Barbara Dennis

After a lifetime of love and devotion to her family and a tireless commitment of service to the Maumee community, Barbara Jean Dennis passed away peacefully on August 5 at the age of 89.

Barbara Jean Keller was born on May 15, 1934, in Cleveland, Ohio to parents Sylvester and Eugenia Keller. She attended St. Ursula Academy and worked at Ohio Bell and United Airlines in the years prior to meeting her future husband, David Dennis, who was employed as an insurance claims ad-justor while also serving as a second-generation firefighter for the city of Maumee’s volunteer fire department.

After marrying on June 28, 1958, the young couple set up residence in Maumee and began raising a family of four children. David attained the rank of chief engineer in the Maumee Fire Department before suffering an illness that led to his untimely passing in 1979 at the young age of 46.

Finding herself widowed with four children ranging in ages from 10 to 20, Barbara channeled her energy and devotion into her family. In addition to her enormous parental responsibilities, Barbara decided to further her education by attending The University of Toledo full time, where she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business management at the age of 50.

While serving as vice president for political affairs on behalf of the League of Women Voters, Bar-bara monitored Maumee City Council meetings and developed an interest in local politics. She ran for city council as a Democrat in 1982 and was elected to her first of eight two-year terms in office, where she eventually served on every council committee. Barbara was elected as president of Maumee City Council on two separate occasions by her peers, becoming the first woman in Maumee history to hold the office of council president. Barbara’s 16-year career on council lasted from 1982 to 1997.

In addition to her many years of service in local civic organizations, Barbara served as president of the Maumee Chamber of Commerce, the St. Luke’s Hospital Auxiliary, the Maumee Valley Historical Society, the Maumee River Zonta Club, the League of Women Voters and the Maumee Quality of Life Group. She was also active on the the Maumee Volunteer Firefighters Dependents Board, as well as on the boards of the Lucas County Improvement Corporation, the Maumee Civil Service Commission and the Maumee Substance Abuse Intervention League (SAIL).

One of her more interesting adventures found Barbara volunteering with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) via the Great Lakes Consortium, hosting visitors from such countries as Hungary, Poland, Tanzania, Tonga, Afghanistan, Russia, Belarus, Croatia, Botswana, Leb-anon and Ukraine. Barbara’s advocacy of women’s issues and her passion for promoting the Ameri-can way of life inspired her to host visitors from all over the world to impress upon them how partic-ipatory government and free market economics work in American communities such as Maumee.

Barbara thoroughly loved her community and would often engage in lengthy conversations with her constituents and fellow Maumee residents. She was a consensus builder who looked beyond party lines and sought common ground, enjoying long friendships with people from all walks of life.

In 2008, Barbara was honored as the recipient of the Maumee Outstanding Citizen Award follow-ing her nomination by former Maumee city administrator John Jezak, who wrote, “I am confident that there are few who can match Barbara’s commitment to friends, family and community. Whenever our community has needed a helping hand, Barbara has been eager to serve.”

Barbara’s list of contributions to her beloved Maumee is impressive, but her children are quick to point out that their mother always put family first. They consider their mother as their personal hero for the courage, dedication and love that she displayed while raising her family as a single mother.

Barbara was preceded in death by her husband David, an infant daughter who died at childbirth, her parents and her brothers, Jim Keller and Bill Keller.

Barbara is survived by her sister, Mary Helen (Don) Knuth of Connecticut.

Also surviving are Barbara’s four children, David (Joy) Dennis; Scott (Jennifer) Dennis; Julie (Kelly) Cartwright and Michael (Mareen) Dennis; as well as Barbara’s seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren, all of whom held a special place in her heart.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions to Hospice of Northwest of Ohio in appreciation of the loving care that they have provided on behalf of Barbara. The family would also like to thank the staff at Elizabeth Scott Community for the compassionate care enjoyed by Barbara for the past two years.

A “Celebration of Life” event for Barbara Dennis will be held on Saturday, August 19 from 1:00 to 4.00 p.m. at the Masonic Northern Light Lodge 40 at 119 W. Wayne St. in uptown Maumee. Friends of Barbara are invited to attend the event, share stories and celebrate Barbara’s memory in a festive atmosphere.