Tributes paid to martial arts mentor Sean Dooney, 71

Summarised from The Northern Echo's report · Updated 5 Nov, 22:50 · Archive

Sean Dooney, a County Durham martial arts mentor, has died aged 71 after a brief illness.

Sean Dooney from Newton Aycliffe died on 31 October after a brief illness, aged 71. He had spent the past 15 years overseas, first in Gibraltar and later in Portugal, teaching martial arts, practising yoga and helping others, whilst remaining a well-known figure in his home town.

Dooney met his wife Lee through a yoga class she attended after a friend's recommendation. The couple married in 2023 after being friends for several years and went on to teach martial arts and wellness classes together, including Irish stick fighting. His wife described him as 'the most gentle soul' who dedicated his life to helping others. She said he was 'a guide, a teacher, a master of martial arts' who 'always had time for everybody else' and 'never lost his passion for teaching'.

Read the report

• Tributes paid to Newton Aycliffe's 'gentle soul' martial arts mentor who died aged 71A County Durham martial arts mentor has been remembered as “the most gentle soul” after his death aged 71.The Northern Echo · 5 Nov, 17:30

In this story: Sean Dooney · Lee Reubens-Dooney · Newton Aycliffe · County Durham

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