After earning both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees at the University of Delaware, he first joined the UD staff as a research associate in urban affairs in 1971. He was one of the early members of the University’s Division of Urban Affairs and Institute for Public Administration, later to become the Joseph R. Biden, Jr. School of Public Policy and Administration.

He left UD and held several public service leadership positions, including serving 26 years as director of the New Castle County Water Resources Agency, which became a unit of the Institute for Public Administration. In 2008, he received an Achievement Award from the association for his leadership in developing and implementing sound water resource management plans and programs within Delaware. 

Mr. Dworsky had a primary professional staff appointment as policy scientist and later senior policy adviser at the Institute for Public Administration, along with a secondary faculty appointment in what is now the Biden School. He taught and mentored students in the Master of Public Administration (MPA) Program. His other professional activities included serving as a staff member for the Delaware Economic Development Office, a committee member of the Delaware River Basin Commission and a mentor with the University’s Legislative Fellows Program.

He retired from UD in 2013 but continued to work part-time in the Institute for Public Administration until 2016.

An enthusiastic supporter of Blue Hen football, Mr. Dworsky was a member and past president of the Blue Hen Touchdown Club, and for many years he organized bus and plane trips across the country to support the Blue Hens. Saturday home football games included tailgates to share with family and friends.

A decade ago, he and his wife, Loretta, made a sizable donation of UD football programs and memorabilia to the University of Delaware Archives, including football game programs from 1969-2013, game tickets, Boardwalk Bowl tickets, Delaware Football Media Guides and more. 

Colleagues remember

His colleagues and friends shared their reflections.

Dan Rich, University Professor of Public Policy Emeritus:

“A Blue Hen through and through, Bernie Dworsky enriched his University and state in many ways. He was a public service pioneer at the Division of Urban Affairs now the Biden School of Public Policy and Administration, a core member of the Institute for Public Administration team, and a mentor and teacher to generations of students. He guided the New Castle County Water Resource Agency for a quarter century, building partnerships that endure to this day. He was a 'go to' guy for state leaders, and an expert at getting things done, the Delaware way. One of Bernie's special strengths was connecting people, and he was a master at it. It came naturally to Bernie, a valued friend and trusted adviser to so many on campus and across the First State.”

Arno Loessner, associate professor emeritus, Institute for Public Administration:

“Bernie Dworsky was a friend and a positive influence on everyone he knew. Intense and personable, with a good sense of humor, Bernie lived a life of advocacy for causes and anyone who needed help or encouragement. Those attributes helped make him a good teacher and practitioner of applied public policy research. He loved his family, friends and University, saving a good measure of affection for the Fightin’ Blue Hens, the cheerleaders, marching band playing the fight song and Alma Mater and the artificial turf he encouraged at Tubby Raymond Field. I have no doubt that each fall Bernie will be watching with an unobstructed view, cheering, and still evaluating. He missed those plays from the Wing-T playbook but will always be a Blue Hen fan win or lose. Bernie clearly preferred the former.”

Jeff Raffel, Charles P. Messick Professor Emeritus of Public Administration:

“The Biden School, the Blue Hen community and the state of Delaware lost a great supporter and advocate with Bernie Dworsky's passing. Bernie helped people and organizations move forward, always with his big smile and helpful attitude. When I first came to the University of Delaware, I was partnered with Bernie on a public service project. He was a terrific mentor to me then and over the decades to so many students, staff and community leaders and officials. Bernie contributed his passion, knowledge and experience in a wide range of areas, including water resources, GIS, local and state government and Blue Hen football.” 

Harold “Smitty” Smith, UD alumnus and former president of the Blue Hen Touchdown Club:

“Bernie was a very strong supporter  of Delaware football, and as part of the Blue Hen Touchdown Club, he organized bus trips for many many years to basically most of the away games that could be done within a 10-hour bus drive, including the 2003 championship game in Chattanooga. On these trips you could see the true Bernie, not only his organizational skills but also the way he looked after every detail, even helping direct traffic if need be. It became a tradition that when we entered a restaurant for dinner on these trips, he would get everyone in the restaurant to cheer for UD—one side of the restaurant would be Blue and the other side would be Hens, regardless of whether the people eating cared about Delaware or not. He was just an amazing person who loved his Blue Hen family.”

Mr. Dworsky is survived by his wife of 63 years, Loretta, a long-time administrative professional at UD; son, David and daughter-in-law Lori and their children, Hunter (Steven) and Chandler; daughter, Cheryl Lynn and son-in-law William and their children, Nicholas and Lindsay; daughter, Kristin and son-in-law Marc; and brother, Lawrence.

A Celebration of Life will be held from 4-7 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025, at the Carpenter Club in the University of Delaware’s Bob Carpenter Center, 631 South College Ave. A funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m., Thursday, Feb. 13, 2025, at Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church, 200 East Main St., Newark. Interment will be held privately.

Donations in Mr. Dworsky’s memory may be made to the Blue Hen Touchdown Club by clicking here. Gifts can also be made to the Institute for Public Administration in the Biden School at the University of Delaware by clicking here, select “Other” and search for “Institute for Public Administration.”

To read his complete obituary or leave online condolences, visit Spicer-Mullikin Funeral Homes.