Richard J. Dunn ’51

Richard J. Dunn ’51, longtime vice president of development and alumni affairs at Oberlin College, died on February 16. Dick grew up in Hamden, Connecticut. At Dartmouth he was a member of Psi Upsilon and Sphinx. He went on to earn two master’s degrees from Cornell University, in regional planning and public administration. His first assignment was as assistant city manager in Oak Park, Illinois. Dick soon became city manager of Oberlin, Ohio. He left Oberlin to pursue business opportunities in the private sector, becoming president and chief executive of Gilford Instrument Laboratories, a designer and manufacturer of surgical and medical instruments. In 1983 he was tapped as vice president of development and alumni affairs at Oberlin College. He retired from this position in 1992. Dick was an active volunteer in the Oberlin community. He served on the boards of Allen Hospital, the Lorain County Regional Planning group, Lorain County Metropolitan Park District, and Kendal retirement community. He loved golf and gardening and took pride in his work as “steward of 55 acres.” He is survived by his wife, Louise, three children, three grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren.