Passion + Principle: Meet Marilyn Dunn

Born into what she describes as a “poor but rich” household, Marilyn’s childhood was shaped by parents who valued education and human dignity above material wealth. “We weren’t poor,” she says, quoting Bruce Springsteen, “we just didn’t have money.” Her father, a cab driver, would spend his breaks introducing Marilyn and her brother to New York City’s best museums – the Metropolitan, the Museum of Modern Art, the Cloisters. These impromptu cultural experiences would stay with her throughout her life.

Her mother’s influence was equally profound. During World War II, when their community boycotted a local German grocer, her Russian-Jewish mother defended him and continued to shop there – gifting Marilyn a lasting lesson about compassion and critical thinking. “He’s not a Nazi,” her mother would say. “He’s a decent human being.” This early display of humanitarian courage would shape Marilyn’s approach to teaching and life.

Even as a child, Marilyn showed the determination that would become her hallmark. For example, she tells the story of skipping the second day of kindergarten to play in a nearby park instead. When the park supervisor spotted her, he asked, “Aren’t you supposed to be in school?” Marilyn explained she wanted to learn to read, not play in the sandbox.

She was marched back to her classroom, where she had to explain the reason for her absence to her teacher. “She said, ‘Okay, I will put aside 10 minutes of every day. By the end of the year, you will be a reader,’” Marilyn smiles. Her teacher’s response demonstrated the power of being heard – a lesson Marilyn would later pay forward in her own classroom.

She met her husband, Mort, at a dance at New York’s Hotel Ansonia. Initially skeptical of the man in the velvet-collared jacket who announced he was “looking to get married,” she eventually found herself charmed. When Mort later revealed his plan to become a doctor, she supported his dream, building a 50-year marriage marked by romance and mutual respect. Her husband’s joy in his work – “waking up singing in the morning” – reinforced her belief in the importance of pursuing one’s passions.

As an English literature teacher, Marilyn brought her distinctive blend of style and substance to the classroom. She refused to conform to traditional teacher stereotypes, wearing leather clothes and short skirts. When students questioned her about her attire, she replied with her characteristic directness: “You have to look at me all day long. I might as well look as good as I know how to look.”

Her unconventional approach extended beyond fashion. In the turbulent 1960s, when many young people refused to salute the classroom flag, Marilyn chose dialogue over discipline, fostering an environment of mutual understanding. “I got to know how they thought, and they got to know how I thought, and that was the key to their hearts.”

Today, Marilyn continues to live a full and active life. Though a longtime resident of San Francisco, she still travels to New York City to catch Broadway shows like Oh Mary! with her grandchildren. Her love for fashion remains undiminished – her walk-in closets feature a stylish collection of designer clothing, all in various shades of black, punctuated by playful splashes of color.

When asked about her pastimes, she admits, “I have a hard time entertaining myself, but the thing I turn to most is reading.” Coterie’s curated library features a vast selection of titles for Marilyn to choose from. She revisits beloved classics by George Eliot, Henry James, and Edith Wharton, and she devours works by Joyce Carol Oates, finding truth in the author’s unflinching portrayal of life’s difficulties.

At 90, Marilyn navigates the complexities of aging with grace and honesty. Some days she feels 45; others remind her of her age. She faces these challenges with humor, adaptability, and of course, with the reliable support of a Coterie staff that she regards as friends. “They are just some of the nicest people I have ever met. They take care of everything…and go out of their way to be kind.”

As she springs up from her sofa and readies herself to meet a friend for dinner, Marilyn reminds us that vitality has nothing to do with age and everything to do with possessing curiosity, conviction, and a whole lot of style.