Dennis Gannon

Dennis James Gannon of Hampton Bays died on March 13 at his home. He was 40 and had Down Syndrome.

Born April 30, 1968, to John Gannon Sr. and Edith Gannon, who died in 2005, he lived at home with his father and brother Timothy Gannon in Hampton Bays all his life. Another brother, John Gannon Jr. also survives him.

Dennis Gannon graduated from Board of Cooperative Educational Services in Westhampton in 1989 and had attended the Independent Group Home Living day habilitation program on West Main Street in Riverhead (formerly located on Magee Street in Southampton) ever since.

Escorted by his mother, he was very active and would travel all over the East End. He was a member of a Hampton Bays Scout Troop, which had other members with Down Syndrome, he bowled every week, and was always in attendance at the monthly dance hosted by IGHL in Southold.

He also played the guitar. “He played the same note, over and over,” his brother Timothy recalled, “but he loved guitars.” When Mrs. Gannon couldn’t drive him anymore, his brother Timothy started taking him places. They made it a point to go someplace every Friday; either to the dances in Southold, carnivals, Long Island Ducks games, parades or just local high school football and basketball games. “I think he just liked going for rides, and didn’t care where he was going, so long as we had some music playing in the car,” Timothy said this week, “He even looked forward to going to the dump on Saturdays.”

Dennis Gannon also did a lot with his father and brother John Gannon Jr, including driving the tractor, with John Gannon Jr. walking alongside, ready to step on the brake if he looked like he was about to crash.

“He only got 40 years,” Timothy said. “I hope he had fun while he was here.”

The family received visitors on March 15 at J. Ronald Scott Funeral Home in Hampton Bays and funeral services followed on March 16 at St. Rosalie’s Church, also in Hampton Bays. He was interred beside his mother at Good Ground Cemetery in Hampton Bays.

In lieu of flowers, donations to Independent Home Living Program, Inc., 221 North Sunrise Service Road, Manorville, NY 11949 would be appreciated by the family.