Kenneth John Dunning ’82

Kenneth John Dunning ’82 died unexpectedly on February 16, 2017, at Oswego (New York) Hospital. Born in Syracuse, New York, Ken graduated from G. Ray Bodley High School. At Dartmouth Ken was a member of Delta Psi Delta, the Harold Parmington Foundation (HPF), the Tau Epsilon Interfraternity Council, and Native Americans at Dartmouth. He traveled to Blois, France, with the 1980 language study abroad program led by professor John Rassias. Classmate and fellow HPF member Sam Laurin describes Ken as thoughtful and fun: “After Ken joined HPF there was lengthy debate that ended in a decision to take down the Indian symbol above the bar, and Ken handled the debate with grace.” When Sam and Ken roomed together sophomore year, Ken insisted that they always play “Dark Side of the Moon” as they fell asleep. Sam thinks of Ken every time he hears that song. From 1986 to 1997 Ken volunteered as a Dartmouth alumni interviewer. An enrolled member of the Onondaga Nation, Beaver Clan, Ken served as director of the American Indian Community House and HIV/AIDS program and developed many prevention and human service programs for Native Americans. He was a member of the New York governor’s task force for ending the epidemic, the New York HIV advisory body, the American Indian Community House’s generations program, the New York AIDS Coalition, and Native American Community Services of Erie and Niagara counties. Ken is survived by his mother, Alice, and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.