Edward C Denné III

Obituary

Note: Writing an obituary is so tough.   I thought I would try to help in advance.  I’ve written this on August 23, 2022 and edited May 13 2023, and as I’m still kicking  you might need to edit parts – do what you think best, I totally trust your judgment.  {[Gayle’s note – only slightly edited – you knew I wouldn’t be able to resist, Bubba.]}  It was kind of cathartic to write and of course obits are seldom in the first person but I decided why not.  I worked hard on this so might as well take some credit.   So, here it is.

Obituary of Edward C, Denné III

It pains me to admit it, but apparently, I have passed away. We all know this happens eventually to everyone but that’s simply not something I wanted to hear about me, much less experience.  If you are reading this, my passing is now an entry in our genealogy – bummer as I wasn’t finished.

On April 19, 1951, my parents and older sister celebrated my birth and I was introduced to all as Edward Clarence Denné III, the son of Edward Clarence Denné Jr. and Anne Louise [Townsend] Denné and younger brother of Sherrill Anne Denné [married later to Thomson Kent Reed Heinrichs RIP]; then of Edgewood near Pittsburgh, PA and later moving to northeast Philadelphia. .  You know better than I the date I died and my age so insert here with the cause of my demise being peritoneal carcinomatosis – a complication of colon cancer.  After several major operations and a dozen chemo sessions, in August 2021 I was proclaimed “cancer free” – a survivor.  I was crestfallen when diagnosed with cancer yet again in August 2022.  I’m always annoyed when the cause of death is omitted from an obit so there you go.

From as far back as memory serves until fifteen years of age, I enjoyed long, wondrous summers with my mother’s parents, Ray and Adele [Hedges] Townsend in East Hampton, New York.  Being the descendent of virtually every founder of the Village of East Hampton, my grandmother would tell me “You can count on everyone you pass in town to most likely be a relative – so best behavior, always.”  She often regaled us with family stories and kindred relationships – a magical excursion into the past as people long gone became real to us with her words.   I attribute to her my joy of history that fostered my pursuit of researching and documenting all our family members possible and tracing the life of our homes as well – more than a hobby, a true addiction.

I went to Cheltenham High School, was first chair trumpet, and on to Eisenhower College to be taught to think, I think.  I was so fortunate after graduation to land a job with Dun & Bradstreet –  and even more so, to then marry the girl one could only dream of, my Gayle Ann [Fuess] Denné, November 24, 1973 – the most important day of my life.  After 20 years with D&B, the last 6 as Vice President Systems Development – North America, I landed a senior position with Skinder-Strauss Associates becoming COO and Publisher in their family of companies.  After 23 years there, I retired in 2016. 

During all the years, Gayle has been instrumental in keeping the home fires burning, managing our finances, developing an art program sold coast to coast, being the glue of the family and creating the most memorable vacations for us.  I was always a bit reluctant to leave work on vacation for fear they might find my absence to their liking but thank goodness Gayle prevailed.  I also loved sailing, watching our ponds full of frogs, having a morning coffee and an afternoon libation on the porch with my main squeeze, and living and working on our old circa 1841 house (moved to its current location under duress in the late 1950’s to enable the building of the Round Valley Reservoir).  We’ve totally redone this house since taking stewardship in 1983 and added 5 additions and all of the grounds.  Gayle and I have always been a great team – just couldn’t seem to stop.  I always knew she had my back –  indeed all this could not be accomplished without her “gentle” prods and unbelievable stamina.

My parents have passed as have my cherished in-laws, Frederick John Fuess and Dorothy Mae [Stewart] Fuess – I missed them all greatly.  I am survived by my wife, Gayle Ann;  our kids who have grown into fine adults who demonstrate so many positives it makes me so proud of them all – Matthew Townsend Denné, Joshua Stewart Denné [both of Millstone, NJ], Carrie Eliza [Denné] Ferguson and her husband Sean Patrick Ferguson [Brooklyn, NY] ; our granddaughter, Matt’s daughter, Jocelyn Anne Denné; my sister Sherrill Anne [Denné] Heinrichs [Birmingham MI];  brothers and sister-in-law Douglas and Laura Fuess [Marcellus NY], Jeffrey Fuess [Pottstown PA] and Martin Fuess and David Fleischman [Pittsburgh PA]; nephew Nathaniel Thomson Reed Heinrichs [mostly Japan] and nieces Alayna Fuess [Albany NY] and Mariah [Fuess] Krepps [Pottstown PA].   I am blessed with more family and friends too numerous to list here but you know who you are.

To my family – In the end, remember… do your best, follow your heart, and appreciate new discoveries daily.  Oh, and be happy, keep smiling and always take on challenges.  If you want to, you can look for me in the evening sunset or with the earliest spring flowers or by the ponds. You know I’ll be there in one form or another.  Or look for a sailboat out on the horizon…  I’ll leave you with this…please don’t cry because I’m gone; instead be happy that I was here. (Or maybe you can cry a little bit  – after all,  I have passed away, you know).

To my friends – If you are so inclined, please consider a donation to the American Cancer Society. You are right, requests for donations annoy me too but know that cancer has no political party and no one can buy their way out of death, and you definitely cannot buy a stairway to heaven.  A cure is so needed and may have delayed my writing this. 

Love you forever Gayle Ann – biggest hug and a wet one.  LYM.  Onward and upward – I hope.  At least now I know the answer.  Best.