I met Denis the first day of classes at Edsel in 1957. The incoming freshmen were assembling in the bleachers in the gym and he introduced himself and we soon became fast friends. We had some tumbling ability and attended an informal class after school coached by an older teacher. One incident everyone would like to forget invloved trying to pull Bill Swanger's parent's '55 Ford off the muddy shoulder of Rotunda Dr with Denis' '55. Bill popped the clutch and nearly pulled Denis' bumper off. The next morning Denis had to explain the damage to his Dad while Bill tried frantically to hose off the mud from under his parent's car.
We had a mutual interest in conservation which took Denis to the Upper Peninsula to study wolves. His love of the U.P. kept him there the rest of his life literally carving out a living as builder/carpenter/restorer/handyman/Jack-of-all-trades. The quality in his workmanship will be his legacy.
I enjoyed our last visit ten or so years ago. I saw his pristine collection of antique tools and sent him a plow plane, entirely unassembled. He lovingly restored the wood preserving its patina and then polished all the brass parts. He told me it had a place of honor on his fireplace mantel.
Last year I called him hoping he would be attending the reunion and offering him a place to stay. He told me he couldn't make the trip and mention a recent diagnosis of cancer. He expressed his condolences to me for the recent loss of my wife. Denis was a groomsman in our wedding.
Robert Wittersheim
I met Denis the first day of classes at Edsel in 1957. The incoming freshmen were assembling in the bleachers in the gym and he introduced himself and we soon became fast friends. We had some tumbling ability and attended an informal class after school coached by an older teacher. One incident everyone would like to forget invloved trying to pull Bill Swanger's parent's '55 Ford off the muddy shoulder of Rotunda Dr with Denis' '55. Bill popped the clutch and nearly pulled Denis' bumper off. The next morning Denis had to explain the damage to his Dad while Bill tried frantically to hose off the mud from under his parent's car.
We had a mutual interest in conservation which took Denis to the Upper Peninsula to study wolves. His love of the U.P. kept him there the rest of his life literally carving out a living as builder/carpenter/restorer/handyman/Jack-of-all-trades. The quality in his workmanship will be his legacy.
I enjoyed our last visit ten or so years ago. I saw his pristine collection of antique tools and sent him a plow plane, entirely unassembled. He lovingly restored the wood preserving its patina and then polished all the brass parts. He told me it had a place of honor on his fireplace mantel.
Last year I called him hoping he would be attending the reunion and offering him a place to stay. He told me he couldn't make the trip and mention a recent diagnosis of cancer. He expressed his condolences to me for the recent loss of my wife. Denis was a groomsman in our wedding.
No more stories, Buddy, rest in peace.