Hugh J. Dunne Jr.

November 12, 1928 – October 31, 2026

Hugh J. Dunne Jr., 97, of Salamanca, NY, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his family Saturday morning, October 31, 2026.

Born November 12, 1928, in Salamanca, NY, he was the son of the late Hugh and Esther Dunn. Hugh was a graduate of Salamanca High School, and the Class of 1952 New York State Ranger School of Environmental Science and Forestry in Wanakena, NY. He is also a Veteran of the United States Air Force, service from 1947-1950 in Alaska.

Hugh met his beloved wife, Mary Ann, while roller skating at the Roller Dome in Bradford, PA. They married on October 11, 1952, beginning a lifetime of love and building a lasting legacy together. After calling Allegany State Park home for 25 years, they settled in Scott Hollow, where they continued to build the life they cherished.

A true outdoorsman, Hugh deeply believed in Mother Earth’s ability to help heal and nourish. That belief guided his work and inspired his passions throughout his nearly 98 years of life. His work in the Allegany State Park spans 72 years, starting in 1954 to present day. Hugh began in the park as an Engineer Technician and worked his way up to be the Red House Superintendent (1970-1979) and the Administrator of the Allegany Region (1979-1990). He also served as the Red House, NY Town Supervisor in the early 70s. Following his retirement, he continued his dedication to Allegany State Park by serving as ASP Commissioner. Hugh has been continually driven to pass along the park’s living history with talks at the Allegany State Park Historical Society.

With every walk through the park, you can vividly see the lasting legacy of Hugh’s decades of hard work, dedication, and love for the land. He mapped out and developed the Art Roscoe Ski Trails, which he named after his mentor, Art Roscoe. Hugh also championed the creation of the covered bridge, fighting for the funding to bring what is now a beloved park landmark to life. Under his leadership in 1990, the Red House Bike Path was built. His dedication extended to the slopes, where he served as a member of the National Ski Patrol at Big Basin, Bova, and the Grosstal Ski areas. Hugh’s true love of wild turkeys inspired him and was instrumental in the first wild turkey trap and transfer program in 1959, to successfully repopulate turkeys in the northeastern United States. In 2016, he helped recognize Fred Evans with the National Turkey Federation, marking the site with a historical marker in the park.

Beyond his work in the park, Hugh devoted his time and energy to serving the wider community as a member of the Great Valley Planning Board and Chairman of the Route 219 Memorial, working tirelessly for a safer, four-lane highway since 1975. He was also a former member of the Lion’s Club, a board director for the Salamanca Trust Company, and a lifetime member of the Square Circle Club. Hugh was adopted into the Heron Clan as he held a close personal and working relationship with the Seneca Nation of Indians.

In 1986, Hugh started his own business and grew shiitake mushrooms out of oak logs to continue connecting with nature. Dunne & Son Shiitake Mushrooms operated for 15 years with his wife and his son, Steve. Hugh and Steve continued to grow and harvest shiitakes through 2010 to share with loved ones. In 2017, he began harvesting and processing wild grown chaga to help his family and friends feel its medicinal benefits. He also found great joy in hiking through the woods searching for beautifully unique tree stumps and roots to build one-of-a-kind pieces of furniture. Lovingly known as his “creations,” you can find many of his pieces in homes and local businesses.

Hugh was 100 percent pure Irish and took dozens of trips to Ireland to enjoy a pint with his dear Irish friends Andy Guthrie and Shawn Cusock. Together, they would “skip along” sharing wisdom, love, friendship, and that undeniable Irish Charm to everyone they encountered. Hugh also loved the time he spent with his friend, Craig Lisjak, sharing a deep appreciation and genuine fascination for local history. Whether they were reading about the past or hiking through the very places where history unfolded, they had a love of learning and a profound respect for the stories. When he wasn’t exploring, Hugh enjoyed his vibrant social life from Langworthy’s to Eddy’s to Katy’s to Sassy’s, valuing conversations with his friends everywhere he went. He particularly loved pulling the slots at the casino with his beloved brother-in-law, Tom Watcher. Legend has it, the two never left with a loss.

Hugh never lost his excitement for opening day of deer season, right up through last year. He loved watching his family head into the woods and hearing the stories they brought home. Hunting connected four generations of his family, a tradition he shared with his sons, grandsons, and great-grandson. His own adventures also took him out west for elk hunts and to Newfoundland for moose, adding to a lifetime of stories and memories.

