Obituaries

Charles Dennis

July 13, 1932 - December 6, 2019

U.S. Veteran

Burial Date December 9, 2019

DENNIS: Charles L. Dennis, 87 of Quaker Hill entered eternal life on Dec. 6, 2019 at home in the comfort of his loving family.  He was born July 13, 1932 in Pittsburgh, PA, the son of the late Walter and Pauline (Harkins) Dennis. He was a Korean War veteran, serving in the US Army.  He graduated from Slippery Rock State University in 1958 and later received his M.S. form Purdue University in 1960, and from 1964 to 1970 at Fredonia State University while also doing Doctoral work at State University of New York at Buffalo.  Dennis was united in marriage to the former Margaret “Maggie” Erving on June 13, 1964 in St. Patrick Church in Rouses Point, New York, Mrs. Dennis survives him. Mr. Dennis was a Professor Emeritus at the US Coast Guard Academy in New London, teaching cadets scuba and water safety.  He taught and coached from 1970, retiring in 1999. During this time at the academy, he had a total of, 32 winning seasons as the swimming coach with a record of 351 wins, 51 losses, and 1 tie. Coach Dennis had 8 undefeated seasons, 8 New England Champions, 69 NCAA All Americans and 3 NCAA Champions. He was past president of New York State Divers Association, and Connecticut Council of Diving Clubs.  He was Certified American Red Cross Water & Safety Instructor and Certified swimming and diving official for collegiate and high school. He was a Hall of fame inductee at State University of New York at Fredonia in 1987 and Hall of fame inductee at US Coast Guard Academy in 1999. Mr. Dennis owned D&D Divers Supply, operating out of his garage in Quaker Hill. He taught diving in five YMCA’s and two collages.  He was affectionately know as, “Charlie D from Under the Sea”. His most beloved past time was skiing and he spent every winter on the ski slopes of Vermont. He helped his wife Maggie and daughter Nancy with The Dance Extension in Quaker Hill and Waterford. Besides his beloved wife Maggie, of 55 ½ years of marriage, he is survived by his two children. Charles “Skip’ Dennis and wife Stacia,   Nancy Dennis and husband John Gaviglio, and his two grandchildren, Morgan and Carter.  He was predeceased by an infant daughter, Margaret Carroll Dennis. His family will receive relatives and friends on Monday from 6 to 8 pm at the Impellitteri-Malia Funeral Home, 84 Montauk Ave., New London. Family and friends are invited to attend, a Mass of Christian Burial on Tuesday at 11 am in St. Joseph Church, New London. Followed by the rendering of Military Honors. Interment will be private.