John Joseph Dunford of Brewster, New York, passed away peacefully at the age of 80 on August 30, 2025, in Danbury, Connecticut.
John was born on May 2, 1945, at Danbury Hospital. He was the son of John Thomas Dunford and Marion Scolpino of Brewster, NY.
A lifelong Brewster resident, John graduated from Brewster High School in 1962. He bled Brewster Green and was the Bears’ biggest fan. John was the president of his senior high school class and remained heavily involved in BHS activities throughout his life.
Following high school, John attended Merrimack College in North Andover, Massachusetts, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in 1966. He often shared fond memories of his college days and the lifelong friends he made there.
John was happily married for 59 years to his high school sweetheart, Phyllis (Mennonna) Dunford. The couple were married on January 23rd, 1966, in a memorable ceremony held during a blizzard at St. Lawrence O'Toole Church. The couple went on to hold many other notable events as they loved entertaining and socializing.
John’s career spanned several industries and always reflected his deep commitment and loyalty to people and the community. He owned and operated a driving school in Brewster in the late 1960s and then went on to teach at the Harvey School in the 1970s. He later served as the Customer Service Manager at New York State Electric & Gas (NYSEG). In addition, he and his wife Phyllis started the Brewster Village Florist, which operated from the mid-1970s to 1996.
John’s greatest legacy came through his decades of public service in Brewster and the Town of Southeast. He was elected Mayor of the Village of Brewster, serving from 1977-1979, and later held multiple terms as a Southeast Town Board Councilman. He also served as Commissioner of the Putnam County Board of Elections. In 1988, John brought the Big Apple Circus from Lincoln Center to Brewster High School, where he was famously seen riding an elephant.
Finally, John served a four-year term as the Town of Southeast Supervisor from 2003-2007. In recognition of his many contributions, the John J. Dunford Civic Center in Southeast was named in his honor. He also co-authored the first history book of the Town of Southeast, ensuring that the story of the community he loved would be preserved for future generations.
His gift for making every encounter, whether at the grocery store or post office, a connection with those faces familiar and unfamiliar, made him not only the literal Mayor, but also the mayor of the people. He will be deeply missed by family, friends, and the countless members of the community whose lives he touched.
John will be remembered for his charismatic personality, quick antidotes, gleaming smile, and infamous dance moves, which were loved by many. He had a way of making others laugh while also sharing wisdom.
John is survived by his wife Phyllis, his sons: Mark Dunford of San Diego, California; Jonathan Dunford and Kristen Kulas of New York City; Adam and Katelynn Dunford of Newtown, Connecticut; and his two grandchildren, Emily and Jack Dunford of Newtown, Connecticut.