While most know him as “Hughie” or “Hoot,” he was “Bompi” to his grandchildren (and their friends) and great-grandchildren. Convinced Bompi was indeed the voice of Donald Duck, there was never a Friday night without a fish fry, a Saturday without a trip to the dump and The Plaza, or a Sunday without doughnuts. Alongside his wife, known to us as “Nani,” Bompi took great pride in supporting his grandchildren at their sporting events, often politely letting the high school officials know when they’d made the incorrect call. Our childhoods were molded by our time at Nani and Bompi’s—learning how to fish and gut a deer, Bompi’s signature hook shot in a family basketball tournament, how to get home if you got lost in the woods, the endless supply of treats on the counter, and Christmas dinners that could feed the whole county. Bompi always had a song, a dance, and a finger point with a wink no matter the occasion—whether it was dancing at his grandchild’s wedding or selecting his pick as the proud owner of “Hughie’s Gobblers” in the family Fantasy Football League.

As his family grew, Bompi was always there with his years of wisdom and insight to help his grandchildren and their spouses, whom he immediately loved, being new chapters of their lives. He carefully selected the spot for Casi and Clint to build their home in the middle of the woods, shared heartfelt conversations with Tyler and Gina’s kids while picking apples, and traveled to Central PA to visit with Ashli, Jason, and Troy. Having Austin and Emery’s wedding at his home was especially meaningful, adding another special memory to a place that already held so much of his family’s story. Most recently, he celebrated alongside them as they welcomed his seventh great-grandchild.

Bompi shared an incredibly special bond with his great-grandchildren, Bruce, LilyMae, Ella, Serafino “Sonny,” Rocco, Lucy, and Adeline. He loved being part of their lives and sharing the things he enjoyed with them, especially the outdoors. Each brought him so much joy, and he blessed them with memories they’ll carry for a lifetime—including the time he somehow convinced Sonny to try sardines. A little bit of Bompi’s adventurous spirit lives on in each of them.

Hugh’s dream for his property was about more than the land itself. It was a place where he could share his love of nature with his family, and watch his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren all call the hollow “home.” His vision gave us more than a place to live, it gave us a life to grow up together, raise our children together, and share the everyday moments that become the memories we hold onto most. There is so much of him here-in the land he loved, the stories we’ll keep telling, and the family that gets to call this place home because of him.

At the heart of Hugh, there was always a desire to give and to help others. He spent his entire life showing up for the people around him and never stopped being grateful for the family and friends who made his life so full. His legacy lives on in the people he helped, the family he loved, and the countless lives he made better simply by being part of them.

Surviving are: his son, Steve (Lori) Dunne of Salamanca; his daughter Kelli (Jeff) Livermore of Hollidaysburg, PA; five grandchildren, Casi (Clint) DePew, Tyler (Gina) Dunne, both of Salamanca, Austin (Emery) Dunne of Colden, Ashli (Jason) Yoder of Frederick, MD, and Troy Livermore of Tyrone, PA; seven great-grandchildren, Bruce and LilyMae DePew, Ella, Serafino “Sonny,” and Rocco Dunne, Lucy Yoder, and Adeline Dunne; his brother-in-law Tom Watchter of Great Valley.

He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Mary Ann Dunne, and treasured son, Dennis “Scott” Dunne; his parents Hugh and Esther Dunn; sisters Mary Lou Smith, Carol Watchter, Jeanne Poole, and Donna Truman; and brother Jack Dunn.

Funeral arrangements are under the direction of O’Rourke & O’Rourke Inc Funeral Home, 25 River Street, Salamanca, NY

Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery.

In lieu of calling hours and services, Hugh wished to bring together friends from all walks of life for a living celebration of life, which was held on October 1st at the Great Valley Fire Hall. This day meant the world to him, and he made sure to personally speak with every single person who came. For Hugh, it wasn’t just about getting everyone together, but having the opportunity to spend time with the people who had been part of his life to share stories, laugh, and make a few more memories. He was so grateful to celebrate his life WITH the people he loved, rather than having them gather in his absence. It was exactly what he wanted.

The family extends a heartfelt thank you to Chris and Brad Whitcomb for their unconditional love and support throughout Hugh’s final days. Kindness, compassion, and generosity meant so much to Hugh, and those are the very things his family hopes will continue in his memory. Those wishing to honor Hugh’s memory are invited to make a contribution to Interfaith Caregivers, Inc. PO BOX 319, Olean, NY 14760, or online at www.interfaithcaregiversinc.org/donate.