Donald A. Denis of Southampton died at Stony Brook Southampton Hospital, surrounded by his family, on November 28, 2022. He was 91 and died from complications of treating skin cancer.
Denis was born in Brooklyn on February 14, 1931. He graduated from Syracuse University, School of Architecture in 1954 where he met his future spouse and best friend of 66 years, Jacqueline Warner Denis. He served in the U.S. Army from 1956 to 1957, stationed in Germany. While in Germany, he and his wife traveled extensively across Europe in a 1958 Karmen Ghia car.
The couple settled in Riverhead, where they raised their two children, Alison and Patrick. Don established his architectural firm in Aquebogue. During his career, he designed numerous residential homes and commercial buildings throughout New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
In Riverhead, Denis was active in the local community. He served 13 years on the Peconic Bay Medical Center board, three as its president. Additionally, he was a board member of North Fork Bank. He was a member of Rotary International in Riverhead for most of his career.
In 1984, Denis and his wife moved to Southampton, and he became an active member of the Southampton Golf Club.
Since 1969, the Denis family has spent summers together at their beach home in Amagansett. Survivors said Denis had a passion for life and enjoyed spending time with family and friends at the beach, on the golf course, in his sailboat and on the ski slopes. He and his wife were fortunate to have traveled extensively throughout Europe and Asia. He was known for his sense of humor, endless stories, and infectious laughter.
Denis is survived by his wife, Jackie; and his daughter, Alison, and son-in-law, Steve Longley, of Dorset, Vermont; his son, Patrick, of Southampton; and two step-grandchildren, Henry and Emily Longley.
A funeral Mass was held on December 2 at Basilica Parish of the Sacred Hearts in Southampton.
Memorial donations may be made to Peconic Bay Medical Center in Riverhead.