Richard C. Dungan's Obituary
Richard Calvin Dungan “Dick” passed to his heavenly adventure January 24th, 2018, embraced in love by his daughter, son-in-law, and caretaker.
Dick was born in Celina, Ohio, September 6th, 1930, to Ellen Staeger Dungan and Guy Richard Dungan. His quest for adventure started early. By the time Dick was six years old he had already traveled to 23 states with his parents. The family arrived in Miami Beach October 3rd , 1933, where his father, a world champion swimmer, taught swimming at Smith’s Pool and ran The Dungan Swim School at Tahiti Beach in Coral Gables. The family migrated north along Florida’s west coast and landed in Palmetto, Florida in 1936 where the original homestead still exists.
Dick was a musician, businessman, race car driver, sailor, fisherman, pilot, yachtsman, outdoorsman, farmer, gardener, and entrepreneur. He was often referred to as “the most interesting man in the world”. His greatest love was for his friends and family, especially his children: Caroline Dungan Bass (Brett), Jason Richard Dungan (Justine), Glenn Arden Dungan, and Diane Elizabeth Duncan; grandchildren: Tyler Bentz, Justice Bentz, Jason Dungan, Guy Bass, Sarah Bass, Nelson Bass, and Ryan Haake; and granddogs: Lilly, Marley, and Oliver.
Dick attended Palmetto Elementary and was asked to be a member of the Palmetto High School marching band where he played the cornet and trumpet as its youngest musician. In 1947 Palmetto High School merged with Bradenton High School to become Manatee County High School, where Dick graduated. Dick attended Stetson University and in 1949 was a founding member of the Florida Beta Chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon Fraternity.
After two years at Stetson, Dick returned home to join the family business, Palmetto Pump & Irrigation Company. Dick’s acumen for business took Palmetto Pump to a multi-faceted enterprise stretching across the small agricultural towns of Florida. Always staying true to his motto of staying one step ahead of the crowd, Dick incorporated the use of fax machines and a Sperry Rand UNIVAC computer system to PPI in the early 1970’s.
Dick made time to pursue many passions in life. He was a factory racecar driver for Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Lotus and Fiat-Abarth. In 2001 Dick was inducted into the Hall of Fame for the Sports Car Clubs of America. He raced at Sebring, Daytona, and Walterboro to name just a few. His favorite car, the Mercedes-Benz 300SL Gullwing, took him to the winners’ circle.
Dick’s interests turned to the water and sailing. Dick’s sailboat, Feather II, proved to the sailing world that Dick Dungan “did it well”. He later worked with legendary sailor, designer, and friend Charley Morgan to design and build the ocean racing sailboat, Sabre, which went on to win, among many other races, the famed SORC St. Petersburg to Ft. Lauderdale and Miami to Nassau Races. Sailing wasn’t Dick’s only water passion. Fishing became a highlight in his life, especially with his son, Jason. Whether it be wading the banks of Emerson Point dodging the likes of Charlie the bull shark, venturing to “The Steps” in the Gulf of Mexico to land marlin, chumming for shiners in Boca Grande to catch snook, trolling the waters of the Bahamas for wahoo, or fly-fishing in the mountains of Montana and Idaho, Dick knew where and how to catch fish. He was so passionate about fishing that in 1983 Dick joined with other past commodores of the Bradenton Yacht Club to form the Sam Crosthwait Memorial Fishing Tournament, which is still going strong today.
Dick decided he needed to take to the skies and secured his private pilot license for multiengine airplanes as well as becoming instrument rated. His various planes included a Beechcraft Bonanza, an amphibious Lake Aircraft, and a twin-engine Piper Aztec. Dick loved flying his friends and family to various destinations around the US and Bahamas. Many a story has been told about those adventures and the close calls that Dick so expertly averted. His final flight, December 17th, 2017, put him in the pilot’s seat of a Cessna 172. His head was clear, and his hands were calm as he flew along the coast of Fort Lauderdale. The ocean always called to Dick, and his passion for sailing and fishing turned him into a yachtsman which included two Buddy Davis Sportfishing Yachts: Tortuga, then Kukaro. Friends and family were always treated to adventures on the high seas with Dick at the helm, or in many instances, in the engine room. It didn’t matter if something went amiss, Dick knew how to fix it. Forever the outdoorsman, Dick spent countless hours in the woods with his children, grandchildren, and dog, Max. He had, and taught, a great respect for guns, wildlife, and nature. Dovegate will never be forgotten. Even though Dick was a merchant to the farming community, he was a farmer at heart. On the Old Homestead Farm in Palmetto, Dick planted close to 100 Lychee trees, many of which were planted from air layering Dick did himself. He knew this was a favorite fruit of his children and left a growing legacy to be enjoyed through the years. Dick’s knowledge of farming and irrigation proved beneficial to the Palma Sola Botanical Park. He and other volunteers worked countless hours to propagate plants from the original Manatee County Nursery and set the groundwork for what is now a well-known destination in “Old” Palma Sola. Ever the entrepreneur, Dick’s ventures included Heather Hills Golf Course, Palma Sola Golf Course, Race and Race, Dungan Kwik Switch, and many other business ventures and relationships. His interest in theatre included acting and supporting The Manatee Players, and his interest in aeronautics included involvement in the Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority.
Richard Dungan was known by many names: Richard, Dick, Dicky, Mr. Dungan, Dungan, Mr. Dick, RC, Captain, Captain Dungan, Dunky, Old Man, Poppers, Pops, Dad, Daddy, and Poppy. Regardless of what you called him, if you knew him, you knew he had purpose in life and always knew where he was going and how he was going to get there. He truly loved those that he loved and lived life well. He is missed. The stories will continue to be told of the life, love, and adventures of Richard Calvin Dungan.
A service will be held at 2:00PM on Saturday, February 10th, 2018, in The Chapel at Skyway Memorial Gardens, 5200 US Hwy 19 North, Palmetto, FL
What’s your fondest memory of Richard?
What’s a lesson you learned from Richard?
Share a story where Richard's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Richard you’ll never forget.
How did Richard make you smile?