John Smith Dunk, 90, NYS Rte. 3, passed away Tuesday, Nov. 8 at the Samaritan Summit Village where he had been a resident since Sept. 11, 2016.
John Smith Dunk was born in Henderson, New York, on Sept. 23, 1926. He is the son of the late attorney Claude H. Dunk and Francis Smith Dunk. John attended kindergarten at the newly built Henderson Central School. After kindergarten John attended early grades in Syracuse, New York. John returned to the Watertown school system and was a 1944 graduate from Watertown High School.
After graduation, John was employed by the New York Telephone Co. as a lineman. In 1946 he joined the Army/Airforce as it was then called. Most of his service was in Germany. Upon his discharge in 1948, he entered Syracuse University, where both his parents attended. John graduated June 4, 1951, with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering.
After graduation John was employed by the E. I. DuPont De Nemours Company as a sales and service representative for their explosives products division. Upon John’s retirement from DuPont, he began his own explosives business, St. Lawrence Mine and Quarry Supply, from his home office at Richards Drive, Watertown, New York.
In July 1966, John moved his office to Depot St., Adams Center, New York. He converted the depot into offices. The then functioning railroad delivered his manufacturing products to his doorstep. To meet the needs of his expanding business, John had an office and manufacturing plant built at Kellogg Hill, June 10, 1967, and renamed it St. Lawrence Explosives Corp. John’s previous office on Depot Street is currently a restaurant named Depot Café.
John Dunk married Phyllis Dunk November 24, 1951. They separated in 1960 then divorced. They had two children, Erik and Deborah.
John contributes to and supports the conservation of nature, health and the fine arts. He continues his support to health and has donated his body to science to promote healing and cures. John was also a longtime supporter of the Syracuse Symphony.
Surviving are his wife Phyllis who he remarried in 2010, his son and daughter, four grandchildren and five great grandchildren. John’s longtime companion Veronica Blizzard predeceased him on Feb. 23, 2007.
A memorial service will be held at the Carpenter Stoodley Funeral Home, Belleville on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 3 p.m. Calling hours will precede the service from 1-3 p.m. at the funeral home.
Instead of flowers, contributions are welcome to Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Research, 1275 York Ave., New York, NY 10065.
Online condolences can be made at www.carpenterstoodley.com.
