Cabrini mourns the loss of a beloved professor, Dr. David Dunbar

By Cecelia Heckman
June 7, 2016

Stage with Flowers and Pictures


The Cabrini College community lost another member on Saturday, May 21. Dr. David Dunbar died around 10 p.m. after being struck by a car on Lancaster Avenue in Wayne. The board of trustees had honored his promotion to full professor just hours before.

His death came as a shock when many students, faculty and community members became aware of his death the following morning shortly before Cabrini’s undergraduate commencement began.

Morgan Sperratore, graduate of the class of 2016, posted about the news on Instagram shortly after finding out. “We, as a science department, have our own angel looking down on us today as we walk at graduation,” she posted.

A campus memorial service was hosted on campus Friday, June 3, in order to give the community a chance to come together in mourning.

Hundreds gathered in Grace Hall to share memories and reflect. The service included reflections from students, alumni, faculty colleagues, research partners and other Cabrini College staff members.  

Dunbar was known as an extremely passionate and outgoing professor around campus. “Dr. David Dunbar has provided knowledge, passion for science, a shoulder to cry on, a high five and a wave down the hallway, and a great adviser and friend. He has done so much for myself and my classmates,” Sperratore said.

A message from Cabrini’s president, Dr. Donald Taylor, read: “Dr. Dunbar was a pillar of our community and the Cabrini family. He was dedicated to students, to academic research, to community engagement, and to our mission. Dr. Dunbar will be sorely missed by all.”

Many of his students felt the extra interest Dunbar took in furthering their science research experience. In past years, he had students present their work in the Pennsylvania Academy of Science and the National Council on Undergraduate Research Symposia.  He often worked directly on research with students and co-authored professional publications with them.

He also worked to remain an involved member of the community.  Over the years he chaired pivotal college academic committees and created opportunities for getting students involved off campus. He spearheaded student work with community environmentalists restoring Valley Creek and encouraged participation in the Special Olympics Eastern Regional.

“Dunbar was so passionate about everything he taught,” Brianna Ridgely, ‘16 alumnus, said. “I was only fortunate enough to have him for one class but I really enjoyed his enthusiasm for not only science, but for life.”

Dunbar had three children, Megan, Kyle and Eric. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in biology from Lycoming College and a Ph.D. in molecular biology from Lehigh University.

The college plans to continue to honor his loss through a memorial space on campus along the Eagle Road driveway as well as through the David Dunbar Fund for Undergraduate Science Research, which will fund undergraduate science majors to work on research with faculty mentors.

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Cecelia Heckman

Junior Editor-in-Chief/ Executive Content Manager of Loquitur. Digital Communications and Social Media major with a Business Administration minor. Student ambassador, Assistant Operations Manager of WYBF and show co-host, President of Alpha Lambda Delta, member of the Society for Collegiate Journalists and member of the Cabrini Honor's Program.

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