John Smith Dunk

John Smith Dunk, 90, NYS Rte. 3, passed away Tuesday, November 8th at the Samaritan Summit Village where he had been a resident since Sept. 11, 2016.

John Smith Dunk was born in Henderson, NY, on September 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, NY. 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, NY.

July 1966 John moved his office to Depot St., Adams Center, NY.  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 2 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, 4 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren. John’s longtime companion Veronica Blizzard predeceased him on February 23, 2007.

A memorial service will be held at the Carpenter Stoodley Funeral Home, Belleville on Saturday, November 19th at 3 pm. Calling hours will precede the service from 1-3 pm 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.