Denzil Herbert Midford

Denzil Herbert Midford (aka “Denny”) lived a long and fulfilling life across four continents and six countries with travel to 44 countries over his 90 years of living. Denzil was truly a man of the world who embraced different cultures and sought out new and exciting experiences. Born in Adra, West Bengal, India in 1935, Denzil was the baby of the family. He was adored and doted on by his six older siblings. Some of his fondest memories and happiest days were spent at his alma mater, La Martinière for Boys in Kolkata, India (formerly Calcutta). While there, he excelled on the rugby team and won awards for his participation on the track and swim teams. He also enjoyed playing cricket recreationally. As he was a boarding student from the ages of five to sixteen, his good friends were like family. Denzil took great pride in his school and he cherished the many memories he made there.

At 17-years-old, Denzil traveled by sea to the UK where he joined his family and began his college education. With great success, he completed a degree in electrical engineering, which became his lifelong career. After college, Denzil traveled independently within the European continent and lived in France for a couple of years. After returning to London and beginning work in his field, Denzil spent several more years there and married. Work ambitions took him over the Atlantic Ocean to Canada where he lived for five years and became a father to three of his four children. By the late 1960s, Denzil took a job in high tech with Singer-Link in the California Bay Area and moved his family to the US (with one more child arriving soon after). During his time working in the Silicon Valley, Denzil advanced in his field, contributing his electrical design to the development of flight simulation technology and the airplane black box. He also designed the board level circuitry for the chip that powered the very first Atari home video game: Pong (a fact his children often bragged to their friends about).

In 1978, Denzil was part of the big move by Intel to their newly formed plant in Hillsboro, Oregon. He moved his family up, along with many Intel families, and purchased land in Scappoose, Oregon where he established a farm with livestock. He commuted and worked during the day as a design draftsman and tended farm in the evenings and weekends. In his own words (with a unique British-esque accent): “I fancy myself a gentleman farmer.”

During his long and well-lived life, Denzil made six countries his home: India, England, France, Canada, America, and … even a year in Australia! Having lived and traveled all over the world, he frequently stated that ‘Oregon is the most beautiful place he’s ever lived.’ He lived out his retirement and final years in this beautiful state that he loved so much.

Denzil had a great appreciation for the arts and was artistically talented, creating numerous beautiful pieces in the mediums of oil painting, etching, and sculpture. He also dabbled in photography during his travels. In addition to the fine arts, he was a dance enthusiast. He loved many forms of ballroom dance and could cut a rug with an east coast swing and jitterbug. A very good cook as well, Denzil was famous among family for his delicious curries and samosas.

Denzil was very proud of his unique family history and ethnicity as an Anglo-Indian. In his older years, he connected with new friends as part of an Anglo-Indian club and attended many events, including a grand 50-year reunion in India attended by members from around the globe.

Having a positive disposition, a friendly nature, and a good sense of humor, Denzil was well-loved by his many friends, co-workers, and extended family. Denzil was adored by his 14 nieces and nephews in England, who referred to him as “the fun uncle.” In addition to his four children, he was blessed with seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He took immense pride in every single one of them.

Denzil is predeceased by his parents: Joseph and Enid; his seven older siblings: Joy, Lionel, Elaine, Maureen, Yvonne, and Marjorie; and three wives: Anna, Barbara, and Gloria.

Denzil is survived by his children: Steven (Lynn), Marina (John), Russell, and Nicole (Eliot); his step-daughter: Leslie; his grandchildren: Johnny (Whitney), Cody (Sarah), Jacob, David, Alex, Garrett, and Melody; and his great-grandchildren: Psalm, Cyrus, Ezra, and Everett.

❤

Your life was a blessing, your memory a treasure.