Dennis was preceded in death by his mother Eleanor “Lee” Patricia Zakosky Gladd (Gladysiewicz), his father Walter Frank Gladd (Gladysiewicz), and his older sister Linda Gladd (Gladysiewicz) Dick.
Dennis is survived by his wife Jenny Anne Kuszyk, his son Nicholas Alexander Gladd, his brother Kevin Gladd and wife Sylvia of Fairfax, Virginia, his brother Paul Gladd and wife Holly of Potomac, Maryland, his brother-in-law Orvis Dick of Rockville, Maryland, his mother-in-law Patricia Walters Kuszyk of Harrisonburg, Virginia, father-in-law Richard Robert Kuszyk of Churchton, Maryland, his brother-in-law R. Nicholas Kuszyk and partner Tara Norvell or Queens, New York, and many first and second nieces, nephews and cousins.
Dennis was the second generation of Polish immigrants who came through Ellis Island and eventually settled in Irvington, New Jersey where Dennis was born. When Dennis was an older child, his father moved the family to Rockville, Maryland. Dennis graduated from Robert E. Peary High School in 1971. Dennis attended University of Maryland. Years after Dennis’s mother died and Dennis’s father was disabled, Dennis’s siblings sold the family home in Rockville, Maryland and bought hunting property in Fulks Run, Virginia, with the plan of Dennis helping care for their father, Walter, in the end years of his life. Walter’s health declined and he was moved back to Rockville where he died November 19th, 1995. Dennis stayed in Fulks Run and entered into the trade of cabinet making which he did for over 25 years until he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s.
After four years of dating, Dennis and Jenny married on June 20th, 1998, in Harrisonburg. Their time together spanned three decades of imperfect love. Dennis and Jenny welcomed their only child, Nicholas, into the world just days after 9/11.
Dennis was a strong, committed, loving husband, father, friend and human being. Dennis was hard working and fiercely protective of his family. He loved the outdoors, hunting, fishing and gardening. He had a deep appreciation of music and was an extraordinary cook, providing family and friends countless Sunday dinners and holiday meals that were truly memorable. What Dennis will be remembered most for is his wicked, quick, dark sense of humor, gentleness to animals and children, and rock solid unwavering calm in life’s most difficult storms. Dennis was active in his local recovery community and very much loved.
Throughout Dennis’s medical challenges, he participated in many medical trials at the University of Virginia, initially for his own treatment in the early 1990’s for his Hepatitis C, then later as a way to give back and contribute to medical advancements in Parkinson’s.
Dennis’s legacy is his son, Nicholas. Nicholas was Dennis’s pride and joy and the reason for holding on to life as long as he could.
A memorial service will be held 6:30 PM, Tuesday, September 17, 2024, the Harvest Moon, at Duck Run Natural Cemetery, 1886 Windswept Lane, Penn Laird, Virginia 22846.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Dennis’s honor to, Wildlife Center of Virginia
support.wildlifecenter.org
