Kathleen & Paul Smith's RV Travelblog

Brian Dunlap

When Brian was two, after his afternoon nap he would halt in his descent of the stairs from the second floor if he thought anyone was looking at him.

"Don’t look at me!" He would scream with all his might. He would crouch down, cover his face and yell again, "Don’t look at me!" Yet in no time at all he was his usual smiling, happy, funny self.

Perhaps our early vision of Brian is a metaphor of his too short-lived life. "Don’t look at me!" For so much of his life this was Brian, in the background, a quiet, humble man. He became "one of the crowd" the guy in the "back" the one everyone "took for granted." He was always there. He could always be counted on. If there was a need, he filled it.

This short, Italian/Scottish man was short only in physical stature.

Not until he passed away did the Akron community reveal just how revered, how loved, and how truly appreciated this "little man" was. From the ordinary person on the street, in the office, in the parish, in the neighborhood, to the highest political person in Akron, came words of appreciation and reverence for this man whose life was so brief.

The family invited visitors to pay their respects July 14, 2006 between 4:00 and 8:00 p.m. at Hennessey Funeral Home in Akron, Ohio. Before the doors opened a line had formed out to the street. The line continued until 9:15 p.m. Some waited in line for two hours. All in line waited more than an hour.

The funeral director remarked that he'd never seen such an outpouring of love in his long professional life. Many of Brian’s loved ones were amazed at the impact Brian’s life had made on so many.

Akron’s mayor paid his respects and said he doubted there would be as many at his funeral. Many Akron police and fire department officers and staff also paid their respects to Brian and the family.

A thunder and lightening storm did not deter the visitors. One young man was completely soaked to the skin, running from his car to the funeral parlor. No matter, he stayed and joined the thousands who came to say goodbye to Brian and to offer condolences to Brian’s wife, Tina, and to Brian’s two young daughters, McKenzie and Sarah.

Visitors were in awe of the stalwart Dunlap tradition that saw Mother, Sister, Brothers, and Brother-in-law remaining in line for over five hours. Nieces and nephews returned again and again to stand with the family and to hear over and over again in what high regard Brian was held.

Tina, having witnessed the sudden death of her beloved husband, did not waver from her post near the body of her much-loved husband. Tina’s mother, sisters and brothers and brother-in-law kept to their posts in the receiving line alongside the grieving widow and her daughters.

Flower arrangements of all sizes and descriptions lined the room. But at last it was time to leave the building and to prepare for the day ahead.

Saturday morning’s Mass of the Resurrection was scheduled for 9:30. Before Brian’s body was removed from the funeral parlor to the church, more people continued to come to touch and bid a final goodbye to this gentle man.

A beautiful service, in a completely full church, witnessed the traditional, formal and final blessings over this husband, father, son, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, nephew, cousin and friend. All too soon the funeral cortège began it’s slow, winding way to Holy Cross cemetery for internment.

Two police cars led the procession, another police car drove between every twelve cars, and main intersections were manned by other police cars or a police motorcycle, whose occupants offered a salute to Brian.

As the cortège passed in front of the building that houses the Akron police department, fellow workers lined the street, bidding goodbye to Brian as his body passed by.

At work for the City of Akron as a repair maintenance man, Brian carried the tools of his trade in an old shopping cart on which he had attached his auto license plate from his stay in California. His fellow workers rolled the cart out to the sidewalk as a memorial for the cortège to see. To the side of Brian’s old shopping cart they affixed a large poster of Brian and the words "Gone From Our Lives, But Not From Our Memories." We're told it will become a permanent memorial.

And so we say "Thank You" to Brian and the impact that he has had on our lives and on the lives of so many.

We say "Thank You" to his mother and father; Pat and Loretta, who gave him birth and who nurtured and loved him. Each of them gave Brian the gifts he carried so well. Among many other traits, he learned from his Dad how to fix anything, to joke and to enjoy life, and to never say "No." From his Mother, in addition to many other gifts, he acquired a wonderful sense of humor, his integrity, a strong faith, and the love of his family.

We say "Thank You" to his sister and brothers whose love for him sustained him over the years and who shared so many precious times together. His interactions with them broadened his horizons, supported and encouraged him.

We say "Thank You" to his wife, Tina and his daughters, McKenzie and Sarah who were the stars in Brian’s firmament. They were the reason for his joy and hope. They were his first priority.

To the rest of us we say "Thank You" God for placing us along Brian’s life journey. For surely our lives have been touched by something unique: Brian’s Unconditional Love. We will consider our lives well-lived if on our passing we receive a tenth of the love and respect shown to Brian.

Our minds go back to the end of the funeral Mass and to the haunting music of the bagpiper playing "Amazing Grace." Brian was proud of his Italian heritage, and he was happy to also be of Scottish descendents. As the many mourners of Brian, we feel blessed to have witnessed so moving a time. Sad though our hearts are for Brian’s family, we recall the beautiful words sung during his final Mass;

And He will raise you up on eagle’s wings,
Bear you on the breath of dawn,
Make you to shine like the sun, and
Hold you in the palm of His hand.

And we feel that Brian’s work has just begun.....

We end with love, mingled with sadness that we did not have the opportunity to spend much time with Brian after he left California.

Dearest Brian, we hardly knew you.....

Paul and Kathleen

Life on the Road with Paul & Kathleen: "Not bad for two dumb kids from Ohio" - Proving once again that it's never too late to have a happy childhood

Our Lazy Daze at Kirk Creek Camp on CA Hwy 1 40 mi N of Hearst's Castle 11/24/03: Shortly after full-timing began.	Lazy Daze at Kirk Creek Camp 11/24/03