Dr. Nicholas "Nick" Michael Dorko

Dr. Nicholas "Nick" Michael Dorko, 93, passed away peacefully June 2, 2026, at Avail Senior Living in Cleveland, TN in the presence of loved ones. Nick was born August 11, 1932, in the coal mining community of Filbert, PA to Nicholas and Katarina Dorko, recent immigrants from the former Czechoslovakia.

Raised in Cleveland, OH, he was an excellent student who was moved up two grades. He graduated from Rhodes High School and was the first and only in his family to attend college. He attended the University of Miami until enlisting in the Army to serve in the Korean War.

During the war in 1952, he was wed to his high school sweetheart, Nancy Anne Weich, for 61 years. After the war, he attended The Ohio State University where he earned his DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine). He spent the majority of his career working in the pharmaceutical industry predominantly supporting the poultry industry with a multi-year break to purchase and run a small and large animal practice in Cleveland, TN. He later went back to the poultry industry where he retired, while all the time continuing to support local large animal farmers. Nick was well known and respected throughout the poultry industry. Nick was an avid traveler, loved good food especially sweets, had a good sense of humor, and was a long time active member of the Cleveland Elk's Lodge.

Nick is survived by his children, Julie Persson (David), Nick, Cathy (David Calovich), his wife Georgia, her children Melanie Buscher (Rod), Lenora Saladar (Dennis), Maude Franceschina (Mark), and six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by Nancy Dorko and son, Craig. He was loved by all.

A memorial service will be held at Avail Senior Living Saturday June 6, 2026, at 3 p.m. followed by a Panikhida at St. Maria of Paris Orthodox Church at 5 p.m.

The family would like to thank the staff at Avail Senior Living and Hospice of Chattanooga for their loving care and support of Nick. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to The Wounded Warriors Project and St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.