Richard Dennis D’Enbeau

Dick graduated with honors from Van Horne (Iowa) High School in 1962. He was always interested in learning, interacting with friends and showing his creativity in many ways.

Dick had many college choices and selected Creighton University for his undergraduate education where he completed a B.S. in Pharmacy in 1967. He completed an M.S. in Pharmacy at Purdue University in 1969 and an M.S. in Organizational Development at Case Western Reserve University in 1979.

Dick was intrigued by hospital operations and served in various professional capacities. At St. Vincent Charity Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio, he served as Director of Pharmacy and subsequently as Executive Vice President of Hospital Operations. He also served as the Administrator of Chagrin Valley Medical Center in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, where he was responsible for a thirty-five multispecialty group physician practice affiliated with St. Vincent.

Within Glenbeigh Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio, Dick was recruited to start a new division to develop and manage alcoholism and psychiatric units within acute care hospitals. He subsequently served as Chief Executive Officer.

Having developed a special affinity for working with surgeons, Dick served as Chief Operating Officer of the Cleveland Spine and Arthritis Center in Cleveland, Ohio. This specialty center provided oversight to all operating rooms, physical therapy, nursing, marketing and research.

In 1990 Dick was a founding partner in OrthoExcel located in Columbus, Ohio. The company managed orthopedic programs for 15 hospitals and was acquired in 1998 by OrthoLink Physicians Corporation of Nashville, Tennessee, where Dick served as Regional Vice President.

In 2001, Dick served as a Founder and the President of the Hospital Division for Surgical Alliance Corporation of Nashville, Tennessee. In this capacity Dick served as a Founding Partner in the development and operation of the New Albany Surgical Hospital. Upon the hospital’s opening in 2003, New Albany Healthcare Consultants was founded, and Dick served as a Partner of the firm and as President and Chief Executive Officer of the hospital.

Throughout his career, Dick was well known nationally for his keen expertise in working with orthopedic surgeons as they sought to collaborate with hospitals. The management services of New Albany Healthcare Consultants focused upon positive relationships and operational process improvements that led to better quality, higher physician engagement and patient satisfaction and lower operating costs.

Mount Carmel Health System of Columbus, Ohio, a member of Trinity Health, acquired New Albany Surgical Hospital in 2007. Since its inception, this hospital has been lauded as a center of excellence that other hospitals and physician groups throughout the nation and globe have sought to emulate. Under Dick’s leadership, the hospital has received prestigious awards such as Press Ganey’s Guardian of Excellence Award every year of eligibility as well as Joint Commission Certificates of Distinction for Hip Replacement, Knee Replacement and Spinal Fusion Surgeries.

Dick continued to serve as President of Mount Carmel New Albany Surgical Hospital until his retirement in 2015. For a few years afterwards, he continued to serve as a trusted consultant to orthopedic surgeons and other physicians.

A man of many talents, Dick has often been described as brilliant, insightful, wise and witty. Family, physicians and work colleagues alike would share that he was a trusted confidant and that he was both fun and funny. Dick was kind, generous, giving, confident and humble. He was selfless and simply put, a really great guy.

Dick loved to entertain, and he hosted some very fun parties. His colleagues from New Albany could attest to that! Consistent with his happy go lucky personality, he enjoyed wearing colorful “fun” socks. He loved to cook anything ranging from steaks, ribs and burgers on his big Green Egg, Crêpe Suzette, Gruyere Potatoes or Crab legs for his family and his famous almond croissant Christmas Wreath that he faithfully made every year for his colleagues at Mount Carmel New Albany Surgical Hospital. Rarely would he be seen without his Triple Grande, non-fat, three Equal, no foam Lattes from Starbucks.

In his spare time, Dick loved to jog, to cycle, to take on myriad home projects and to work in the yard. He always looked forward to football season as he cheered on The Ohio State University Buckeyes and the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. He enjoyed his red Harley motorcycle and his 1989 candy apple red Mercedes convertible. Dick loved music… from country to gospel to classical…. from Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, the Eagles, the Beatles and Elton John to Chopin and Yo-Yo Ma.

