Richard “Dick” Dunlap, profoundly quirky artist of multiple disciplines and cherished teacher, uncle and friend, passed away peacefully at his Anacapa Street home in Santa Barbara on June 2, 2026 at age 86.
Dick was born on Dec. 7, 1939 to Arthur and Maxine Dunlap in Seattle, Washington.
He graduated from Lincoln High School and attended the University of Washington, where he earned both his Bachelor and master of fine arts degrees in painting by 1968.
In 1964, Dick happily married the love of his life Arlene Ruth Flynn. The two moved to Santa Barbara in 1969, where Dick taught in the Art Studio Department at UC Santa Barbara until 1977.
Dick was a skilled musician of both local and international acclaim, having performed as either a soloist or ensemble member in places such as Berlin, San Francisco, Stockholm, New York, the Czech Republic, and countless other locations.
He was an expert virtuoso, composer, and arranger of jazz and avant-garde music for over 60 years, pushing the boundaries of genre and sound with a wide array of unique tools both physical and electronic.
However, his greatest musical moments were arguably achieved sitting behind a piano, where his fingers flew through jazz standards, and stunned audiences with his seemingly effortless improvisation.
One of his proudest projects was the hopelessly eclectic combo Headless Household, of which he was a part for 37 glorious years, releasing nine albums together.
In the last few years, the focus shifted toward addressing Dick’s collection of unreleased solo material.
Forever the modest king that he was, it took encouragement from Dick’s nephew Glen Dunlap, and his Headless Household bandmate Joe Woodard, to get these unheard gems out into the musical universe, with much more to come in the future.
Even at the height of his musical career, Dick never ceased to create visual art as well, experimenting with various styles, genres and mediums, filling stacks of sketchbooks and canvases throughout the decades.
Although his artworks have been featured in exhibits across Santa Barbara, other parts of the West Coast, the U.S., and the world, the majority of his works remain unseen — for now.
Anybody who knew Dick also knew of his endless intellect and wit, and his sense of humor that reflected the poignantly satyrical way he viewed the world.
His quips and jokes will be forever remembered and missed by those who were lucky enough to laugh at them: students, friends and family alike.
The Dunlap family would like to extend heartfelt thanks to Dick’s longtime caregiver Inna Shilo for her dedication and tenacity in ensuring Dick lived the best life that he could. Her diligence and nurturing were paramount in Dick’s last few years, and Dick’s love and trust for her was boundless.
Dick was preceded in death by his lifelong soulmate Arlene in November 2024. He is survived by his brother Jerry Dunlap; nephews Glen, Jim and Rod Dunlap; goddaughter Molly Nawrocki; and an abundance of other family members.
In accordance with “Dunlap tradition,” there will be no service.