James "Jim" Dennis

James Robert Dennis (Jim), age 78, died Wednesday, June 27th, 2018 at Southeast Colorado Hospital in Springfield, CO. Jim was born in Carrollton, Ohio, on February 9, 1940, to parents George and Jane Dennis. Most of his young life he spent in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, with his mom and dad and younger brother, Tom. Jim’s father—nicknamed “Doc” --did a four-year stint in WWII as an aerial reconnaissance photographer; so when he came home on the few furloughs he was allowed, using flash cards, he taught four-year-old Jimmy Bob to identify various aircraft. Little Jimmy correctly identified over 40 airplane silhouettes.

After the war ended his dad returned for good and the family moved from Ohio to Pompano Beach, Florida. As a teenager and young adult, Jim worked in the charter boat fishing trade as a first mate for several boat captains at Hillsboro Inlet & Harbor. He graduated from Pompano Beach High School and then proceeded to college, a first-year student, at the University of Florida, Gainesville. He continued to Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton. While studying at FAU, Jim met his then future wife, Dorothy, and her two children, Theresa, and Scott. They were married June 23, 1970, in Deerfield Beach, Florida after which they made an important decision. It was to move to Ft. Collins, Colorado. With his new family and children at his side, he culminated his education by graduating from Colorado State University with a degree in zoology. His graduation gift was the birth of his son Jeff James Dennis.

Following a brief stretch working as manager in the Outdoor Department at Kmart in Fort Collins, Jim applied for a job with the Colorado Division of Wildlife—now Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Out of 500 applicants, there were only 30 hired. Jim was talented enough to be one of the successful hires. Indeed, it was the job of his dreams. His first assignment was in Kim, CO where he and his family lived for 5 years, relocating to Fairplay for 2 years, Colorado Springs for 3 years, and finally settling once again in Ft. Collins, until his retirement. After 10 years as a Wildlife Conservation Officer (WCO), Jim applied for a Wildlife Biologist position and was promoted to that role. All through his career, he worked with dedicated, wonderful people, many of whom became lifelong friends. Following his retirement party at Loui Swift Ponds, in Ft. Collins Colorado, he packed his things and relocated to Stevensville, Maryland, where his wife, Dorothy, and son, Jeff, were living at the time.

His apprehensions about that move were soon dissipated when he found many fellow birders to accompany and a birding travel club which he joined. The family went on dozens of birding excursions including one pelagic trip off Cape Hatteras, NC. Since the Cape Hatteras Inlet is one of the most

treacherous inlets along the entire Intracoastal Waterway, it was an exciting ride. Jim added many beautiful birds to his Life-list.

A highlight of his retired life includes his volunteering to join a team of dedicated fellow birders sponsored by Cornell University of Ithaca NY, to search for the elusive and possibly extinct Ivory Billed Woodpecker in the swamps and woods of Arkansas.

His passions in life included birding, hunting, fishing, boating, traveling, photography, flying, supporting the Florida Gators, and visiting his family in Florida. His hobbies were stamp/coin collecting, collecting Indian pottery and paintings, target shooting, researching his Scottish heritage, and amassing a nice collection of antique guns.

Jim’s true devotion was reserved for his family and friends and to his career at the DOW.

Those who met Jim always admired his low key, gentle nature. This trait carried him through his career when it was necessary to interact with outdoor enthusiasts, hunters, farmers, and ranchers. He strived for a balance between protecting wildlife and the environment with treating those he encountered in the field with respect.

Jim is survived by his wife, Dorothy, his children Theresa, Scott, and Jeff, grandsons, Tyler, David, Beau, and Chase, his granddaughter, Ciana, his great-granddaughter, Nevaeh, his younger brother, Tom, Tom’s wife, Sandy, and their daughters, Sherry Terrode with her husband, Jeff, and Robin Forgash with her husband Walt.