F. Geoffrey Dunham

1943 - 2023

F. Geoffrey Dunham
February 21, 1943 - May 20, 2023
On May 20, 2023, Geoffrey Dunham, lawyer, raconteur, guitar picker, devoted friend, loving father and husband, passed away at home in his sleep with his loving and dedicated wife by his side.
Fentress Geoffrey Dunham was born in Hollywood, California, on February 21, 1943, to Elizabeth Angelica Hill, a Standford-educated, San Francisco socialite and William Donaldson Dunham. He was raised in Pacific Heights.
Geoff's life was infused with music. In the 60s, he was a participant in the Great Folk Scare, playing guitar and singing in coffee shops. As he explained it, he dressed entirely in leather, which, given his size, demanded a lot of cow.
His lifelong quest was to find the perfect guitar. Music stayed with him throughout his life: songs picked on the beautiful hand-made guitars he favored.
He attended Sonoma State where he was the editor of the college rag, The Steppe. He was a fourth-generation Californian who loved Sonoma County. From January 1973 to March 1974, he was the mayor of Cotati, landing him on the cover of the Rolling Stone. Giving up his political ambitions, he went to law school, graduating and being admitted to the Bar in 1977.
FGD practiced criminal defense in Sonoma County until he retired in 2022. During that period, he was a looming presence in the Bar, handling cases big and small. He taught evidence at his alma mater, Empire School of Law; he provided free legal counseling for veterans through the VA., and he extended his hand to help whenever he could.
He was also a serious student of the art of baseball. He delighted in rattling off sports statistics, and collecting baseball memorabilia was his avocation.
His parents and his younger brother David predeceased Geoff. He is survived by his wife Kathleen; his siblings Hilary, and Priscilla; his children: Scott, Randy, Tadd, Ryan, and Laurel; and a host of friends and colleagues.