Gregory R. Dunn, age 74, of Stoughton passed away February 26th after a 12-year brave battle with PSP, Progressive Super Nuclear Palsy. Born in Boston, he was raised in Roxbury and South Boston. He was the beloved husband of Linda S. (Onishi) for 43 years, devoted father of Lauren May Holtzman of Canton and Gregory (Chip) James Dunn of Stoughton and loving grandfather of Gabrielle and Samantha Holtzman. Also survived by his brother John of Abington, sisters Beverly Nicholson of Raynham, and Margaret Holak of Auburn. He also leaves a son Joseph Dunn of Natick & a daughter Corinna Halloran of Quincy.
Greg enlisted in the Marine Corp in 1965 at the age of 17 serving two combat tours in Vietnam with the 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine 2nd Division. He served as mortarman assigned to Operation Kingfisher, a four month long battle with the PAVN that sustained heavy Marine losses.
Greg’s love of the ocean and fishing led him to a 10 year long career as a commercial fisherman. He worked for many years as the engineer on the F/V Western Wave and the F/V Western Sea out of Gloucester and Maine. He started out as an offshore lobsterman on the F/V Sea Dog and moved onto ground fish trawling, pair trawling, stop seining for sardines and his favorite, purse seining for herring where he ran the ‘bug boat’. He was also known for his talent in harpooning swordfish. He continued fishing throughout his life making a trip to Alaska for halibut and arctic char and to Polaski, New York for salmon in the fall. During his last year at the VA Hospice unit he continued to fish with a little help from his friends and family catching no less than three trophy size largemouth bass at the VA fishing hole.
After leaving commercial fishing to spend more time with family he started his own business GR Dunn Roofing, specializing in tar & gravel and slate roofs. Later he worked for the Quincy Public Schools until his retirement.
Greg loved watching all sports, having played most of them in younger days. He enjoyed gardening/farming and working in his well-equipped workshop where he made many bookcases to house the family’s extensive library, shelving, bird houses and the occasional piece of cat furniture for his much-loved cats.
He will always be remembered for his quick wit and sense of very dry humor, unconditional love for family & friends and his unending kindness to all of God’s creatures. His special joy in life was spending time with his two granddaughters Gabby and Sam which he did until the end of his days.
Donations may be made in Greg’s memory to the
Neponset Valley Humane Society
www.neponsethumane.org
or a charity of your choice
Relatives and friends invited to attend a graveside service at the Massachusetts National Cemetery, Bourne on Thursday March 16th at 11:30 am.