Daniel Bennett Dunn

Daniel Bennett Dunn passed away peacefully on May 16, 2026, surrounded by his loving family. Danny lived 75 extraordinary years shaped by his humor, creativity, love of adventure travel and flying small airplanes and deep love of his family and friends. His strong work ethic, his unwavering commitment to Tikkun Olam (mending the world) and to tzeduka (Hebrew world for charity but also means righteousness or justice), were practices that he not only integrated into his personal life but also his business career. This multi-talented, active vibrant man with a distinctive laugh left a lasting imprint on everyone who knew him including his caregivers during his last weeks and days.

Danny was born on May 5, 1951 in Chicago, the second son of Lila Treadwell and Arthur Dunn. He had an older brother Fred and two younger sisters, Charki and Nancy. He enjoyed the freedom of growing up in the suburbs of the 1950s and 60s, riding his bike, cub and boy scouts, playing violin and making clay pottery. He attended University of Illinois and Hebrew University, City University and graduated Pace University with a Psy.D. in psychology.

Living in New York City in the late 1970s and early 1980s, he met Amy Gordon on a blind date and a year later, they were married at Lincoln Square Synagogue. They bought a brownstone in Clinton Hill and learned how to renovate an old home on the job. Also, about this time, Danny made a career switch which eventually led him to becoming a well-respected financial consultant for Merrill Lynch.

After their son Jake was born in 1984, they moved to South Orange NJ where two more children were born, Avi in 1987 and Molly in 1988. And they continued to purchase and renovate old homes. Besides work and home renovation, Danny had many interests that he pursued – scuba diving, snow skiing, hiking & trekking, travel and his favorite – flying small planes. He was an avid genealogist and found family across the country and the world.

Despite much success in many areas, Danny carried the stigma of learning issues/differences and was invaluable at encouraging and supporting his and other children similar issues. He reveled in Jake’s success with taking over Danny’s business and growing it into the stratosphere. Similarly, he took great pride in supporting Avi and Molly achieve their dreams.

The last major adventure trip for Danny in 2017, climbing Mt. Kilamenjaro, was also the beginning of a long and difficult decline. The greatest happiness in his last years were his grandchildren.

Danny is survived by his wife, Amy Gordon; his children Jacob (Jessica), Avi, and Molly (Didac Bigorda Arruego), his grandchildren Morgan, Marnie, & Hudson Dunn and Josep & Juame Bigorda. He is also survived by his sisters Charki Dunn and Nanci (Marty) Karlin and his stepbrothers Vance (Beth) Liebman and Jeff (Anita) and his stepsisters Susan (Bob) Daly and Jennifer Treadwell. He is predeceased in death by his older brother, Fred (Priscilla) Dunn.

Funeral arrangements are being handled by Groce Funeral Home, Taharah and Shemira are being coordinated by the WNC Chevre Kadisha, and the funeral service will be officiated by Rabbi Shaya Susskind of Chabad. Family and friends will gather on Tuesday, May 19, 11:00 AM, at Groce Funeral Home, 1401 Patton Avenue, to share reflections and memories of Danny’s life. A livestream of the service at the funeral home will be broadcast on this page below. The graveside service and first Kaddish, will then follow at Lou Pollock Cemetery at noon.