Stephen F. Dunlap

Stephen Fosdick Dunlap, 69, of Falmouth, formerly of Auburn, passed away on October 12 with his loving family by his side at Falmouth by the Sea following a long illness.

He was born in Lewiston, Maine July 19, 1941, the son of Elizabeth (Betty) Fosdick and Malcolm B. Dunlap. A native of Auburn, Steve attended Auburn Schools and graduated Kents Hill Preparatory School going on to attend Boston University.

Steve entered the insurance and bonding business with The Dunlap Corporation in 1963 when he became the fifth generation to join his family in running the successful agency. Steve served as President from 1973 until the company’s merger in 2001 with Willis when he became Chairman and CEO until his retirement in January 2007. Under Steve’s leadership, The Dunlap Corporation expanded and grew, being named one of New England’s largest and fastest growing insurance and bonding agencies. A strong believer in always putting the customer first, Steve personified the role of trusted advisor and advocate for his clients. Building lifelong friendships, conducting business with integrity, listening to the client and always going the extra mile were key qualities he exemplified. Steve was also an innovator, willing to take risks to solve a problem. One example, he was instrumental in creating various Workers’ Compensation self-insurance groups that Dunlap introduced and managed after the Workers’ Comp crisis in Maine in 1990. He was a strong believer in doing the right thing, no matter the cost.

In addition to his duties as Agency President, Steve was well-known for his energetic drive and commitment to many community, state and national organizations. He served as President of the Maine Better Transportation Association; President and Director of the Board of Trustees of the Pine Tree Council / Boy Scouts of America; Chairman of the Newcomen Society – Maine Chapter; Potentate and Trustee of the Kora Temple, Lewiston; Chairman, Board of Directors of the National Associate Members Council of AGC of America; President of the National Association of Surety Bond Producers; and Director of the Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers, President of the Auburn Business Development Corporation; Board Member for Key Bank of Maine; Director of the Maine Chamber & Business Alliance; Trustee of Kents Hill Preparatory School, among others. He received many honors and accolades during his personal and professional career including Maine AGC’s “MAC” award and the Maine Newcomen Society Award in 1984.

An effective fundraiser, Steve was generous with his time and resources in supporting many important causes and campaigns whether related to community projects, sponsorships at charity and association events, or political fundraising. He was not afraid to go “dialing for dollars” to ensure funds were raised to accomplish a mission. Despite all his commitments and activities, Steve always believed that family came first. He enjoyed traveling with his wife and cherished his summers at Sabbathday Lake in New Gloucester with his Chris Craft and winters skiing at Sugarloaf. He was a NASCAR fan enjoying annual trips to the Daytona 500 and races in Loudon, NH and enjoyed special trips with close family and friends.

Steve is survived by his loving wife of 47 years, Sharon A. Dunlap and daughters Deborah Dunlap Avasthi and her husband Varun of Durham, Jennifer Markson-Violette and her husband Gary of Hopkinton, Massachusetts; and sister Catherine Thorpe and her husband Robert of Auburn. Steve also leaves four grandchildren, Douglas and Ashley Markson of Hopkinton, Massachusetts and Evan and Elizabeth Avasthi of Durham; nephew Lane DeCoster and his wife Janis of Cheshire, Conn.; and niece Terrilyn Grasso of Falmouth, Maine; cousins Una Fosdick Tuck and her husband Bradford of Anchorage, Alaska and Carolyn Fosdick Phelan and her husband Russell of Auburn, David Durgin and his wife Eilene of New Mexico and Lane Durgin and wife Ginnie of Nevada.

A special thank you to his personal caregivers, Christine Plummer and Sandra Wysowski, and all the staff at Falmouth by the Sea.

Visiting hours will be held on Saturday, October 16 from 2:00 – 6:00 PM at the Jones-Rich-Hutchins Funeral Home 199 Woodford Street Portland, ME, 04103, Telephone 207-775-3763. A funeral service will be held on Sunday October 17 at 2:00 PM in the Kora Temple 11 Sabattus Street, Lewiston, ME 04240.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his memory to The Pine Tree Council / Boy Scouts of America, 131 Johnson Road, Portland, Maine 04102, Kents Hill Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 257, Kents Hill, Maine 04349, or Kora Temple, 11 Sabattus Street, Lewiston, Maine 04240.