Date: 10/19/26 10:49 am From: Grove, Gregory William <gwg2...> Subject: Jim Dunn
We learned recently of the passing of Jim Dunn at age 76. Jim was a long-time member of the State College Bird Club, including service as President of the Club. A native of South Dakota, Jim had degrees in Chemistry, Math, and Economics and eventually earned a Ph.D. at Oklahoma State. From Oklahoma he came to Penn State in 1977 as Assistant Professor in Agricultural Economics, retiring as full Professor in 2017.
Jim’s birding career started in 1997 in a way very different than for most of us. During a year-long sabbatical in Australia, he became interested in the birds there and upon his return to State College, was committed all the way to birding. As with many of us, birds became an important component in planning of activities whether in his own backyard, around town and campus, or during world travels related to work. He eventually served four years as President of the State College Bird Club, 2003-2007. His ID skills came quickly and he became a dedicated lister, including Pennsylvania county listing, which he combined with visits connected to Penn State Ag Extension travels through-out the state. His world life-list benefited thanks to his travels and collaborations with faculty from many countries, especially Eastern Europe and republics of the former Soviet Union. In that regard he was proud of his “airport life-list”, which numbered over 100.
Jim’s interests and expertise ranged far beyond birding and economics. For many years he was a regular in lunch-time pick-up basketball on campus, often with fellow birders Scott Lewis and Rob Stone. He was a 50-year member of the Toastmaster’s Club and was on the board of Centre Region Parks and Recreation. He was particularly deeply involved in genealogy, and indeed I learned a lot about his family in South Dakota and Nebraska during slow sessions at the Stone Mt hawk watch.
Jim is survived by wife Polly, son John, and daughter Robin. A celebration of life will be held at Foxdale Village on November 6, 2026, at 12:30 pm.
Memorial contributions may be directed to The Centre Foundation’s Endowment for the State College Bird Club @ https://centrefoundation.fcsuite.com/erp/donate - and enter State College Bird Club.
Greg Grove
Greg Grove
eBird reviewer: Blair, Cambria, Clearfield, Huntingdon, Juniata, Mifflin
PBA Ridge and Valley Coordinator
Stone Mt. Hawk Watch, Winter Raptor Survey
Huntingdon, PA.
