Editor’s note: This story is by the Caledonian-Record, where it was first published on June 6, 2013.
The state medical examiner ruled Wednesday that Gwen Huneck’s death on June 2 was caused by suicide. Huneck, 61, died of carbon monoxide poisoning after burning charcoal in an enclosed, indoor space in her home.
Huneck was the widow of folk artist and author Stephen Huneck who committed suicide in Littleton, N.H., in January 2010 at the age of 61. She lived in a house on the Dog Mountain complex she and her husband built into a studio and tourist destination in the late 1990s. She was found dead there by a caretaker.
On Wednesday employees at Dog Mountain issued the following statement on their website.
Dog Mountain Has Suffered a Great Loss
It is with heavy hearts that we share with our Dog Mountain community that our dear leader and friend, Gwendolyn Ide Huneck has passed away.
Gwen never got over the loss of Stephen and missed him terribly every day. As you all know, after Stephen’s death, she devoted her life to continuing his legacy as a great artist. She continued to manage the gallery and she kept active in community affairs. She vowed to help turn St. Johnsbury into one of the most dog-friendly places in Vermont.
Gwen became a beacon for people who had lost loved ones and pets and we think she absorbed a lot of that emotion and she may have had difficulty in releasing it.
Many of you knew her as Gwen, Gwendolyn, and Mrs. Stephen Huneck. To us, she was “Gwennie.” Emails sent to the Gallery may not get checked regularly, but please post your condolences on the new Memorial Facebook page for Gwennie. This is a great, great loss and she will be sorely missed.
We love you so much Gwennie and we will do everything we can to keep Dog Mountain going.
With love and gratitude, Everyone here on Dog Mountain
Community response
In February of this year, the gallery at Dog Mountain partnered with Catamount Arts to open a new exhibition space featuring the artist’s work. “I am deeply saddened,” said Catamount Executive Director Jody Fried on Monday. “I think it’s a huge loss for the arts and culture community here in the region and in St. Johnsbury. It’s very sad.”
Fried said that while he doesn’t yet know what happened or how things will move forward, Catamount had been working with Gwen Huneck very closely. “This is very, very shocking news.”
Darcie McCann, Northeast Kingdom Chamber of Commerce executive director, said on Monday, “Gwen had a very big heart, and I am heartbroken to hear this news. People must understand that Dog Mountain was everything to Stephen and Gwen, absolutely everything. Dog Mountain was as much of an extension of their hearts as their dogs were. It was not just a business to them; it was their heart and soul. She was a very sweet woman, a dear friend, and I will really miss her.”
After her husband’s death, Huneck continued to run Dog Mountain despite ongoing financial troubles. In April 2010, she was turned down by the board of civil authority for a tax abatement.
She was able to avoid having the properties off Spaulding Road going to tax sale by making a substantial payment of $14,000 in July 2011. Taxes due this year total $19,001.03. As of Monday, payment toward the tax liability was $10,221.62.
At the time of Stephen Huneck’s death, Gwen said her husband was deeply depressed by financial troubles that forced him to lay off 15 employees in 2010.