Patricia C. Dunn (March 27, 1953 – December 4, 2011)[1] was the non-executive chairman of the board of Hewlett-Packard (HP) from February 2005 until September 22, 2006, when she resigned her position.
[5] After graduating from Terra Linda High School in 1970, Dunn entered the University of Oregon,[6] but dropped out to support her mother by working as a housecleaner.
[citation needed] HP announced on September 12, 2006, that Mark Hurd (the company's CEO) would replace Dunn as Chairman in January but she would continue as a board member.
In an official statement, Dunn noted "I accepted the responsibility to identify the sources of those leaks, but I did not propose the specific methods of the investigation ...
"[14] On October 4, 2006, Dunn and four others were charged by California attorney general Bill Lockyer with four felony counts: fraudulent use of wire, radio or television transmissions; taking, copying, and using computer data without authorization; identity theft; and conspiracy.
[16] The dropping of the criminal charges by Judge Cunningham came after Dunn refused to take a plea of one misdemeanor in exchange for four felonies before the preliminary hearing.
[citation needed] On December 4, 2011, she died at home in Orinda[1] – survived by her husband, three adult children, ten grandchildren, a brother, and a sister[20][21] – at age 58.