Morton Dunlop passed away on October 2, 2022 at his Chelsea home. Born December 8, 1938 to Mildred (Parker) and Adam Dunlop, Mort grew up in Detroit with older sister Joan and younger brother Greg. As a child, Mort developed a passion for magic, nurtured by his family, that stayed with him his whole life.
Following high school at Catholic Central High in Detroit, Mort joined the Coast Guard Reserves. Mort loved the structure, exercise, competition and rowing that the Coast Guard provided and said it was one of the best experiences of his life. Mort also began work as an electrician as a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 58, where he was an active member until his 2000 retirement.
Mort met his love Rita (Vella) in 1956 at a dance at Saint Gerards Youth Club in Detroit. During Mort’s time away with the Coast Guard, Rita wrote him a letter every day. Mort and Rita were married on September 26, 1959 and shortly after came the bounty of four daughters. Over the years, the family would expand to include eleven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren –the caring and close family dynamic of the Dunlop Clan was something Mort took great pride in.
Throughout his life, Mort excelled at taking the ordinary and transforming it into something extraordinary. Be it the created illusions for his magic shows, the elaborate centerpieces crafted for the Festival of Tables, or the friendly robot that now resides at the Chelsea Community Garden, Mort was always seeing potential in building something fantastic out of found objects.
This curious way of looking at the world inspired lifelong learning, especially through classes with the Adult Learners Institute. Mort’s other interests included fast cars, loud music, gardening, cooking, and reading.
Mort is survived by his wife Rita, brother Greg, daughters Laura Failer (Mark), Linda Meloche (Chris), Deborah Hubbard (Todd), and Jennifer Correia (Bill); grandchildren Chelsea Cockrell (Brian), Emily Murphy (Frank), Hannah Cavicchio, Carly Meloche, Clare McMillan (Adam), Jackie Meloche, Gwen Hubbard (Ben), Isabelle Correia, Marty Hubbard, Kirby Hubbard, and Dennis Bulger; and four great-grandchilden: Charlie, Shiloh, Alex, and Cal.
A memorial service is planned for Monday, November 7, 2022 at 11:30 a.m. at Silver Maples of Chelsea. Visitation will be Sunday, November 6, 2022 from 2-4 p.m. at Staffan-Mitchell Funeral Home and on Monday, November 7 from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at Silver Maples of Chelsea.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Faith in Action, 603 S. Main St. Chelsea, MI 48118, or Doctors Without Borders USA , PO Box 5030, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5030.
