Dennis Blair Lewis Sr.

HOWLAND TOWNSHIP – Dennis Blair Lewis Sr., 67, passed away at 7:45 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2009, at the UPMC Presbyterian Hospital in Pittsburgh while waiting for a heart transplant.

Dennis was born March 14, 1942 in Youngstown, the son of E. Blair Lewis and Eileen Price Lewis.

He was a 1960 graduate of East High School in Youngstown and captain of their championship football team.

Dennis was appointed to the United States Military Academy in West Point, N.Y. He played football for the Black Knights and graduated in 1965 with a B.S. in Military Engineering.

Following graduation and commission in the U.S. Army, Dennis married his high school sweetheart, Marie E. Verdreame on June 12, 1965. Shortly thereafter, he completed Airborne training and Ranger school, then received orders to Vietnam. He served in the Vinh-Binh sector from December of 1966 to December of 1967 as a platoon leader, company executive officer, and advisor to the South Vietnamese Army. He received the Bronze Star, Combat Infantry Badge, Vietnamese Star of Gallantry, and numerous other decorations.

After returning from Vietnam with a rank of Captain, Dennis was stationed in Ft. Monmouth, N.J. and Iowa State University in Ames. During this time, he was an Assistant Professor of Military Science at the Iowa State University of Science and Technology. In 1970, Dennis resigned his commission and returned to Warren with Marie to raise their family.

Along with his brother, Carter, and son, Dennis Jr., Dennis owned Lewis Construction, a multi-faceted company serving the insurance restoration industry, commercial and residential real estate management and development. He founded this company in 1970 in the basement of his home. His vision has led the company through its 39th year. Dennis loved his work and was always optimistic for the next business venture.

Dennis lived large, contributing vast amounts of energy and treasure in making this world a far better place to live. He understood that service is the currency of our place in society. He plainly exhibited that conviction through his contribution in the Army, as a businessman, a concerned citizen, and as a dedicated family man. His guidance and gifts to Northeast Ohio Adoption Services, founded by his sister, Barbara, helped social workers find families for over one thousand special needs kids.

Outside of family and friends, Dennis’ main passion was Army Football. He was a season ticket holder for many years and looked forward to attending games, both home and away. Dennis’ attendance at key events with coaches and players and his support of the “A” Club were recognized by his receipt of an ARMY “A,” one of his happiest and proudest moments. He enjoyed discussing the finer points with his lifelong Band of Brothers. Closer to home, he assisted Congressman Tim Ryan in recruiting and interviewing applicants to the service academies.

Dennis’ greatest gift was the time he willingly gave to those who needed him most. His extraordinary compassion for helping those in need, included his friend, Tim Vogel, a classmate from West Point. Dennis was his guardian as Tim suffered a debilitating disease. Dennis took care of him until the end, ensuring Tim’s dignity and pride were intact. Dennis’ family, including his elders, always sought his council on their most pressing life issues. His knowledge, experience, and most importantly his caring and support made him the pillar of the family.

Dennis enjoyed playing poker and cards with his friends. He also enjoyed golf, although that was not always evident while playing with him. He was a lifelong member of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Youngstown, where he sang in the boys choir.

He is survived by his wife, Marie E. Lewis; a son, Dennis B. Lewis Jr. his wife, Amy, and their children, Madeline, Audrey and Vivian of Howland; a daughter, Eileen M. Mutolo, her husband, Vince, and their children, Vincent and Trevor of Summit, N.J.; a brother, Carter P. Lewis and his wife, Carole of Howland, and their children, Shayna, Cara and Barbie; a stepmother, Carolyn Lewis of Howland; a brother-in-law, Angelo Verdreame of Austintown; a sister-in-law, Beverly Gronvall and her husband, John of Boardman, and their children, Jonathon, Lauren and Rachel; two step-sisters, Lynne (Dan) Toth of Tarpon Springs, Fla. and Sue (Joe) Schmidt of Pagosa Springs, Colo.; and a foster sister, Jessie Phillips of Warren.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Barbara L. Roberts, the founder of Northeast Ohio Adoption Services.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions be made to Northeast Ohio Adoption Services, 5000 E. Market St., Suite 26, Warren, OH 44484.

Friends may call from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 3, 2009, at St. John’s Episcopal Church, 323 Wick Ave. in Youngstown.

Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. at the church.

Dennis will be buried with full military honors at West Point Cemetery in West Point on Sept. 9, 2009.

Arrangements were handled by the J. Bradley McGonigle Funeral Home and Crematory Inc. in Sharon.

As the son of a West Point graduate, I was often asked why I didn't go to West Point. I immediately replied, "Because I never heard any good stories about it." Of course I'm referring to Beast Barracks, the plebe harassment, special shower formation, and so on. But it didn't occur to me until much later that I was focused on the wrong stories. The right stories were about the lifelong friendships. About guys who would drop whatever they were doing to celebrate the good times with friends or help each other during the bad. About guys who willingly risked their lives for each other. The ability of this place, of gray walls, gray uniforms and gray skies as my dad put it, to turn strangers into brothers, is amazing. This place called West Point is truly built on love. Love of country, love of duty, and love for your brother. During the services at home last week, people were commenting that his obituary was one of the best they'd ever read. Initially, I was flattered because Eileen, Amy, Carter and I put considerable effort into it. Then it occurred to me--we didn't write it--my dad did. He was the one who lived and did all those things. We just put them on paper. My dad was a man who thought and lived large. He had intense focus on everything. Whether you were the subject or the beneficiary of that focus determined how you felt about it. I learned early as a child that honesty was the best policy--you couldn't BS my dad, no matter how hard you tried. Even in business, if he had a tenant that was struggling to pay rent, if the tenant was honest and asked for help, it was always given. But heaven help you if he thought you weren't being straight with him or were dodging his phone calls. My dad really had his priorities straight. I asked him once why he didn't go into a profession, like medicine or law. He said that he never wanted a job where he had to show up everyday to get paid. For my dad, that would have been too limiting. He would not have been able to attend school plays, drive 20 hours to watch a 6-minute crew race, spend long weekends at my sister's, inviting himself to play golf at Stichweh's or Parcells' clubs, jet off to California to visit Seymour and Kuhn and mix in a little business while there, or take the time to care for Vogel. He set the best example for living with a noble purpose. I serve on a couple community and non-profit boards. I wondered why my dad never had. Although I never had the chance to ask him, I think it was because he preferred to help the people in his life directly and generously gave of his time and money. As my sister commented to me a few months ago, my dad's life has been one marked by huge events: Captain of his high school championship football team; an appointment to West Point; the untimely and tragic death of his mother; marrying my mom, his high school sweetheart; Ranger school; going to war in Vietnam; starting a business; surviving a sudden-death 15 years ago, and being listed for a heart transplant. My uncle Carter said it perfectly: we are grateful for the last 15 years, and sad for the next 15 years that we didn't get to spend with him. It is a testament to his strength that he never let his heart condition affect his daily life. He viewed the medications and doctor visits as more of a nuisance and inconvenience to his schedule than any kind of a disability. A couple of years ago, Cammie Lewis, the brother from S. Carolina, forwarded Tim Vogel's personal effects to our office I helped my dad go through them. We came across the flight logbook of Tim's dad who was shot down and killed during the Korean War. Right after his dad's last entry, 8-yr old Timmy wrote, "I will pick up where my daddy left off." I now know exactly how Timmy felt--both proud and sad. So rest easy Dad--we've got it from here--you've trained us well. Dennis Lewis Jr. Old Cadet Chapel West Point 9 Sep 09