Harry Edward Dunkelberger

On Friday, 10/4/2024 Ed Dunkelberger passed peacefully surrounded by his loving family after more than nine decades of exceptional life. Ed was surrounded by his five children and most of his grandchildren, great grandchildren, sons/daughter in law and our mother JeanAnne watching closely from above to lead him to his next spiritual journey.

Ed was born in Hollywood, CA to Helen Black and decorated Marine Corp Colonel, H.E. “Dunk” Dunkelberger on April 16, 1930. As a military family, with his late sister Helen Jean Shaw, they traveled much through his earliest years including Nicaragua, (where he survived a major earthquake) to Hawaii, Newfoundland and eventually landing in Washington D.C. He graduated top of his class at Woodrow Wilson High School, attended Yale University on an academic scholarship, enlisted in the Marine Corp after his sophomore year (’50-’52) and returned to Yale to complete his undergraduate studies (magna cum laude) and go on to graduate from Yale Law School where amongst other accolades was Editor Yale Law Journal. Ed was offered a position at Covington & Burling in Washington D.C., met and married Jean Anne Driscoll, built an impressive career as partner, and thought leader in food and drug law. Upon retiring at age 72, Ed was asked to join Promontory Interfinancial Network, LLC to lead the effort on state banking legislation which culminated in setting new law in all 50 states. Ed was a loved and respected figure at Promontory for 18 years and retired soon after his 90th birthday.

While his academic and professional accomplishments were outstanding, Ed was most proud of his beloved family and wife of 60 years, Jean Anne. Together they built a life filled with love, laughter, countless friends, five children, seventeen grandchildren, and six great grandchildren. Years of memories were formed during summers on Cape Cod, European adventures or by the backyard pool with his ever-growing family. Ed was an excellent tennis player, bridge master, avid reader of classic literature and mystery novels and solved every crossword or cryptic crossword he attempted. He was a lifelong fan of the Washington “football team,” Nationals and local college basketball teams. Ed was a humble, kind, funny and brilliant man adored by all he touched.

He is survived by his five children; Anne Worthy (Skeeter), Amy Sturtevant (Stick), Teddy Dunkelberger (Beth), Sally Daniel (David), Emily Cunniff (Chris); 17 grandchildren; Eleanor, William, Caroline, Kate, Peter, Edward, Dillon, Reeves, Sophie, Henry, Callen, Brooke, Sarah, Clare, Annie, Mark, and Sean; and six great grandchildren; Annie, Teddy, Nell, Matthew, Ava and Camille. There will be a private family burial on November 9, 2024.