By Greg Hazley
Gary Dunlap, a 30-year PR counselor recently an executive VP at Edelman in Chicago, died March 17 after battling cancer for more than two years. He was 57.
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Dunlap, an 11-year veteran of Edelman, was an adept crisis counselor, handling high-profile recalls for clients like Pilgrim’s Pride and Winn-Dixie. Executive VP Harlan Loeb said Dunlap was someone you wanted on your team in a recall scenario.
Former colleague Michael Millar said Dunlap was a dedicated PR writing mentor. “His dry, but infectious sense of humor was never lost on colleagues, as he helped mentor them and shape their careers,” Millar said. “One colleague remembers how Gary reviewed a long and winded quote in a press release and injected ‘And then the man ran out of breath and died because his quote was so long.’”
Dunlap previously won a firm-wide writing contest at Edelman, using the $1,000 award to write and produce a play, “Sisters,” performed by and for Edelman staffers in the Windy City. He is also remembered as an avid movie and war buff, and Beatles fan.
Previous PR postings included Cook Marketing, Dragonette and Tassanni Communications.
The Rhode Island native is survived by his wife, Amy, and their two children, Cassandra and Jonathan. He also had two daughters from a previous marriage, Jenny and Stacey, as well as six grandchildren.
A memorial service was held Monday in Chicago followed by a private cremation.
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