Dennis Duggan
July 20, 1946 – July 2, 2024
Dennis Duggan, loving husband, father, and grandfather died peacefully at his home in San Antonio, Texas on July 2, 2024. Dennis lived his life in service to others and will be remembered as a kind, generous, and thoughtful man.
Dennis was born in Columbus, Ohio on July 20, 1946, to John and Josephine (Kirwin) Duggan.
He graduated from Ohio Dominican College in 1969 and began his military career as an officer in the Army Medical Service Corps. Shortly after arriving at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Dennis met a young army nurse, Rosemary Hennessy, at the Officers’ Club. That evening was the beginning of a love story that would last a lifetime. Dennis and Rosemary were married on October 3, 1970.
Dennis continued his dedication to service and country in Vietnam as a medical unit commander and medevac helicopter pilot. During the war, he earned the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star, and 19 Air Medals.
After completing his Vietnam deployment, Dennis and Rosemary welcomed six children; raising them all while being stationed in San Antonio and Killeen, Texas; and overseas in Heidelberg, Germany. Dennis also continued his education, earning a Masters of Public Administration at the University of Texas at San Antonio in 1983. His military awards during this time included Meritorious Service Medals and an Army Commendation Medal. He also received a Joint Service Commendation Medal for his role in developing a Tri-Service Combat Casualty Care Course to prepare military physicians for deployment to forward areas during periods of national conflict.
When Dennis returned to civilian life in 1986, he once again chose to help those in need. He worked as the Executive Director of the SAMM Shelter in San Antonio; the Director of the Center for the Homeless in South Bend, Indiana; and the Director of the Operation Bootstrap program at the San Antonio Housing Authority.
The family moved to Petoskey, Michigan in 1994. In northern Michigan, Dennis worked for the Boyne City Housing Commission and Catholic Charities in Gaylord before becoming an adjunct faculty member at North Central Michigan College in Petoskey. During this time, he served as NCMC’s coordinator for the Criminal Justice program as well as a government professor. After earning a Masters in Divinity from St. John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota in 2002, Dennis returned to NCMC as a full-time faculty member. He taught several courses including Introduction to American Government, Vietnam: Then and Now, History of Religion in America, and Death and Dying. He enjoyed being able to provide a platform for students to express their views, and to referee when necessary. He also served as the advisor for NCMC’s Student Veterans Association, helping veteran students adjust to a college environment.
Dennis’s Catholic faith was a very important part of his life and how he served others. For many years, he taught religious education classes and, with Rosemary, Pre-Cana classes to prepare couples for the sacrament of marriage. He served on the Pastoral Council at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church in San Antonio, and was also the RCIA Program Leader at St. Francis Xavier Church in Petoskey. He was particularly proud of his leadership role in providing logistical support for the papal visit by Pope John Paul Il to San Antonio in 1987.
On June 26, 2004, he was ordained a Deacon in the Diocese of Gaylord. As a Deacon, he served at numerous Catholic liturgies including weekly Masses, funeral vigils, burials, baptisms – including for four of his grandchildren – and Stations of the Cross. He had a gift for offering spontaneous prayers as well as delivering profound and thoughtful homilies during Mass.
After he retired from NCMC in 2015, Dennis and Rosemary moved back to San Antonio. They spent his last years enjoying the city where they first fell in love, traveling, and spending time with their adult children and grandchildren. Dennis had a special way with children, in particular his grandchildren, that earned him the title of “Baby Whisperer”. He seemed to have a gift for magically calming crying babies and never hesitated to get right down on his hands and knees to play.
Dennis was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2016. As his health declined, Rosemary lovingly cared for him. He often joked that he made a wonderful decision to marry a nurse all those years ago. He dished out sweet compliments, wry jokes, and words of thanks to his loved ones and caregivers even in his last days.
Dennis is survived by his wife, Rosemary; six children: Kerry (Tom) Ramsden, Bridget (Dennis) Felax, Mary Duggan, Sean Duggan, Rosaleen (Steve) Bloom, and Katie (Michael) Hubbard; 11 grandchildren: Elizabeth, Mary Grace, Ellie, Ethan, Miriam, Desmond, Ian, Anne, Grace, James, and John; and his brother John (Elaine) Duggan and sisters Linda (Ray) Fairchild and Joan (Vince Connell) Duggan.
The family would like to thank San Antonio Fire Department Station 39 for their caring assistance this past year.
On Wednesday July 10, 2024, the visitation will begin at 6:00 PM at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, San Antonio, Texas.
Funeral Service
Thursday July 11, 2024
10:00 AM
St. Marks the Evangelist Catholic Church
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: SAMMinistries, at www.SAMM.org or The Parkinson’s Foundation at www.Parkinsons.org.
