Robert L. Dennis

A lifelong resident of Byram, Robert’s roots were deep at his cherished Cranberry Lake.

Robert “Bob” was born in Dover, NJ on August 10, 1936 to the late Warren and Marion (Rose) Dennis. Bob attended Byram School with 8 other pupils and graduated from Newton High School. He was greatly involved with the community; serving as President and Governor of the Cranberry Lake Community Club for many years. Additionally, he was a member of the Historical Society of Byram Township.

Essentially working for the same company for over 35 years, Bob witnessed many changes. He was first hired by Bell Laboratories and completed his career at Lucent Technologies.

He excelled at his job, but he did not define his success merely in terms of career achievements. He did so by setting the example and being the best version of himself every day. He was trustworthy and hardworking, waking every morning at 5 am and driving the company van, ensuring he delivered his carpool to work on time for 15 years.

It was at Bell Labs that Bob met his wife of 62 years, Shirley (Cowell) Dennis. Their first date was, of course, at Cranberry Lake, ice skating. You can say that Bob was a ladies’ man, having lived in a house with his wife and 3 daughters.

Our community has lost a true historian. He was an encyclopedia of knowledge when it came to Cranberry Lake, Byram Township and Sussex County. Bob was a humorous storyteller and those fortunate enough to know him would always walk away with a smile on their face, having learned something new.

Fascinated by meteorology, Bob tracked and compiled the most extensive amateur weather data in Cranberry Lake history.

As a teen and into adulthood Bob enjoyed photography and had a passion for steam trains. The former Lackawanna railroad trains ran past his grandmother’s farm “Rose Farm” and icehouse. Around 1836, the Morris Canal and Banking Company purposely flooded the pond on Bob’s family’s farmland to form the Cranberry Reservoir or Cranberry Lake. Cranberry Lake served as a feeder for the canal in times of drought. It was because of the train depot at Cranberry Lake that the Grand Hotel and a recreational center was developed as a resort destination for train passengers.

When we could pry him away from the lake, Bob enjoyed traveling. Annual road trips to the Outer Banks of North Carolina with his family and journeys to Maine with his “Shirl Girl.” On his several trips to Europe, he was captivated by the different cultures as he was forever curious and learning.

Always tinkering, his daughters would call him MacGyver as he could jerry-rig and fix just about anything. His signature everyday look was a pair of dickie work pants and a pocketed shirt (all shirts MUST have pockets to hold his glasses) and a pair of L.L. Bean moccasins.

Quick witted, honest, quirky to a fault and a stubborn force to be reckoned with was this man.

Bob leaves behind his wife Shirley (Cowell) Dennis, his daughters Susan Dennis Murnane, Sandra Dennis Pickett and her husband Wade and Holly Dennis Rausch; his grandchildren, Megan (Michael), Daniel, Noelle, Kari, Luke, Matthew, Drew, and Bradley and his great-grandchildren, Isla and Autumn.

Robert is now at peace, joining his loving parents and brother, Glenn Dennis.

When Bob’s health started to fail, he was cared for by his family, which allowed him to live out his final weeks in the home and community he cherished.

Bob was laid to rest privately at Andover Cemetery. A Celebration of Bob’s life will be held at a date to be announced.

We love and miss you, Nipper.

If you wish to make a donation in honor of Bob, please consider Cranberry Lake’s “Save Our Bridge”, dedicated to restoring and preserving the historic Cranberry Lake footbridge in the community he adored.

http://www.saveourbridge.net/donate/Dennis

To help support research for the rare disease (ALD) that his daughter and two grandsons are affected by please donate to the following:

Online donations can be made at:

http://giving.massgeneral.org/donate

Please specify “In Memory Of” Robert Dennis and Designate the Gift to Dr. Eichler’s ALD Research at the bottom of the donation page.