Roland E. Dennis

Roland Eugene Dennis passed away January 25, 2019. He was born on September 7, 1930 in Wilmington, DE. He was one of seven children, including two surviving sisters, Rosetta and Gloria Dennis, both of Wilmington. Roland is survived by five of his children: Yuji Dennis, Roland Dennis Jr., and Inez Williams of Springfield, MA, Lawrence Dennis of Boston, and Janet Gibbs of Abington, MA. He is preceded in death by two of his children, Gene and Jun Dennis, and by his first wife, Yoshie Suehiro.

As a young man, Roland enlisted in the Air Force and became a surgical technician, eventually earning the rank of sergeant. He met his first wife while stationed in Japan, and they started a family together. As the family moved from one Air Force base to another in the U.S. and Japan, Roland enjoyed cooking for his family and taking them on fishing trips. Roland's final tour of duty ended at Otis Air Force Base on Cape Cod.

Roland and Yoshie were baptized as Jehovah's Witnesses on September 7, 1963, and the family moved to Boston, where they became members of the Fenway Congregation. During this time, Roland made orthotics and prosthetics at Massachusetts General Hospital to support his family. Sadly, Yoshie became seriously ill and Roland took an early retirement from the hospital to take care of her.

After Yoshie passed away in 1997, Roland traveled to Japan to visit her family. While there, he attended a convention of Jehovah's Witnesses, where he met his second wife, Yoko, through mutual friends. Yoko's friends and her two children thought Roland and Yoko were a great match, and they were married in Japan on April 18, 2000.

Roland and Yoko moved back to Boston, where they served as pioneers, or full-time volunteer ministers. They loved walking from their Boston home to the Public Garden, starting conversations with people along the way and sharing the Bible's hope for the future with them. As a part of the Boston Japanese Group, Roland and Yoko also provided spiritual support and encouragement to many.

Roland loved to cook for others, and he was known for his hospitable and generous spirit. He is fondly remembered as a loving and approachable congregation elder who took personal interest in others. He was also a long-time member of the Hospital Liaison Committee, a group that facilitates communication between Jehovah's Witness patients and the medical community.

Roland's example moves others to carry forward his legacy in their personal lives by imitating his strong faith and integrity to Jehovah God. Although he will be deeply missed by his family and the congregation, we find comfort in knowing that Roland is resting safely in God's memory until "all those in the memorial tombs will hear his voice and come out." (John 5:28, 29)

Family and friends will honor and remember Roland's life by gathering on Saturday, February 2nd in Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 1672 Washington St., West Newton, where his Memorial Talk will be held at 2 p.m.