His Name was Denis

His face may seem familiar to you. His name too: Denis.

You might have shaken his hand at a conference or fundraiser at which he was a guest speaker. You might have exchanged a few words with him at the Mission’s Annual Ken Reed Golf Tournament—an event he never missed. He regularly visited the Foundation office, where he helped with fundraising campaigns. You might have heard his voice on the radio, or seen him on TV, in an ad we produced to raise awareness of the issue of homelessness.

A few days ago, Denis passed away near his home after a year-long battle with illness. He was 56 years-old.

Denis was one of the Mission’s most loyal volunteers; not only did he give of his time, he generously gave of himself—sharing his personal story with thousands of people in the hopes of making a difference in someone’s life.

In 2002, Denis came to the Mission for help where he was able to quickly resolve his situation—he found an affordable apartment, devoted much of his time to volunteering and never looked back. You can read a letter he wrote to our donors in spring 2013 here.

Today, the entire team at the Old Brewery Mission mourns the loss of Denis—a kind, selfless man who impacted the lives of so many.

We wish to express our deepest condolences to his family and friends, and to all who had the good fortune to know him.