Doda Memorial Fund

The deteriorating wooden memorial at the northwest entrance to Latrobe Park pays tribute to Victor P. Doda Sr. who was the first and longtime president of the Locust Point Civic Association after its official founding in 1972. He and his wife, Ann Shirley Doda, fought tirelessly in the 1970’s to prevent the final section of I-95 from slicing through the center of the Locust Point community and connecting to a proposed eight lane bridge system over Fort McHenry.

After a 5 year battle with Mayor Schaefer and City Hall, as well as with the State & Federal Governments, the Dodas and their community supporters succeeded in having the route of I-95 changed to the tunnel system that exists today. The Dodas also started the annual Locust Point Community Festival as a means of raising funds to pay legal and other expenses.

The proposal for an upgraded and more permanent memorial structure was initiated by the LPCA Board of Directors and endorsed by the Doda family and other community members. The memorial will consist of a large bronze plaque with facial images of both Victor and Shirley Doda, along with a description of their many long-lasting contributions to the Locust Point Community. The plaque will be mounted on a large stone marker and placed so that it will be visible to everyone entering or leaving Latrobe Park.