Dennis Leri
Dennis was a thoughtful man of the world. He went through many phases in his life: hippie, professional, builder, traveller, spiritual seeker, gardener, man of leisure and nature, critical contemplator. He lived in some of the most revered regions of the country including Wellesley, Boston, silicon valley, San Francisco east bay, Cape Cod, and Hawaii. He was a mechanical engineer who retired early to a nomadic and modest lifestyle. He was an explorer of the world, mind, body, and spirit; and fearless to try new things. He was a seeker of truth and often skeptical. He always kept his options open about what to do next and what the future could bring. Perhaps his soul mate was Maui where he spent most of his time near the end. Dennis passed peacefully on March 8 following a brief battle with mesothelioma at 71 years old. He is survived by his mother Irene, his sister Shirley, nieces Kimberly, Lindsey, and Brittany, and his six children: Jennifer (and husband David), Adrienne (and husband Chris), Damien, Isa, Ebrahim, and Arjuna (with partner Caitlin). Dennis was also a caring and loving grandfather to his seven grandchildren — Evan, Eli, Megan, Katelyn and Stephen, Clark, and Aiden, and three stepchildren — Matthew, Christopher, and Jessica.
In a typical day with Dennis, he begins by greeting you with a sincere Good Morning and asks how you slept. He offers advice for sleeping and eating better and he warns of foods or chemicals to avoid. He makes you an omelette with veggies from the garden and extra eggs. He steps lightly outside, in bare feet, to greet the sky and the birds. He checks the weather on his phone, scrutinizing the radar signals. He sits with you in pure patience and repose to enjoy a coffee or two and a bar of chocolate (or two). But when it’s time to be productive he gets his hands dirty: often literally, by digging them into your yard to rescue a plant or to improve your irrigation system. He works as a mentor so next time you can do this without him. He praises the sunlight, the buds on the branches, and the robin who briefly graces your fence. He works continuously even when you are barely helping anymore and it has grown too dark to see anything; he works until the job is done right.
Now night has fallen on this life that he spent caring for others and exploring the beauty of the world. It’s time to rest.
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Hi Adrienne
My deepest condolences to you and your family on the loss of your dad.
So very sorry Adrienne his lifes paths are very similar.Seems another good soul has left us. RiI.PMr.Leri
So sorry Adrienne to hear of your loss. Sounded like an amazing man. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family at this difficult time. May he Rest In Peace.
So sorry for you and your family’s loss.
Lynn and I are very sorry about your loss of your father
Dennis ALWAYS made such a strong impression on me with his passion, warmth, deep spirituality and loving intensity. I was so glad our paths crossed as much as they did over the years. His sparkle and verve will not be forgotten. I wish I could have said goodbye to him. Sending infinite love to your family.
Deepest sympathy. He lived his life to the fullest and he was able to have adventures that most can only dream.
So sorry to for your Loss. Its sad to lose a life so full of life.
Are condolences to all the families. He was such a nice man and so handsome.
My sympathies to all touched by his life. My thoughts and prayers are with the family during this sad time.
Adrienne I’m so so sorry for your loss….Reading his obituary and he was quite a guy….I see now where yiu get your strive fir life and adventure…may he rip….love Karin
So sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers to you and your family. What a beautiful tribute.
My sympathies and prayers to the family.
Sorry for your loss Aunt Irene, cousin Shirley and the rest of the family. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
I’m so sorry for your loss. Dennis was one of a kind and treated me like I was special and important. Rest In Peace Dennis.
Dennis was a thoughtful and good hearted man. I was so lucky to have him in my life. He never treated me with anything but love. Rest In Peace and I send my condolences to all of his family members. Much love.
I’ve had a lot of wonderful experiences with Dennis throughout the 25 years that I’ve known him. I am very grateful for that and my sincere condolences to his whole family! Rest in Peace, my dearest friend!
Dennis, always had love in his heart, he always aimed to do right. His level of spirituality was admirable to say the least. He was the hardest of workers and any work ethic I have, I told him, i owe completely to him. My condolences to the family
So sorry for your loss. Our thoughts are with you all.
Prayers for you all.
I have not seen Denny since I was a very young girl . He was always so sweet to me when I lived down the street from you all on King, and would come to get rhubarb from Uncle Albert out of your garden. After reading the obituary about his beautiful life, I wish I had known him as an adult.
Aunt Irene I love and miss you.
Godspeed
Cousin Lynn
Our condolences to all of his family. I have fond memories of Denny when we we kids on King Street. We were lucky enough to spend time with him here in Florida to see the kind, gentle man he had become. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all at this very sad time.
Dennis, man you went too soon. You were a calming presence in the late morning. You were a good person to talk to a great listener. I wish we had a couple more times to chat there was some stuff I would have loved to say. I love you, rest in peace. You left this planet far too young.
My heart goes out to you and your family at this time, Adrienne.
Dennis was and will remain a very dear and trusted friend as I recall countless hours of conversation with him, laughing and crying, enjoying delicious meals, talking about the family he loved so much, discussing important matters of the Universe, and never running out of things to say.
He remained so positive even after finding out about his illness, sharing stories about his stay in the hospital, making the doctors and nurses laugh.
In the past week, I have almost picked up the phone to share the latest happenings with him. I am sure that he is still patiently listening to us all as he always did, both on this Earth plane and beyond.
May you be transported on the wings of our love, sweet friend, and may the memory of your presence help heal the hearts of those loved ones you have left behind…
Adrienne, Damien, Jenn, and Family,
I am so sorry for your loss! My prayers and thoughts are with you.
Aloha Adrienne, This message is coming to you sometime after Beloved Dennis has returned to the Beautiful Light from which he came, and in which he remained throughout the course of his Life. I am so grateful to have been one of the many Souls whose lives he touched. I have written a poem to share here, and am in the process of creating a gift for you from the Aina, or sacred Land of Hawaii, that was so dear to your father. It is taking a while to complete, and in the meantime..here is a simple poem from the Spirit..for a man, and his family who are very special indeed; Warm ALOHA Blessings and Love, Maile Orme
Silent As
Silent as the whispering Dawn… Casting
its glow into the Golden
Morning.
Silent as the fleeting butterfly…
soundless wonder, transforming time;
Flitting past each blossoming flower
Into the Fullness of Day.
Silent as the dead of Night
That steals Souls Dreaming
of True and Lasting Freedom
and delivers them safely
Onto the other side of its Edge …
Into the Light ,
where Only True and Lasting Freedom
All Ways Prevails.