BANGOR – Thomas B. Dennis Sr., 76, left the caring and loving staff of the Maine Veterans Home, Bangor, to reside in the house of the Lord forever Aug. 29, 2010, after a long struggle with dementia and congestive heart failure. He was born Jan. 13, 1934, in Washington, D.C., to Mary B. Stanton-Dennis and John W. Dennis. He was proud of his Irish-Catholic heritage. His home was in Washington, D.C., but as a single parent, his mother enrolled him in the Catholic boarding school, Linton Hall Military Academy, Bristow, Va., after graduation from Bell High School, Washington, D.C. He followed in his father’s footsteps and joined the Coast Guard Dec. 31, 1953, and served until Nov. 18, 1957, with four additional years in the reserves. Tom joined Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, D.C., April 21, 1958, and retired Aug. 30, 1980, as a lieutenant. He held many positions and served many precincts. His training was extensive and he has many certificates of accomplishment. Whatever Tom did in life was done to the best of his ability and he always gave it his all. He always said what he meant and meant what he said. He was working on the streets long before a class formed at the police academy. Tom graduated second in his class. Tom and his wife especially enjoyed the K-9 Corps with Guapo, the dog he trained with the aid of Mr. Cahill. This was a special tour of duty. They enjoyed the friendship of the team and belonging to the “Squares Club” which held an annual crab/ shrimp feast each summer at Hopkins cottage on the Chesapeake. Although they were not into seafood at the time, they enjoyed being at the kid’s hot dog table and learned a lot about cracking crabs. He was asked to lead the detective unit in No. 12 Precinct and also served for the internal affairs division. After retirement, he became director of security at Madison Hotel, Washington, D.C., where he provided security for many a dignitary; presidents, Nixon, Reagan and Bush Sr., not to mention the likes of Frank Sinatra. He was most impressed with the Dalai Lama. He also received a kiss from Clyde the orangutan who stayed at the Madison. He also served as director of security at Ramada, Ballston, Va. He loved to swim and won a championship in Washington, D.C., when he was a teen. Tom devoted his vacation time to his family at the beach. Dancing and country music were his favorites, and he would say, “these boots are made for dancing.” He played baseball for a police department team sponsored by Robertson’s Crab House. He also was a competitive card player. Mostly he enjoyed his family, friends and neighbors in Virginia and later in Bangor. He was an avid Washington Redskins fan, and enjoyed all the old John Wayne and Clint Eastwood westerns. He was a helpful, generous person with a great sense of humor. Tom will be missed by all who knew and loved him. Surviving are his wife of 54 years, Sarah “Sally” (Bowden) Dennis; daughter, Mimi D. and partner, Anthony W. Gallo, and grandchild, Mitzn Mai Ouida Gallo, of Bangor; son, Thomas B. Jr. and his wife, Wanda M., and grandson, Ian Kane Dennis, of Austin, Texas; and cousins, Carol O’Brian and family of Annapolis, Md., Frannie and Jimmy Sturgis and family of Westminster, Md., and Ted Jones of St. Michaels, Md. He left behind Dr. Kenneth M. Brooks who saved his life 30 years ago; and a childhood friend and fellow policeman, Hubert “Sonny” Cane and his wife, Carol. Also dear to him were fellow police friends, Carl Beatty, Bill Cagney, Bill Gearheart, Joe Latella, Paul McConnel, Bob Murray, George Suter and Bill Tensley, and their families. Tom will be especially missed by his nephew, Roy Hendricks and wife, Sue; nieces and nephews of the Hendricks family, Bob, Sally, Patty and Bill; half sister and half brothers of the Dennis family, Sharon, John, George and Bill. He was predeceased by his first child, Carrie Irene; half sister, Sue Dennis; parents, grandparents; his faithful dogs, Guapo and Bronson; and his beloved cats, Meow and Nike. Surviving are dogs, Otto and Mainer; and cat, Bella, who brought him much joy. A memorial service will be held at a date, time and location to be announced. Those who wish to remember Tom in a special way may make gifts in his memory to Maine Veterans Home, 44 Hogan Road, Bangor, ME 04401. A service of Brookings-Smith, Bangor. Condolences to the family may be expressed at www.BrookingsSmith.com.
THOMAS B. DENNIS SR.
