Teena Dunn, a retired McAfee & Taft attorney fondly remembered by her colleagues for her intelligence, wit, laughter and kindness, passed away on March 25, 2026, at the age of 67.
Small in stature but with a large personality, the lasting impact she had on the firm and her colleagues was even larger.
“Funny, sensitive, sincere, tiny, athletic, competitive, talented, smart, and wise – the kind of person we all want for our friend with traits we all strive to attain,” said Janet Bennett. “Teena never shied away from inquiring about your struggles or her willingness to help. She greeted you with such warmth, a smile, a hug, and a mischievous little giggle. Teena does not realize how many lives she has impacted by just being herself – a good person.”
Teena graduated with honors from the Oklahoma City University School of Law and joined McAfee & Taft in 1999 when the firm’s Aviation Group was still in its formative years. By the time she retired 23 years later, it had grown to become one of the largest and most respected practices of its kind, serving clients both nationally and internationally.
“Teena was one of the first lawyers I hired to work with me in the aircraft practice,” said Frank Polk, founder of the firm’s Aviation Group. “She was a breath of fresh air – so positive, charming, smart, clever and interesting — and a great lawyer! She was always dependable and there when we needed her, all while being a single mom and trying to manage the rest of life in the process. She made our practice better and made my life better while we were working and even better when we organized an after-work strategy session at one of the local drinking establishments! I am eternally grateful that she was in our practice and in my life for these last 30 years.”
As the firm’s global aviation practice grew substantially over the years with the addition of new attorneys, paralegals and support staff, Teena was always there to provide guidance, support and encouragement.
Maria Gonzalez remembers Teena as an amazing friend, partner, mentor, and all-around wonderful person. “I had the privilege of working with Teena since I started at McAfee. She was a great mentor and always took time to explain things to me, as well as other new lawyers and paralegals that joined our Aviation group. Teena had a heart of gold and always had the ability to light up a room with her smile and laugh.”
Working in a fast-paced environment and communicating with clients in virtually every time zone across the globe on multimillion-dollar transactions everyday can be stressful. But that didn’t dampen Teena’s collaborative spirit or smile.
“It was always a pleasure to work with Teena,” said retired paralegal Linda Steinke, who started with the firm in 1993 as the Aviation Group was just being formed. “I specifically say ‘with’ because she never made you feel like you were working ‘for’ her. She was always pleasant and had a sparkling personality and fabulous spontaneous sense of humor. She was a dear friend and remained so after retirement. I am truly sad we will never see her smiling face or hear her boisterous laugh again.”
For all her contributions to the firm, Teena’s lasting legacy is the many lives she touched along the way.
“Teena brought so much light, humor, and intelligence into the lives of those around her. She was spunky, incredibly funny, and sharp in all the best ways,” said Michelle Gerwitz. “Teena also had her signature quirks that made her unforgettable—she famously limited herself to “just two drinks” (alcohol, of course), and her go-to was always Tito’s, whether in a cosmopolitan or simply with soda. It’s these little things, paired with her larger-than-life personality, that made her so special.”
It was that very special and effusive personality that inspired Janet Bennet to customize her ringtone for incoming calls from Teena.
“I have always selected ringtones on my work phone for my attorneys and co-workers,” said Bennett. “I choose something that reminds me of their personalities. My ringtone for Teena Dunn: ‘Don’t Worry, Be Happy’ – that kind of says it all. Teena was so loved by so many, including me. She will be missed.”
Gerwitz agrees. “More than anything, Teena was an outstanding person and an even better friend, and her absence will leave a profound emptiness in the hearts of all who knew her. She will be deeply missed, fondly remembered, and often thought of. I loved her dearly.”
Teena is survived by her daughter Brittney and son-in-law David, brother John and family, and countless friends, family members, and former colleagues.