Wallace Clayton Dunham
MADBURY, NH – Wallace C. Dunham, 91, died August 24, 2021, peacefully at his home. Wallace Dunham was Dean Emeritus of the College of Applied Sciences and Agriculture, Assistant President and Director Emeritus of the Maine Agricultural Experiment Station and Professor Emeritus of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of Maine. He was born on April 27, 1930 in Passaic, New Jersey, the son of Wesley H. and Marion (Anderson) Dunham. He was raised in Mendham, New Jersey and graduated from Morristown High School. He was a graduate of the University of Vermont. It was there that he met the love of his life, Janet Silsby. They were married on Christmas Eve 1953 while he was home on a brief leave from military service in the United States Army. Following military service, Dr. Dunham received his Master’s degree from the Ohio State University, and later earned his Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from Cornell University. He was a member of Alpha Zeta and the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. Dr. Dunham was on the faculty of the Ohio State University and the University of New Hampshire before going to the University of Maine in 1966. He was also an adjunct professor at the University of Rhode Island. He served as editor of the Northeast Journal of Agricultural Economics. Dr. Dunham also served on the Board of Directors of the Northeast Center for Rural Development located at Pennsylvania State University. In addition, he was Chairman of the Northeast Agricultural Experiment Station Directors. He was also member of the national Committee of Nine, which helped to establish priorities and oversee research in agricultural and natural resources in the nation’s land grant universities. Dr. Dunham was the author of numerous publications and served as administrative advisor to many regional and national research projects in various areas of agricultural economics and rural development. He was also the first recipient of the Maine Potato Board’s Award for outstanding contributions to the Maine potato industry. After he retired, he and his wife moved to Madbury, New Hampshire. He became active in a variety of civil activities. He was the past chairman of both the Madbury Planning Board and the Water Resources Board. He also volunteered as a guardianship monitor for Strafford County Probate Court and served in various capacities at the Community Church of Durham. He was involved with ASRP’s workforce program and the military transition program. He also worked on various educational assessment programs for Westat, an employee-owned resource corporation. He considered himself fortunate to be able to enjoy a long and active retirement. He loved to travel and was able to visit many places throughout the world. While he found all his travels enjoyable, the three northern New England States always remained close to his heart. Dr. Dunham was predeceased by Janet (Silsby), his wife of 63 years. He is survived by his three daughters: Susan Dunham-Smolinsky and husband Larry Smolinsky, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Cynthia Dyer and husband Donald Dyer, of East Falmouth, Massachusetts; and Carol Anne Vaicunas and husband Raymond Vaicunas of Randolph Township, New Jersey. He is also survived by four grandchildren, Nathan and Alyssa Dyer, and Rachael and Luke Vaicunas and great-granddaughter, Natalie Vaicunas. In addition, he is survived by a sister, Charlotte McCall of Far Hills, New Jersey and Bruce Dunham of Mendham, New Jersey. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to either of the following two scholarships: The Wallace C and Janet Dunham Prize, or the Wallace and Janet Ecology and Environmental Sciences Program Scholarship, c/o University of Maine Foundation, Buchanan Alumni House, Two Alumni Place, Orono, Maine 04469-5792. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, September 2, 2021 at the Community Church of Durham at 11:00 a.m. To sign our online guestbook, please go to www.purdyfuneralservice.com Arrangements are under the direction of Purdy Funeral Service, 2 Concord Rd., Rt 4, Lee, NH.Obituary
MADBURY, NH – Wallace C. Dunham, 91, died August 24, 2021, peacefully at his home. Wallace Dunham was Dean Emeritus of the College of Applied Sciences and Agriculture, Assistant President and Director Emeritus of the Maine Agricultural Experiment Station and Professor Emeritus of Agricultural and Resource Economics at the University of Maine. He was born on April 27, 1930 in Passaic, New Jersey, the son of Wesley H. and Marion (Anderson) Dunham. He was raised in Mendham, New Jersey and graduated from Morristown High School. He was a graduate of the University of Vermont. It was there that he met the love of his life, Janet Silsby. They were married on Christmas Eve 1953 while he was home on a brief leave from military service in the United States Army. Following military service, Dr. Dunham received his Master’s degree from the Ohio State University, and later earned his Ph.D. in Agricultural Economics from Cornell University. He was a member of Alpha Zeta and the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society. Dr. Dunham was on the faculty of the Ohio State University and the University of New Hampshire before going to the University of Maine in 1966. He was also an adjunct professor at the University of Rhode Island. He served as editor of the Northeast Journal of Agricultural Economics. Dr. Dunham also served on the Board of Directors of the Northeast Center for Rural Development located at Pennsylvania State University. In addition, he was Chairman of the Northeast Agricultural Experiment Station Directors. He was also member of the national Committee of Nine, which helped to establish priorities and oversee research in agricultural and natural resources in the nation’s land grant universities. Dr. Dunham was the author of numerous publications and served as administrative advisor to many regional and national research projects in various areas of agricultural economics and rural development. He was also the first recipient of the Maine Potato Board’s Award for outstanding contributions to the Maine potato industry. After he retired, he and his wife moved to Madbury, New Hampshire. He became active in a variety of civil activities. He was the past chairman of both the Madbury Planning Board and the Water Resources Board. He also volunteered as a guardianship monitor for Strafford County Probate Court and served in various capacities at the Community Church of Durham. He was involved with ASRP’s workforce program and the military transition program. He also worked on various educational assessment programs for Westat, an employee-owned resource corporation. He considered himself fortunate to be able to enjoy a long and active retirement. He loved to travel and was able to visit many places throughout the world. While he found all his travels enjoyable, the three northern New England States always remained close to his heart. Dr. Dunham was predeceased by Janet (Silsby), his wife of 63 years. He is survived by his three daughters: Susan Dunham-Smolinsky and husband Larry Smolinsky, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Cynthia Dyer and husband Donald Dyer, of East Falmouth, Massachusetts; and Carol Anne Vaicunas and husband Raymond Vaicunas of Randolph Township, New Jersey. He is also survived by four grandchildren, Nathan and Alyssa Dyer, and Rachael and Luke Vaicunas and great-granddaughter, Natalie Vaicunas. In addition, he is survived by a sister, Charlotte McCall of Far Hills, New Jersey and Bruce Dunham of Mendham, New Jersey. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to either of the following two scholarships: The Wallace C and Janet Dunham Prize, or the Wallace and Janet Ecology and Environmental Sciences Program Scholarship, c/o University of Maine Foundation, Buchanan Alumni House, Two Alumni Place, Orono, Maine 04469-5792. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, September 2, 2021 at the Community Church of Durham at 11:00 a.m. To sign our online guestbook, please go to www.purdyfuneralservice.com Arrangements are under the direction of Purdy Funeral Service, 2 Concord Rd., Rt 4, Lee, NH.
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