Death date: Aug 24, 2024
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Austin Ward Dunham, August 24, 2024. Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Skylawn Funeral Home & Memorial Park, Hwy 92 at Skyline Blvd., San Mateo, CA 94402. Serv Read Obituary
Ward and his sister Gail
Ward right before heading to Vietnam
Ward's grave marker placed at the Dunham family plot in Albany, NY along side his Father, mother and sister's names. Both his father's and his stones were hand carved by Nicholas Benson.
I love you Dad and I miss you so much
im so sorry to hear about ward,its definitaly a huge loss, a friend in 80s and 90s, last time we got together was were he was working on broadway st s.f. he was a great friend and will be missed dearly RIP BUDDY
Ward was always quick to share a story, a laugh, and knowledge. Early on in the development of the Web, he shared his technique for making a bamboo pen. These instructions can still be found in the Wayback Machine's archive of the beginnings of the Web.
https://web.archive.org/web/19980208081408/http://www.catalog.com/gallery/Pen.html
Dear family of Ward, I was lucky enough to work with Ward at Enrico's on Broadway in 1981-1983 ish. I was the first woman to be hired and last more than a couple months. There were so many stories to tell I could write a book. I sure hope Ward did. I treasure his beautiful calligraphy cards that he wrote over the years. He was a good man and a loyal friend. Rest easy my friend.
Ward and I (and a bunch of other veterans returning to college) met in September 1965 , up at CSM in San Mateo . The Veterans Club there was The Place to be . We had cameraderie and fellowship that wouldn't quit . In those days , " We all got drunk ." ( meaning me , of course , and a few others. ) We had leaders before Ward : George Sanz of course , and some others . But Ward brought so much to our group . Beer mugs and sweatshirts , with the CSM Vets Club inscription were ordered and reordered . He was already heavily into Calligraphy and when we made up Party Fliers or Bar Tour Fliers , Ward did them using Calligraphy . He was electeed President in Spring of 1966 and would write weekend schedules of parties and bar tours on the blackboard In Calligraphy . Everybody there at CSM transferred away to 4 year schools which made it hard to keep in touch . I went to Chico State : Ward to SF State . But we were always close . Ward came to my wedding in 1968 . He and his brother Shell put my car on top of this small stone wall
outside of St Matthew's Church in San Mateo . In the 70's Ward had some parties at his place on Church Street . I got to bring a few friends from work . At work I remember my friend Chuck saying , " Do you know who I met there ? Sherriff Hongisto ! " By 2000 . Ward , Ron & Linda Asti , George and a few more of us started working on our first CSM Vets Club reunion . It was such a rousing sucess , we have had many more and stayed in close touch despite having now lost more thjan 80 % of our membership . RIP Ward .
I met Ward when I enrolled in the Literally Letters seminar at Ghost Ranch, Abiquiu, New Mexico. I had signed up for a class in Black Letter. Ward shook my hand and my first thought was “Thank God I’m left handed.” He nearly crushed my hand. I soon learned that Ward was truly a gentle giant. He was an excellent teacher. I continued taking classes from Ward every summer at Ghost Ranch for nearly 10 years. In later years, I met Ward and Linnea in New Orleans over New Years. We had such a good time and continued getting together every other year for nearly eight years. If you received a postcard from Ward it was a treasure. I wrote a review of one of Ward’s classes describing him as a truly gentle giant. A postcard came in the mail a few weeks later. “Damn! One swipe of your pen and my reputation as a thug lies in shards in the gutter!” Of all the 40 or so postcards I received over the years, it was my favorite. We kept in touch in later years by phone and email. I will miss him terribly. His passing will be felt as great sorrow around the world. My heart goes out to Linnea and Austin and the rest of his family. Rest in Peace Gentle Giant. 💜
Anne Boykin, College Station, Texas
