Uniontown Area School District mourns loss of admired educator
Uniontown Area School District has lost an admired educator with the death of Jim Dunn. Dunn died Friday in Uniontown Hospital. He was 50 years old.
“He was a great dad, a great teacher and a great community member,” said school district Superintendent Charles Machesky.
Dunn served as in-school suspension coordinator for the district at the middle school level, working 21/2 days a week at Lafayette School, 11/2 days at Benjamin Franklin School and one day at A.J. McMullen school. Machesky said Dunn took his position seriously and worked toward students’ remediation.
He said Dunn worked nearly three decades for the school district and they worked closely together when Dunn taught seventh- and eighth-grade English and Machesky was principal at A.J. McMullen some years ago. He said Dunn was active in the teachers’ association but maintained a good relationship with the administration.
“In school, his best interest was for the kids,” he said.
Machesky noted Dunn also had coached within the district, most recently at the junior high school level for girls and boys basketball. The Friday night game of the Uniontown boys’ varsity team against Waynesburg included a moment of silence in Dunn’s honor.
“We felt it was appropriate to recognize him. He was just such a great guy,” Machesky said.
The superintendent said he would try to make provisions for those of the district that want to attend Dunn’s funeral Monday.
Dunn was born May 27, 1952, in Uniontown, son of Marion Dunn of Uniontown and the late Madeline Ryan Dunn.
In addition to his father he is survived by his wife, Beverly Wallace Dunn; a daughter, Stephanie Dunn at home; two stepdaughters: Jennifer Roll Brown and husband, Ryan, of Uniontown and Karen Roll at home; one sister, Mary Lee Gallis and husband, Joseph, of Uniontown; and 11 nieces and nephews.
Dunn attended St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church and was a graduate of Laurel Highlands High School class of 1970 and California University of Pennsylvania class of 1974.
He also was a member of the Wharton Township Hunting and Fishing Club and organizer of club trips to Pittsburgh Pirates games.
Friends will be received in the Donald R. Crawford Funeral Home, Hopwood, today from noon to 4 and 6 to 8 p.m.
Visitation continues in St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, 71 N. Gallatin Ave., Uniontown, on Monday from 10 to 11 a.m.
Services will begin at 11 a.m., with the Rev. Paul N. Frank officiating.
Interment will follow in Sylvan Heights Cemetery, Uniontown.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association, 7829 National Pike, Suite 2, Uniontown, 15401.