John and Marie Tunno Dunn Fund
John and Marie (Tunno) Dunn grew up in Burgettstown, Pa., and were high school sweethearts. They embraced life, worked hard and laughed often with their daughters, family and friends. John and Marie believed we all had the responsibility to discover our own path in life, while supporting each other along the way.
John served in the U.S. Airforce and worked in the oil industry, but as a natural athlete, his true passion was sports. He grew up on the baseball diamond, specifically, the pitcher’s mound. John even pitched for the U.S. Airforce’s baseball team while serving abroad. Later in life, he traded his ball glove for a set of golf clubs, and would eventually golf nearly every day. John considered himself lucky in life, and his seven holes in one were proof of that.
Marie loved to learn and loved to help others. The first in her family to attend college, Marie earned both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree. She believed education opened doors and opportunities. For many years, she served her community as a registered nurse, and eventually, she became a hospital executive. As she climbed the ladder of success, she always extended a hand to help others achieve their own success in the healthcare industry. Marie touched countless lives with her compassion.
The John and Marie Tunno Dunn Fund (“the Fund”) was established by their daughters, Maria (Dunn) Royce and Malisa Dunn, and their families to honor their legacy. Marie died in 2001 at age 60. John died in 2022 at age 83. The purpose of the Fund is to encourage young people in the greater Burgettstown area to discover the talents and skills that will help them grow and develop into strong community members. Annually, the Fund will provide support to following two organizations:
- The Burgettstown Area Scholarship Foundation – The Fund will help support a student interested in pursuing a career in healthcare. This is in honor of Marie (Tunno) Dunn, nurse and healthcare executive, who mentored many people and helped them grow into confident and caring professionals.
- The Burgettstown Area Youth Baseball and Softball Association – The Fund will help eliminate financial barriers in sports for by purchasing baseball and softball equipment or supporting registration fees for young people in Burgettstown. This is in honor of John Dunn who was forever grateful to Burgettstown baseball for positively influencing —and, in his words, “saving”— his life.
