A Tragic Loss

Posted Nov 22, 2006 by Tom McEwen

Updated Nov 22, 2006 at 08:48 PM

Not sure there is anything so wrenching as the loss of a child—a son or a daughter of any age. Nothing.

Yet, it was such a tragedy that struck the family of Jimmy and Eleanor Dunn just recently. Young (42), handsome Jimmy Dunn Jr. died after serious repeated illnesses. He was the handsome kid you would expect, as was the memorial service at the Lutheran Church of our Savior in North Tampa.

Those mourning with the family and other friends included former Florida Gator head coaches Ray Graves (Opal) and Doug Dickey (Joan), Gator players and boosters such as Jimmy Fisher, Alan Trammell, Tim Marcum, George and Leonard Levy,
Frank Campisi, and many others.

Remember Jimmy Sr. played and coached football for years.

A point came on this weekend in 1959 when Dunn scored twice and was voted the Most Valuable Player for the Gators in the first game ever between Florida and Florida State. It was at Gainesville. Florida won 18-8.