John M. Dungee

Peacefully on the wings of prayer, John Mathews Constantine Dungee walked into the Garden with his Savior, Jesus Christ, and traded time for eternity, October 2, 2012. John, the first born of the late Morris Dungee and Lilda Mathews Dungee, was born in the afternoon on February 5, 1925, at the original Provident Hospital, Division Street, in Baltimore Maryland. His three Siblings, Mark, McClennon Lorenzo, and Charles, have all preceded him in death. He was educated and nurtured by the Oblate Sisters of Providence at St. Pius V School during his elementary years. A graduate of Frederick Douglas High School in 1943, John entered the United States Armed Services the same year. After serving in the South Pacific, he was honorably discharged on March 5, 1946. A cradle Catholic, John received the sacraments of Baptism, Holy Communion, Confirmation, and Holy Matrimony at St. Pius V Church, where he served as an alter boy. In 1949, he married the beautiful Cora Louisa Miller. They first met in an elevator in the Paca Pratt Social Security Building. It was love at first sight. From this union two daughters were born: Joyce Cecelia and Brenda Michelle. John, “Johnny Boy”, “Uncle John”, “Papa John”, Daddy John, and Daddy as he was affectionately known was a devoted son, brother, father, and family man. He shared his love of music with the entire family and spent time equally with both of his daughters. Joyce and he journeyed daily to Washington, D.C. to work at the Department of Justice, until his retirement. Post retirement, he worked at the Wells Fargo Security Agency with Brenda for 20+ years. Rosilyn, his gifted granddaughter, is the family member who inherited his deep passion for music and the arts. John was an accomplished pianist and soloist. He was a featured soloist on the Ted Mack Amateur Hour, during the early years of television. After his discharge from the army, he studied at the Maryland Institute of Art. There, he acquired many skills that he used in his professional life: first, as a draftsman with Department of Agriculture and later, as a photographer with the Justice Department. During the twenty-five years he served with the later agency he met and photographed many notable figures including Thurgood Marshall, Gerald Shur, and Robert Kennedy and his family. For many years he operated his own photography studio, The Dungee and Collier Studios, on North Avenue, in West Baltimore. He leaves to mourn a devoted and loving wife of 63 years, Cora Louisa; tow daughters, Joyce Cecelia Dungee and Brenda Dungee Rideout, the rock of our family and the only granddaughter, Rosilyn Angelique Richardson; sister-in-law, Gladys Dungee, many nieces and nephews near and for the son he never had, Isaiah Robinson, his protégé, a host of relatives and friends.

Tributes

John M. Dungee

February 5, 1925 - October 2, 2012