Brother's heartbreaking ‘rare gift' funeral tribute as son of ex-Dunnes Stores tycoon laid to rest after death in NYC

The Irish Sun

11 hours ago

THE son of ex-Dunnes Stores boss Ben Dunne was remembered as a "sharp, quick-witted, funny and caring" man by his heartbroken brother at his funeral mass this morning.
Robert Dunne, 50, died peacefully in New York on Friday, August 1, less than two years after his father Ben died from a heart attack while on holiday in Dubai.
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Robert Dunne sadly passed away in NYC at the start of this month
Credit: RIP.ie
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Dunnes Stores CEO Margaret Heffernan paid her respects to Robert at his funeral this morning
Credit: Collins Dublin
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Mourners heard how Robert 'will be missed by so many'
Credit: Collins Dublin
The Castleknock native was remembered as the "darling son" of Mary and the late Ben, "dearly loved brother" of Mark, Caroline and Nicholas and the "beloved uncle" of Ben, Katie, Pearl and Joseph following his sudden passing earlier this month.
Mourners, including people who travelled from the USA, packed out St Mochta's Church in Porterstown, Clonsilla this morning as Robert's funeral mass was told how he "will be missed by so many".
Dunnes Stores CEO Margaret Heffernan and Independent TD Michael Lowry were among those who attended the service for the 50-year-old.
As people filed into the church, Live Forever by Oasis, which was one of Robert's favourite songs played through the speakers.
Robert's brother Mark described his sibling as a "real prankster" who "loved to share a good book" - but a "sparkle in his eye" was warning that he was about to pull one over you.
Mark said: "He'd tell you all about some brilliant novel he'd just read. A real page-turner he'd say. Couldn't put it down.
"Because he was generous like that, he'd buy copies for his friends and people he knew would really enjoy the book.
"The catch was, if you were lucky enough to get one of these books from Rob. You were also unlucky enough to discover right at the most dramatic moment that he had ripped out the last page and in its place the big bold letters 'HAHA'.
"It was maddening of course but that was Rob. He loved to make people laugh, often in the most unexpected ways."
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Robert had studied law in Trinity College before continuing his studies at the London School of Economics, with his brother Mark telling how one law degree "wasn't quite enough" for his sibling's "sharp mind and love of a good debate".
Mark said: "Rob approached his education the way he approached most things in life. With determination, curiosity and just enough charm to make even the driest legal theories sound interesting.
"And while his qualifications were impressive it was the friendships, the stories and the mischief along the way that truly left their mark.
"It was during these years that Rob forged many of his friendships that would last his whole life.
"He was sharp-minded and detailed always ready to probe a little deeper into a conversation to ask the question you didn't see coming."
Robert moved to America and began his career in Washington DC after finishing his studies in London before making the "life-changing" decision to move to New York City in 2002.
Mark said his brother was "captivated" by everything the Big Apple had to offer.
LIFE 'BECAME MORE DIFFICULT'
He said: "Rob didn't just live in New York. he embraced it. He loved its energy, its characters and its possibilities.
"I can recall so many visits where we'd head to his favorite steakhouse or bar and without fail he'd know the bartenders by their first name and they'd greet him like an old friend.
"One of his most beloved haunts was a place called Mimi's on Second Avenue where he'd often sit at the piano and play. Singing with the easy confidence of his while the yellow cabs whizzed by outside the window.
"And I can still see it now. Rob at the piano in the heart of Manhattan completely at home in his city creating his own New York moments."
Mark said his brother "could light up a room just by walking in".
He explained: With Rob there was always a new story to tell, sometimes funny, sometimes outrageous, always peppered with movie references and quotes, delivered with perfect timing and that signature spark that kept you hanging on every word.
"Those moments weren't just entertaining, they made people feel seen, included and part of something special and that I think was one of Rob's greatest gifts."
Mark told mourners that "life became more difficult for Rob" in more recent years, after the COVID pandemic sparked months of isolation and the passing of his dad Ben Dunne "hit him deeply".
But he said there are "pieces of Rob that will stay with us always".
'ROB WILL BE MISSED BY SO MANY'
Mark explained: "When I think about Rob, so many words come to mind.
"A raconteur, complex, sharp, quick-witted, funny, playful, loving, caring.
"He had that rare gift of being able to see the humour in almost anything, even in the most ordinary moments, and to share that humour in a way that drew people to him.
"He made us laugh, he made us think, and he made us feel part of his world.
"Whether he was telling a story peppered with movie quotes, sitting at a piano bar in Manhattan, or turning a quiet evening into a comedy scene, Rob had a way of making life bigger, brighter, and more memorable."
Mark continued: "And while today we feel his absence deeply, I know that for each of us there's an image of Rob that will always make us smile.
"It might be a flash of that mischievous grin, the sound of his laugh cutting through a crowded room, or the way he could hold court with a story that had everyone hanging on every word.
"Those memories aren't just echoes of the past, they're part of who we are now, stitched into our lives. They remind us that Rob's humur, his warmth, and his spirit are still here with us, and always will be.
"Rob will be missed by so many, by those who knew him well, by those who crossed his path briefly, and by everyone whose lives he touched in ways big and small.
"He was so deeply loved as a son, as a brother, as an uncle, as a nephew, as a cousin, and as a dear friend. He's left us far too soon. And the ache of that will stay with us."
Robert was laid to rest in Castleknock Churchyard after his funeral mass this morning.