James E. “Buzz” Dunn
1927-2017
Bolivar
James E. “Buzz” Dunn 89 of 171 Olive St. passed away Wednesday August 23, 2017 in the Hart Comfort
House Wellsville following a lengthy illness. Son of Louis B. and Aurelia Dean Dunn he was born on
October 25, 1927, his father’s birthday. A 1945 graduate of Bolivar Central School, he attended Alfred
University before enlisting in the U.S.Army in 1946. He was stationed in Germany where he guarded Nazi
prisoners of war and transported them to Nuremberg for trial. He was honorably discharged in 1947 with
the rank of Sergeant and was a forty-nine year member of Kenyon Andrus Post 772 American Legion.
He received his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University in 1953. He was then
employed by Creole Oil ( Standard Oil of New Jersey) in Venezuela where he met his wife Elizabeth Hanley
of Norwalk, CT. On August 22, 2017 they celebrated 58 years of marriage.
He was a Bolivar Village Trustee, Deputy Mayor, and was elected Mayor of Bolivar by a tie breaking draw
of cards in 1971. A long-time employee of Bradley Builders in Olean, he oversaw construction of many
area buildings. In later years he was employed by Crisafulli Construction and L.C. Whitford Co., and was
self-employed as a licensed Professional Engineer in the states of New York and Pennsylvania consulting
on many projects. He designed and oversaw the construction of his home on Olive Street in Bolivar.
He was an avid outdoorsman, hunter, fisherman and forester who loved being in the woods and cutting
timber with his best friend Raymond Mosher. His expert timber management generated funds that
enabled his wife and four children to attain a total of eight higher education degrees among them. Buzz
was known for his colorful expressions and the humorous nicknames he bestowed on all.
Surviving in addition to his wife are a brother, Thomas J. Dunn of Bolivar, daughter Christine A. Dunn of
Burbank, CA, son Patrick J. Dunn of Bolivar, daughter Margaret Dunn Rollins and her husband Patrick M.
Rollins and grandchildren Catherine, Matthias and Elizabeth Rollins all of Canandaigua, NY, and many
cousins, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Barbara D. Morris and her husband Clifton J. Morris and a
son Timothy J. Dunn.
Friends may call the Schaffner Funeral Home Inc., 554 South Main Street, Bolivar on Friday August 25,
2017 from 2-4 PM and 7-9 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday August 26, 2017
at 10:00 AM at St. Mary’s Church, Bolivar. Burial will be at St. Mary’s Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to St. Mary’s Church, 111 Wellsville St., Bolivar, NY 14715 or to the American
Chestnut Foundation, 50 North Merrimon Avenue, Suite 115, Asheville, NC 28804 in honor of his efforts
to preserve this species.
The family would like to thank all of the wonderful caregivers at Manor Hills.
Schaffner Funeral Home
