I’d seen Donnie Dunne around downtown, but I was hesitant to ask him if I could take his portrait because he looked like a guy who could crush a cement block with his bare hands and I didn’t want to make him mad. I found out the opposite to be true; he was a very friendly guy. Of all the street portraits I’ve taken over the years, one of my favorites is the first one in 2014; it’s the first portrait in the gallery below. After that first time, he came to enjoy the attention very much.

Below you will also find memories of him that people posted after his death. Donnie died on January 13, 2017. RIP Donnie!

Mark Gruchy:
I want to say something about Donnie. When I was a kid, I used to go to Sobey’s Square. There were old video games there. I was a bit of a loner. I didn’t have a lot of friends. I didn’t really fit in. I was a bit of a weird kid. Donnie was there. He was always there. He was kind. He was caring. He was interested in the kids. He was interested in me. He made me feel like I mattered. He made me feel like I wasn’t weird. He made me feel like I was okay. He didn’t have to do that. He didn’t have to be there. But he was. He was there for a lot of kids. He was there for a lot of people. I grew up. I moved on. I didn’t see Donnie much. I regret that. But I never forgot him. I never forgot what he did for me. He was a good man. He was a kind man. He was a caring man. Rest in Peace Donnie.

Sylvia Louise Locke:
“Being a mom of two young girls I always told them to never talk to strangers but one day after getting on the bus to Da Pearl Lord and Behold who did I talk to but Donnie. My youngest daughter asked Mom why are you talking to that man? Do you know him? My answer was oh yes, everyone knows Donnie Dunne. So as my daughters grew up they would meet Donnie around and always say hello to him. Yesterday I got a message from my oldest daughter telling me that Donnie Dunne had passed. Yes he was a very kind soul and he never ever passed me without a chat as well. RIP Donnie thank you for being a friend”.

Tony Hann:
“I remember Donnie from my time managing a record store at Sobey’s Square. Donnie was a fixture there and always dropping by for a chat. When I left every time I saw him he would stop and chat. Quite the character for sure. RIP Donnie…you are a good old soul”. 🙁

Lynda Meades: “Donnie was a gentle giant. He hung out a lot at the Marie’s Mini Mart on the intersection of Park Avenue and Topsail Road. I can guarantee you that if Donnie Dunne was there, no skeet would try an rob it.”

Tina Dunne (his niece): “…Donnie always lived with his mom Elizabeth until he got a taste of being on his own. His mom was the most important person in his life as his dad passed when Donnie was just a boy himself. His mom never had to lift a finger to clean or cook Donnie looked after her very well. He would wash the floors for her… he was a good hearted man with a lot of love for his family. He didn’t expect nothing in return he was happy to help anyone he could help.”