Thomas P. Dunne, Sr.: 1943-2021
Maggie Rotermund
Senior Media Relations Specialist
maggie.rotermund@slu.edu
314-977-8018
Reserved for members of the media.
01/08/2021
Thomas P. Dunne Sr., a former member of Saint Louis University's Board of Trustees and a noted business leader, died Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021. He was 77. Dunne served on the Board of Trustees from 2004 to 2013.
Dunne retired from Fred Weber, Inc. (FWI) in 2012, after serving as the company’s Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer for 26 years.
Born to Thomas C. and Adele A. (Maliner) Dunne, Dunne graduated from Christian Brothers College (CBC) in 1961. While still in high school, he began working summers as a laborer at Fred Weber, Inc.
He graduated from Washington University with a degree in civil engineering in 1965 and starting working full-time for FWI. He received his professional engineer registration in 1970.
Dunne worked his way up in the company, becoming vice president of construction at age 27. He became executive vice president in 1978; president in 1980; and chairman of the board and CEO in 1986 after a management buyout from the Weber family.
Under his leadership from the 1980s through his retirement in 2012, the company grew from $75 to $375 million in annual revenues.
In addition to his contribution on SLU’s Board of Trustees and Presidents’ Council, Dunne served on the boards of Missouri Baptist Medical Center and World Presidents’ Organization.
He served as a member of the RCGA Executive Board, the Archdiocesan Development Appeal, SSM Healthcare Central Region and Forest Park Forever. He volunteered his time at St. Patrick’s Center and Christian Brothers College Preparatory School.
Two scholarships for students in Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology can trace their origins to Dunne. He endowed the Thomas C. Dunne Civil Engineering Scholarship in honor of his father. Fred Weber, Inc. established the Thomas P. Dunne, Sr. Civil Engineering Scholarship to honor Dunne’s leadership with the company.
Dunne was preceded in death by his wife, Jacqualyn V. (Resa) Dunne.
He is survived by his children, Cynthia N. Dunne and Thomas P. Dunne, Jr.; six grandchildren, Jessica, Joshua, Jincy, Josey, James and Joy Dunne; and his companion for the past 20 years, Kathy L. Linsin.
A memorial Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 13, at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis, 4431 Lindell Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63108. Burial will be private.