Joseph R. Dunn “Joe”

Born on November 4, 1941 in Daytona Beach, Florida
Departed December 31, 2022 in Satellite Beach, Florida

Joseph “Joe” Richard Dunn passed away on December 31, 2022, near his home in Satellite Beach, Florida at age 81. Joe was born on November 4, 1941 in Daytona Beach, Florida to Robert Joseph Dunn and Sara Riordan Dunn. Joe and his Life Partner, Mary Garretson, moved to Satellite Beach in 2006.

As a young child he lived in multiple states, including California and Texas with his sister Sally, to whom he was a devoted brother. Joe enlisted in the U.S. Naval Reserves in October 1959 and was called to active duty from October 1961 – August 1963. He was deployed to Vietnam aboard the U.S.S. Marsh (DE-699) where he served as a machinist and boilerman.

Joe graduated from the California State University, Northridge with a BA in Accounting, received his MBA from Pepperdine University, and became a CPA. He initially worked as a CPA for Seidman and Seidman and worked for over 30 years in Higher Education Finance including the California State University system, CSU Campuses of Northridge, Los Angeles, Stanislaus, and Penn State University Great Valley.

Following his retirement, Joe volunteered as a guardian ad litum, where he represented over a dozen children in the foster care system.

An avid outdoorsman, Joe enjoyed boating, fishing, sailing and (in his younger years), skiing, scuba diving, and snorkeling. He was also an aviation enthusiast and began flying Ultralights and then earned his pilot’s license for flying small planes.

Joe was also a skilled craftsman and woodworker who had a knack for anything mechanical. He designed and built custom cabinetry and furniture pieces, remodeled several areas of his home, built an addition to his home, and built a boat dock with an upper deck for viewing rocket launches and enjoying sunsets.

Joe had the opportunity to live in and visit several states. Joe and Mary traveled throughout the US and made several overseas trips during their retirement. An avid reader, he read books on many subjects, including world history, fiction, astronomy, science and engineering.

Joe leaves his life partner Mary Garretson; daughter Laura Dunn; son Steve Dunn and daughter-in-law Kendra; two grandchildren Gavin and Grady; sister Sally Dunn; stepson Rob Garretson; two nephews and their wives and children.

He will be greatly missed but his warmth, kindness, and loving spirit will be remembered forever.

A celebration of life will be held in the near future.