Recognizing the importance of preparing the next generation, Dorothy and Frank Dunn dedicated their careers to the education of youngsters.
They took the same approach with their alma mater by paying it forward to today’s students, who attend events in a conference center named in their honor.
Named For
Dorothy Szafer Dunn, ’51, and Frank Dunn, ’49, G’51
The Backstory
Frank, who was a World War II and Korean Navy veteran, worked as director of guidance at West Bridgewater High School. Students relied on him as a constant source of wisdom.
“Our school life has been filled with problems and decisions; but through the help and guidance of this devoted man, we have solved our problems with little difficulty and have been given the chance to make the right decisions,” students wrote in the school’s 1964 yearbook, which they dedicated to Dunn.
Dorothy was a schoolteacher in Bridgewater and several other Massachusetts towns for 33 years.
Outside of work, the couple donated their time to their alma mater by serving on the BSU Foundation’s board. Frank also spent time as a trustee and a member of an alumni board.
Their philanthropic contributions included the establishment of scholarships for students studying aviation science and education.
The conference suite opened in 2007. Soon thereafter, Bridgewater officially named it after the couple in a ceremony at which then-President Dana Mohler-Faria remarked: “For them, Bridgewater is more than just a place or something they’re fond of. It’s part of the fabric of their lives.”
Use Today
Located in Crimson Hall on the east side of campus, Dunn Conference Suite can accommodate up to 180 people. From annual award ceremonies to a luncheon for a visiting head of state, the suite is a signature gathering place for the campus community.
Material in this article comes from the article “Crimson Hall Conference Suite Named for College Benefactors” by John Winters, G’11, the Dunns’ obituaries and the 1964 edition of The Climber, West Bridgewater Junior-Senior High School’s yearbook.