Keith Alan Dunlop

Keith Alan Dunlop
May 24, 1965 – January 27, 2023
To those who knew Keith Dunlop, certain defining words always came to mind, accompanied by a smile: meticulous, photographer, literary, cyclist, love of hiking/nature, helping others. In his own understated way, he encompassed all those things, and oh, so much more.
Keith grew up in Chatsworth, CA, to parents Robert and Carole Dunlop, and older sister Karen. His meticulous nature likely came from his father, an aerospace engineer, and his mother, who subscribed to the adage 'a place for everything and everything in its place.' He acquired his first professional camera for his fifteenth birthday. His first road bike came soon after, and his first job was with a local boys' club. He received his bachelor's degree in English from San Francisco State University. He hiked and backpacked through Yosemite frequently, enjoying the peace and solitude it provided and capturing its beauty with his camera. Keith lived an extraordinary and adventurous life.
If you worked with Keith at Morris & Garritano in San Luis Obispo, you may have known him as Director of Compliance for eight years-detail oriented, patient, never forgetting to dot an i. Keith was also thoughtful and inquisitive. His knack for asking important questions made him a valued board member and committee member to many SLO organizations over time. He had a seemingly bottomless capacity for compassion and community involvement, which led him to serve on many boards and committees, including those of the SLO Food Bank, the Boys & Girls Club, Lumina Alliance, SLO Chamber, Leadership SLO, Stand Strong Board of Directors, and more.
As the treasurer for Michelle Shoresman's city council campaign, Keith diligently kept the books, and was a thoughtful and supportive team member. He was as generous with his smile as he was with his time, and he knew exactly when to rally the team for a break and an old fashioned.
He was also a talented photographer and photojournalist, with a gift for finding beauty in unlikely places. In 2010, he traveled to Haiti to document the aftermath of the earthquake. The images he brought home were haunting and powerful. His trips around the world took him to Nepal, Turkey, Hungary, Vienna, Prague, Guatemala, and Peru, where he captured the landscapes and lives of the people with raw and majestic splendor.
Keith was an avid cyclist and outdoorsman who enjoyed building and tinkering with vintage bicycles and outdoor gear. He took great satisfaction in completing the 2019 Eroica California, in Cambria, on his vintage Bottecchia bike. He rode over 3500 miles in 2022, more recently participating in the Cool Breeze Century along the Central Coast.
Most importantly, Keith cherished being stepfather to Gracie Ward, who affectionately called him Keggie. He loved her dearly and enjoyed watching her grow into a beautiful young woman. He bestowed upon Gracie his passion for photography, music, and literature.
Keith was proud to call San Luis Obispo his home for seventeen years. He was a loyal friend, and a loving son, brother, stepfather, uncle, great-uncle, nephew, and cousin to friends and family spread out across the country. While he left us too soon, he made lasting impressions in the lives he touched.
"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." -John Muir
His legacy lives on in the charities of which he was so passionate:
Donate to Lumina Alliance/Better Unite -
https://www.betterunite.com/luminaalliance-keithdunlopmemorialdonationfund
Donate to Boys and Girls Clubs of Mid Central Coast
https://centralcoastkids.org/the-keith-dunlop-memorial-fund/
Donate to SLO Food Bank
https://donate.slofoodbank.org/campaign/keith-dunlop-memorial-page-for-the-slo-food-bank/c463984
To plant a beautiful memorial tree in memory of Keith, please visit our Tree Store or plant a tree.