In memoriam: Michael D. Dingman
Michael D. Dingman died of cancer last week at the age of 86. I had the privilege and honor of serving for ten years as Director of the Michael D. Dingman Center for Entrepreneurship at the Smith School of Business, University of Maryland. During his long career, Mike was president or CEO of a number of companies, including Wheelabrator-Frye, The Signal Companies, Allied Signal, the Henley Group, and the Shipston Group. In the late 1980s, when no one else would step up and support entrepreneurship in Maryland and the surrounding region, Mike wrote a check that launched an entrepreneurship center at his alma mater. Later, he provided us with additional substantial support that led to the Dingman Center’s recognition as one of the top-ranked such organizations in the nation. Mike was one of the most successful and generous people I have known. More importantly, he was my friend. Thank you, Mike, and rest in peace.
I only had the opportunity to hear him speak once and meet him. His legacy will continue to inspire and help so many.
One of his young sons was a patient of my dentist in WPB FL. We also met him in Olean NY when he had a car entered in the Great Race. His co-pilot on that car tour was our former FL neighbor in Key West Village located on the Intracoastal Waterway in Jupiter FL.
RIP Mr. Dingman
Sending my best Charlie. Obviously an important and admired man by many and your true friend.
RIP Sir !!
What a giant of a man we have lost. My mentor and friend, rest in peace. His legacy will live on. Thanks for your contribution to my life and that of sooooo many other.
Charlie: As one of the first student entrepreneurs at the Dingman Center, I was a direct benefifciary of Mike Dingman’s generosity. And due to him, I have known and learned from you for over 25 years. By the way, I really enjoyed reading your latest book: “Ready, Fire, Aim: An Immigrant’s Tales of Entrepreneurial Terror.”
I had a chance to work along side Mr Dingman in 1991 when he was building his third home in lyford cay. I was working for sybe construction Co. At the time. He was a nice person indeed. We would c him every day at the site because he was living next door. He would talk to the construction working every day.. He and I would always talk about his two 1979 converter Volkswagen beetle and much I love those csrs
I met Mike Ingman in 1983. He saved my life, kept me out jail..became my friend and mentor..because of him I started in Hollywood filmsm He was a great friend to me.
Mike Dingman
One of his young sons was a patient of my dentist in WPB FL. We also met him in Olean NY when he had a car entered in the Great Race. His co-pilot on that car tour was our former FL neighbor in Key West Village located on the Intracoastal Waterway in Jupiter FL.
RIP Mr. Dingman
He was my Grandfather