After earning a BS in Physics from Carnegie-Mellon and an MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Dale spent several years as part of a ragtag, over-educated crew repairing air-cooled Volkswagens. Returning to Pittsburgh he and Betsy spent two decades as full-time artists before Dale was asked to join the faculty at Carlow University.

Dale has been included in wide-ranging national and international exhibitions as well as books and leading periodicals from England, Germany, Ireland, Australia and the US. His work has taken him to Japan, Denmark, Spain, Sweden, and Taiwan.

Dale is now Professor Emeritus at Carlow and enjoying the time to explore paths not taken.