Robert Dunlap

1942 - 2025

Robert "Bruce" Dunlap, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and esteemed scholar, passed away at 83 in Miami, Florida, on December 31, 2025. He was born in Woodstock, Illinois, on October 14, 1942, to Robert and Carol Dunlap, and was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Edward "Eddie"; his brothers, David and Donald; and his son-in-law, Zacchary "Zack" Pace. He is survived by his loving wife, Patricia Munhall; his daughter, Heather (Zack) Pace; his stepsons, Dennis and Craig Munhall; his grandson, Robert; his granddaughter, Emily; his step-granddaughters, Madeline and Olivia; his devoted sister, Barbara Oughton; his former wife, Carole, with whom he maintained a close friendship; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Bruce could be described as passionate about everything. He believed in his children and grandchildren and wanted to inspire them to have that same belief in themselves. He took great joy in their successes and talking about them with others. Bruce was gregarious. He loved spending time with friends and family and was often known as the life of the party. He was an avid fan of the South Carolina Gamecocks and loved music, from classical to the Beach Boys. Throughout his life, he participated in sports and liked maintaining an active lifestyle. He enjoyed daily walks until his hospitalization in 2024.

Bruce was a graduate of Woodstock High School. He studied Chemistry at Beloit College, received his PhD in Biochemistry from Indiana University, and furthered his education as an NIH Postdoctoral Research Associate at Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation. He was the first biochemist at The University of South Carolina and served 6 years as chair of the chemistry department. Bruce was known for his willingness to collaborate and co-authored publications with many of his colleagues. The department, now known as the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, grew under his leadership and currently numbers 6 primary faculty plus several multidisciplinary researchers. Upon completing his tenure at South Carolina in 2003 he became the Director of Science and Technology, as well as a biochemistry Professor and Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Florida International University. After his retirement he continued to help the University of South Carolina as Senior Advisor of the Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research.

His remarkable achievements include the Provost's Award for Excellence in Teaching in Chemistry in 1987, the Governor's Award for Science Awareness in 1994, and ultimately being named Professor Emeritus at The University of South Carolina. Additionally, he served as Volunteer Chairperson for the South Carolina chapter of the American Cancer Society. As a leading cancer researcher, Bruce's contributions were groundbreaking and continue to be relevant today. Although Bruce was an award-winning scientist, his true gift was teaching. He saw himself as a facilitator of learning and deliberately empowered his students. He was particularly proud of his work with the College of Nursing at the University of South Carolina. He used his position to ensure that access and opportunities were available to all who truly wanted them. His dedication is reflected in the lives of the hundreds of students he taught.

Visitation will be held at 1:00 p.m. at Shandon United Methodist Church in Columbia, SC, on Saturday, February 7th, followed by a service at 2:00 p.m. A reception for family and friends will follow at 3:30 at the Marriott Hotel on Hampton Street in downtown Columbia. An additional service will be held in Woodstock, IL, in the Spring. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Epworth Children's Home, Special Olympics, or the American Cancer Society.

Bruce's legacy will live on in the hearts of those who loved him and the countless students whose lives he touched. His pursuit of knowledge and belief in the potential of every individual are his enduring gifts to us all.