Dick loved Christmas and decorating the house to the hilt. In particular, he treasured his needlepoint stockings, one for every family member with their names on them (including family pets Charles, Maggie and Greta). He loved to play Christmas music starting in early November. One of his favorite memories was playing the Hallelujah Chorus at maximum volume every year on Christmas morning to awaken his children.

Dick loved his family more than words can express. His face would light up with joy when his children and grandchildren called or came to visit. He was very proud of his four children and four grandchildren, all of whom he revered. When he and Janet met, his affection, guidance and admiration were lovingly and openly extended to her children and their families.

Dick loved his “big sister,” Marilou. They were notorious for teasing one another, for laughing together in the good times, and for crying together when things were not so good. He and Marilou were very close friends.

Dick loved to travel and was blessed to do so, especially after retirement in 2015. He loved bicycling tours abroad. In 2022, Dick wanted to visit several United States National Parks out west. He especially loved Bryce Canyon and the Hoodoos. When it was time for the tour group to depart Bryce Canyon, he said he didn’t want to leave. He was in awe of the natural wonders and mesmerized by God’s handiwork, perhaps knowing this might be his last opportunity to soak in such beauty from an earthly perspective.

Dick was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and Vascular Dementia in 2021. He battled long and hard to maintain his health and to refrain from succumbing to the disease. But Dementia shows no mercy, and even Dick’s strong will could not overcome this battle. Yet throughout his last years, Dick remained a role model of happiness, kindness, optimism, encouragement, humility and selflessness. He never lost his charming smile, his quick wit, his thoughtfulness of others, and his love for his family, friends and caregivers. His beautiful life on earth ended on April 21, 2025.

Dick leaves behind his loving wife, Janet Smith Meeks, who was at his side through every stage of his illness. Janet and Dick shared a mutual love and devotion that were exceptional in many ways and so admired by their children, friends, and colleagues. Sometime before Dick passed away, Dick’s son Rick told Janet that very few people in life get to experience the kind of true love his dad and Janet have enjoyed.

Dick was preceded in death by his father, Ruben Camp Denbo and his mother Helen Cantwell Denbo of Van Horne, Iowa. In addition to Janet, Dick is survived by his sister Marilou Eldred (Donald) of Eagan, Minnesota; his children Melyssa Little of Alexandria, Kentucky; Suzanne D’Enbeau of Athens, New York; Rick D’Enbeau (Ann Gilmore) of Kent, Ohio; and Pat D’Enbeau of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; stepdaughters Meredith Meeks Veltri (Steven) of Hilliard, Ohio; and Mallory Meeks DeLucas (Matthew) of Plain City, Ohio; his grandchildren Austin Little, Ana Little, Roxanne D’Enbeau-Konnoff, Izadora D’Enbeau-Konnoff; step-grandchildren Grace DeLucas and Stella Veltri; and niece Sarah Eldred Han.

The family would like to express deepest gratitude to friends and caregivers who so faithfully spent time with Dick during his decline. Special thanks are extended to the loving and caring staff of Cotter House-Worthington, the dedicated and empathetic team from National Church Residences Hospice and to Lori Mucha who has been a Godsend to Dick and to our family.

Dick loved all his caregivers, and he knew they loved him, too. He surely must be sending them “High Fives” from heaven. Janet would like to express her love and gratitude for the caring empathy shared by her “Cotter Angel Friends.”

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Brigid of Kildare in Dublin, Ohio (7179 Avery Road, Dubin, OH) on Wednesday, April 30, 2025 with visitation at 10:00 a.m. and the funeral mass at 11:00 a.m. A special Celebration of Dick’s life will follow from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Schoedinger Dublin (5980 Perimeter Drive, Dublin, Ohio).

Everyone who knew and loved this special man understands he would not want us to be sad. Dick would expect all of us to gather, laugh, reminisce, rejoice and of course, enjoy a martini. After all, he always loved a great party!

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you please consider donating in Dick’s memory to the National Church Residences Hospice (https://www.nationalchurchresidences.org/donate/) or the Alzheimer’s Association (https://donorservices.alz.org/page/FUNJVLBQDHC?utm_source=bing&utm_medium=paidsearch&utm_campaign=giving_bing&msclkid=1a733df318681456a46455fa247eafac).