Dennis Wayne Del Grosso

Dennis Wayne Del Grosso of Dannemora NY passed away at the age of 69 on Friday, December 1, 2023 at UVM Health Center CVPH surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Philadelphia on May 12, 1954 to Etrano (Al) and Eleanor Del Grosso. Dennis graduated 1972 from Cardinal O’Hara High School also a graduate of the US Coast Guard Academy Class of 1976, The Rebels. After marrying the love of his life Shirley on December 10th 1977 He had a long and decorated career with the US Coast Guard until 1986 flying search and rescue missions. He finished his military career with the Coast Guard reserves and retired for the first time. Then he joined US Customs flying Black Hawk and A-Star helicopters, as well as Citation Jets. Doing smuggling intercepts off the coast of Miami, and later moving to the north country in 2004 to fly border security. After retiring for the second time (December 2008) he became a contractor with the government working in tactical radio communications. Dennis was a passionate car enthusiast and spent his spare time rebuilding classic cars, having quality time with his two boys Wayne and Kenny. As a member of the North Country Mustang club, he gained another family and enjoyed working with the club in their community service projects. When he wasn’t working on his Mustangs he enjoyed flying in his Cessna Cardinal and was always excited to take friends and family for a flight to see the Adirondacks. Dennis was an avid outdoorsman who “never met a tree he didn’t want to cut down”. He loved logging, four wheeling, boating, and snowmobiling. As the president of the Lyon Mountain Snowmobile club and Active member of the Outback Riders four wheeling club he spent countless hours out on trails they were maintaining. He loved any excuse to be outside with his family and passed on countless life skills to the next generation. In his later years his favorite hobby was working with his son Wayne and his Bonus Grandson Jacob in the garage passing on his words of wisdom or as we like to call them Dennisizms. Dennis was a fierce and loving family man who over the years acquired several forms of family whether they be his Coast Guard family, U.S. Customs / CBP Family or from one of the many clubs he had been part of. No matter what time of day or night Dennis was always there to help his friends, family and co-workers. Dennis is survived by his loving wife Shirley, his sons Wayne, his wife Carol and grandchildren Emily, Jacob, Amanda and William, his son Kenneth and his fiancé Victoria SanRoman, Brother Albert (Sue) and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. He is predeceased by his parents Etrano (Al) and Eleanor. Visitation will be Friday, December 8, 2023 from 3:00-6:00pm at Brown Funeral Home, 29 Broad Street, Plattsburgh NY 12901. Funeral service will follow in the funeral home chapel. A Celebration of life will be held on May 12th, 2024 details to follow.