Novato Citizen of the Year to be Honored at 4th of July Parade

Editor's Note: This story and the accompanying photo were contributed by the Novato 4th of July Parade Committee.

Novato, CA — Alan Dunham has spent his professional life as an architect, all the while donating his time drafting plans for Novato’s future as a community volunteer.

One of the city’s most prominent architects of change, Dunham was crowned the 2015 Novato Citizen of the Year for contributing to various local causes for more than 40 years. He was caught by surprise and accepted the award in January 2016 during the annual Paint the Town Red gala at the Margaret Todd Senior Center.

He’s going to ride the goodwill tide again at the Novato Fourth of July Parade.

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But not until he volunteers at the Presbyterian Church of Novato’s annual Fourth of July Buckaroo Breakfast at the Redwood Credit Union parking lot at First Street and Grant Avenue.

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He plans to help at the Rotary Books and Art Around Town tables where folks can view patriotic art projects and kids' books or pick up free copies of The Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States.

“Alan is one of what I call the good guys,” said John Stuber, the 1973 Citizen of the Year and a longtime friend of Dunham. “He has a very practical side and understands what people need, not just as an architect but as a person. He has excellent relationships with his friends because he’s a very sensitive and compassionate person.”

On hand for the announcement in January were Dunham’s wife, Roberta, and their son, Craig, a prominent real estate consultant in Pittsburgh and the project manager behind the Pittsburgh Pirates’ ballfield, PNC Park (current clients include the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins and Uber). Dietrich Stroeh, chair of the Citizen of the Year Committee and a past winner himself, unveiled the surprise news piece by piece as he told the audience about the new Citizen of the Year’s penchant for watercolor landscape painting, flyfishing, Civil War history, bocce ball and reading joke books before going to bed each night.

“The biggest surprise after receiving the honor was the outpouring of kind words, smiles and notes from neighbors, church members, family, SIRs, fellow Rotarians and old school friends,” Dunham said, “and they are still coming.”

Dunham’s track record is awe-inspiring. Skimming the surface, he has played key roles for the Novato Rotary Club, the Novato Youth Center, the Novato Sons in Retirement branch, the Presbyterian Church of Novato, Lynwood Elementary School, the Hamilton History Museum, the Gary Gates Foundation, Novato Ecumenical Housing, the City of Novato Design Review Board and the Marin County Fair.

Some of his volunteer work took place during his professional career in architecture, and much more took place since his retirement in 2003. The East Bay native and Cal graduate has deep roots in Marin, dating to his first job in the early 1960s. He first came to Novato in 1970 to work with civil engineer John Hill, moved his family to Novato in 1973 and by the mid-1970s, had his own office near Grant Avenue and Seventh Street. That’s the time when Dunham really got involved in local volunteer projects.

Marty Wickenheiser of the Novato Rotary Club nominated Dunham, a past president of the local club, and said, “He is a remarkable person who has dedicated service to Novato since moving here.”

Dunham loves helping kids on behalf of the Rotary. He was instrumental in securing more than $11,000 in Rotary grants for scholarships and other academic projects and helped start the club’s Books and Arts Around Town monthly program for young children. It’s no surprise that Dunham participated in the construction of the Novato Youth Center and served on its various boards for many years.

“His passion for community service has been an unwavering inspiration to me,” Wickenheiser said.

Look around town and you’ll see examples of Dunham’s work.

• The Novato Police Department headquarters on Machin Avenue, designed in collaboration with another company.
• The pedestrian-friendly stretch of Redwood Boulevard between DeLong Avenue and Olive Street, which was transformed after Highway 101 was moved a few hundred yards to the east.
• All three the Novato Rotary Club’s Nova-Ro senior housing complexes, including community rooms and gardens.
• Six units of affordable housing on Encino Court.
• The Gary Gates Announcer’s Booth at the San Marin High School softball field.
• The Stafford Lake County Park gatehouse.
• The patio area at the Hamilton History Museum.

Even though his talents were concentrated on creating structures, Dunham has developed a passion for helping those without homes, too. He’s been the Rotary club’s lead in its participation in the Rotating Emergency Shelter Team, otherwise known as the REST Program, which is set up as a seasonal countywide shelter for the homeless. Houses of worship rotate in hosting the overnight guests, who are bused in for an evening meal and sleeping quarters, then bused back to San Rafael in the morning. Making the guests feel warm and welcome is a Dunham specialty.

“He champions the under-represented, such as seniors, youth and the homeless,” said longtime friend Kay Jones, another past Citizen of the Year. “His involvements have always been with the idea of bringing people together for fellowship and support. … He volunteers selflessly without any thought of recognition, and he finds joy working with people in all their diversity and commonality.”

Dunham thinks globally, too, mostly through his Rotary service. He initiated a world community service project to provide clean water to the Mactan area of the Philippines. He’s been Peace Fellows Chair for the local Rotary District and a Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow. He and Roberta have visited or hosted many of the past Peace Fellows around the world.

“He is still totally immersed in contribution,” Jones said. “I don’t know anyone who has given for that length of time and that deep of a commitment to this community like Alan has.”

The Novato Citizen of the Year has been awarded since 1971. See photos and biographies of past recipients at Paintthetownred.org.