Dennis James Dilley

Dennis James Dilley was born September 1, 1932 in New London, Minnesota, to Walter and Bessie Dilley, the youngest of nine children. He often spoke fondly of his childhood, especially the love and devotion his older siblings showered upon him. A graduate of New London High School, Dennis enlisted in the Air Force in 1952. After completing a degree in Political Science, he was selected for the Aviation Cadet Training Program. Once he completed F-86 fighter training, he was assigned to fly the B-47 as a Co-Pilot, Gunner & Navigator for the newly minted Strategic Air Command. As a Captain, he completed Squadron Officer’s School and became Aircraft Commander on the B-52. He flew with the 22nd Bomb Wing in Chrome Dome during the Cuban Missile Crisis, remaining airborne over twenty-four hours for each mission. He was deeply honored and proud of his years in the Air Force in service of his country.

He met the love of his life, Marie D’Amora from Cambridge, Massachusetts, at Whitman Air Force Base in Sedalia, Missouri. After a long distance courtship they married in 1958. After 12 years with the Air Force, Dennis became a pilot for American Airlines and they moved to Scituate, Massachusetts where they raised four daughters.

He felt very privileged to have a career flying and was very grateful for all the opportunities he had in his life. He and his wife shared their love of world travel with their daughters, taking frequent trips with them. He loved history, politics, investing, gardening and sports. He shared his love of sports with his daughters and grandchildren. He also started and coached a basketball team at Whitman Air Force Base. In his retirement he rebuilt and ran his mother in-law’s property management business.

Dennis was fiercely devoted to his family and cared for his wife Marie until her death in 2004. He missed her dearly and would frequently reflect on how fortunate he had been to be so loved by her.

Dennis was preceded in death by his parents Walter and Bessie, his beloved wife Marie, his brothers Floyd, Leonard and Walter and his sisters Gladys, Marjorie, Irene and Mattie. He is survived by his four daughters and sons-in-law, Mary and Alex Hawkins of Orange Park, Florida; Marisa and Kent Millard of Providence, Rhode Island; Denise and Tony Boll of Aledo, Texas; and Gina and Rick Seyfried of Columbia, Maryland, as well as his eight grandchildren, Sarah (Adam), Chris (Meghan), Isabella, Sophia, Elizabeth, Hayley, Edmund and Dennis. He is also survived by his dear brother Virgil and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be from 4-8 PM on Friday, February 10th at Richardson-Gaffey Funeral Home, 382 First Parish Road, Scituate, MA with a Time of Remembrance at 6:30 PM, at which time friends and family will be invited to share a few words or a fond memory of Dennis. Funeral Mass will be at 10:00 AM on Saturday, February 11, 2017 at Saint Mary’s Church in Scituate Harbor. Interment will follow in Saint Mary’s Cemetery.

The family requests that memorial gifts be designated to Hematology research in honor of Dr. James Foran at Mayo Clinic. Gifts can be mailed directly to Mayo Clinic, Department of Development, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, Fl 32224 or online at http://www.mayoclinic.org/giving-to-mayo-clinic and under designation, indicate Hematology Research.