventurer, Al rappelled mountains, navigated whitewater while rafting, and won a bronze medal in downhill skiing in Banff, Canada. He lived life to the fullest.
Al is survived by his wife, Edith (Edie) Dolgoff, his beloved daughters Erica Dolgoff and Lisa Peri (and her husband Jeff Peri), his two granddaughters Kayla (Mattie) Peri, and Alexandra Peri, his sister Judy Jacobowitz (and husband Edward Jacobowitz) and brother-in-law Harold Sklar (and wife Doris Ross), and his many nieces, nephews, and family friends.
Funeral services are private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association at https://www.alz.org/get-involved-now/donate.
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