Edward M. Dunne, father, athlete, fan, insurance pro
Tracee M. Herbaugh
Published July 3, 2008 at 9:05 p.m.
Dunne family photo
Mr. Edward Dunne rooted for his beloved CU Buffaloes.
Edward M. Dunne loved sports, his family, a good time and good Scotch.
He was "the life of the party," said his daughter, Kayte Dunne. He loved Johnny Walker Red Label Scotch and often quipped, "If it's good enough for Nolan Ryan, then why go better than that."
Mr. Dunne died from advanced skin cancer at his home in Denver on June 20. He was 60.
"He was someone you would just know was in the room," his daughter said. "He wasn't loud, but he was very friendly and had a great sense of humor."
"Ed" Dunne was born in Memphis, Tenn., on Feb. 18, 1948. In his early childhood, he moved with his parents and three siblings to Stamford, Conn., where he began a lifelong pursuit of athletics as a star of his high school football and baseball teams.
He was an avid sports fan, and he had unwavering loyalty to the University of Colorado Buffaloes, his alma mater, his daughter said.
On many occasions, he wore a tall fur hat with buffalo horns protruding out of the sides, posing with friends and family members for photographs during parties while watching CU sporting events.
His love of athletics spilled into his personal time, as well. He often played golf, tennis, went skiing and ran several marathons, logging a personal best time of 2 hours and 42 minutes.
He loved spending time with family, friends and longtime girlfriend Jo Carol, of Houston.
"They were perfect for each other," his daughter said. "He dated a lot and was such a bachelor. He liked to do what he wanted to do, when he wanted to do it, and she is the same way."
If he wasn't spending time with loved ones or playing sports, he could be found tending to his tomato plants.
Mr. Dunne started his career in insurance sales in Denver in 1976 with the Kremers-Urban Co. and won awards as a sales representative. In 1985 he joined Wyeth Consumer Healthcare as a district manager, spending the duration of his career there until he retired in early 2008, shortly after he was diagnosed with late-stage melanoma.
During Mr. Dunne's lifetime, he faced several challenges with cancer. He lost his mother, Lynda, to cancer, and his brother, Larry, died of brain cancer nine years ago, something that was extremely difficult, his daughter said.
"He was a tough guy, and eventually he got through it, but it just made him all the more aware of what could happen to him," Kayte Dunne said.
Mr. Dunne is survived by his daughters, Kathyn and Rebecca, his two granddaughters, Taylor and Ember, his brother, Bob, and sister, Marilyn. Funeral services and a mass were held June 25.
Donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.
HerbaughT@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5623
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July 4, 2008
11:23 a.m.
Suggest removal
MarciaD writes:
Writing on behalf of the family of Ed Dunne, I am severely dissapointed in this Obituary. Tracee, who interviewed his daughter, did not offer any condolences, or take any time to pay attention to detail that should go into writing the last impression of a good man. She took many things out of context, and portrayed him as a Scotch drinking, philandering, tomato tending person when he was much more. He has not worked in insurance since his last year of college. The scotch quote was Joe Nameth, not Nolan Ryan. His mothers name was Marjorie. Lynda was his first wife and mother of his two daughters. He died of advanced metatastic melanoma, and he always put his family before his own pursuits. To the families knowledge, he never wore a Buffalo hat with horns. I feel that the family is owed an apology and that you consider sending someone with more experience and attention to detail to the homes of the grieving. Fortunatly the family, and the deceased has/had a good sense of humor and can laugh at the blatant mistakes that were made.
July 5, 2008
12:19 p.m.
Suggest removal
fastnloose writes:
MarciaD,you are totally right,the newspaper article made Ed out to be exactly as you stated.After reading what you had to say I wish I had known him,he was probably a much kinder and caring person than the paper made him out to be.I'm sorry for all his family and friends in their time of loss.
July 5, 2008
1:47 p.m.
Suggest removal
avsgirl19 writes:
I am Ed Dunnes' niece. I am appalled that the Rocky Mountain News allowed a so called reporter to knock on the door of a grieving family the morning after the funeral and proceed to write an article that is full of inaccurate information and quotes taken out of context. Lynda was the mother of his children NOT his mother. He was not an "insurance pro". He was NOT a philandering drunk as this article makes him out to be. He was a sweet, loving and amazing father and grandfather who past away of advanced metastatic melanoma. He did love CU, but has never owned or worn "a tall fur hat with buffalo horns protruding out of the sides". When a "reporter" writes an article, especially an obituary, that reporter better get their facts straight and the correct spelling of the names of the family. Kathryn is not spelled "Kathyn". I urge this "reporter" and her supervisor and the editor of this paper to make a formal apology to Ed's family immediately.