Walter Dennis

(Denny)

1944 – 2025

Walter J. Dennis, 80, of Pembroke, Mass. passed away peacefully on Wednesday, March 26 surrounded by his loving family.

Walter was born in Boston on April 15, 1944, the son of the late Walter A. and Mary Alison (McNulty) Dennis. He was known by many who knew and loved him as "Denny."

Walter was raised and educated in Milton, Mass., and graduated from Milton High School in 1962. He attended UMass Boston and earned Certificates in Labor Relations Administration.

In 1963, Walter enlisted in the United States Army Reserve. He served for six years in a Field Artillery Headquarters Battery as a Field Lineman and attained the rank of Sergeant E-5.

Walter’s Army communications training motivated him to apply for employment at New England Telephone and he was hired in November of 1963.

Walter had a long and rewarding career at New England Telephone, which continued throughout successor companies NYNEX, Bell Atlantic, and Verizon. In his early years with the company, he worked as a Rated Central Office Technician in Boston and later transferred to Quincy, Mass. He passed several exams to become a Rated Installer & Repairman and earned multiple promotions, including Field Manager, Control Manager and then Installer & Repairman Staff Manager for the Corporate Services Staff in Boston. Walter also served as a Shop Steward in the International Brotherhood of Telephone Workers, Local #1 in the Boston area. Following the ‘68 Strike he was elected as a Shop Steward in the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local #2 in the Quincy District.

Later in his career, Walter became the Staff Director, Safety for New England. In this role he earned the designation of Bell System Safety Professional as well as a Certified Utility Safety Administrator by the National Safety Council. In 1996, he retired early after 32 years of dedicated service. Following his  retirement from the phone company, Walter served as a Safety Consultant for the U-TECK Corporation based in Fayetteville, North Carolina. 

In his spare time, Walter and his wife Marianne enjoyed riding their Harley Davidson along with a group of their friends. In 1992, Walter and Marianne, along with two other couples, formed a family-oriented motorcycle group called the "Upland Riders," based in Plympton, Mass. The group started with six members, and today membership has grown to 150. Walter was the first President of the Upland Riders and served in this position for seven years.

Walter is survived by his beloved wife of 45 years, Marianne (Campbell), and four children; Brian Dennis of Quincy; Maryellen Laws and husband John of Pembroke; John Dennis and husband James C. Joyce, Jr. of Dover, New Hampshire;  Kevin Dennis and wife Rachael (Johnson) of Abington; his granddaughter Audrey Laws of Pembroke; and his sister Ali Conant of Plympton. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews.

Walter was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Richard J. Dennis.

Visiting hours will be held on Tuesday, April 1st from 4:00PM-7:00PM at Sullivan Funeral Home in Hanover - 551 Washington St., Rt. 53. A funeral mass will be held at 9:00AM on Wednesday, April 2nd at Our Lady of the Angels Parish (St. Mary's) in Hanover - 392 Hanover St. Burial will be held privately.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Walter's name to the American Heart Association.