Richard Gerald Dunne

Richard Gerald Dunne (“Dick”) was born in Washington, DC on December 7, 1936 and died on July 10, 2025 in Clinton, MD.

He is survived by Kathryn (“Kay”) Dunne, his wife of 70 years, daughter Kathleen Peach (and husband Bill), sons Timothy and Thomas. Sons William and Patrick predeceased him. He has 8 grandchildren Shannon Hash, Kelly Rhodes, Mandy Peach, Erin Scruggs, Kathryn Smith, Peter, Sarah and Nicholas Dunne, and 15 great-grandchildren. Dick was the youngest child of the late Dr. Francis W. and Mary A. Dunne and brother of the late Joan M. Evers and F. W. (“Bill”) Dunne. He was born and raised in Northeast Washington, DC. Dick and Kay were married on January 8, 1955 and have been inseparable and devoted to each other ever since.

Dick had many jobs over the years including construction, commission sales, substitute teaching, and as day director at a school for troubled boys. He was appointed as the first Executive Director of the Office for the Coordination of Services to the Handicapped for Prince George’s County, MD, and later appointed as the first Director of the Governor’s Office for Coordination of Services to the Handicapped for the State of Maryland. He also owned at separate times a hardware store and an Irish import store. In 1993, Dick was hired as the Medical Assistance Coordinator for the Prince George’s County Public Schools Special Education Department. He retired in 2006. Dick played a pioneering role in the de-institutionalization of people with disabilities and having services provided for them in the community. In the 1960’s and 70’s he was instrumental in the organization and leadership of the Prince George’s County Coalition of Parents of Handicapped Children which among other things, lobbied state and county governments to provide better local services. He was appointed as a member of a Mental Health Task Force in Prince George’s County to promote the development of local community based mental health services. Dick had a principal in a federally funded pilot program for child advocacy in the county. This pilot program was one of only six such programs in the United States. He was a major organizer of the Cheltenham Project, a day and residential treatment center for troubled children and adolescents serving Prince George’s, Charles, Calvert and St. Mary’s counties. The Cheltenham Project was approved by the Governor and State Legislature and was unique in that it was an inter-agency program funded by multiple state and local agencies.

Dick was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Nothing delighted him more than being around and playing with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He also loved his cat Toby.

Visitation for family and friends will be held on Friday, July 18th between the hours of 12 noon and 3:00 p.m. at Lee Funeral Home, 6633 Old Alexandria Ferry Road, Clinton, MD 20753. A memorial mass will said at St. Ignatius Catholic Church at a later date.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, if you wish, please make a donation to a charity of your choice for the benefit of people in need.