Denis Crowley Dice (Sr.) was born on June 16, 1937 at St. Francis hospital in Pittsburgh, PA and died November 30, 2017 in Chicago, IL at home surrounded by family. The oldest son of a master plumber and homemaker, Denis had a unique childhood growing up in Pittsburgh. Denis lived with his 5 siblings, parents and grandparents in a home near the Highland Park bridge, as his grandfather served as Superintendent of the Allegheny River. Morningside was his neighborhood and Denis attended St. Raphael's grade school and was a standout running back on the first Morningside Bulldogs football team, a team for boys aged 11-13 recently described as the "most winning team in football history," boasting a record of 271 wins, 19 losses, and 8 ties between 1950 and 1980. He went on to attend and play football at Central Catholic High School, where he served as Captain of the football and track teams, as well as President of the Student Council and the National Honor Society. Denis met his future wife, Ann Brice while at Central. Ann paid Denis' sister a quarter to introduce them after seeing him at a track meet where Ann and Denis' sister were running in a meet for Our lady of Mercy Academy High School. It worked, and at age 16 Denis and Ann were a couple. Their senior year in High School Denis and Ann were the King and Queen of both Central Catholic and Our Lady of Mercy Academy proms.

Following graduation from Central, Denis received an appointment to the United States Military Academy at West Point. Excelling as a cadet, Denis played Sprint Football and ran for Army Track and Field all four years. Following graduation and Officer commissioning, Denis and Ann married in 1960 at St. Philips Catholic Church in Crafton, Pennsylvania.

Denis served for 20 years with distinction in the military, including service in Vietnam after learning Vietnamese at the Army Defense Language Institute. While in Vietnam, Denis earned medals for both service and valor, including the Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Star Medal, and RVN Cross of Gallantry with Silver Star. Denis' tour in Vietnam interrupted his graduate studies at New Mexico State University where he was working towards a PhD in mechanical engineering, following the successful completion of his Masters Degree in the same field.

Denis' Army career included 3 years as an associate professor at the United States Military Academy, teaching courses in thermo-dynamics and heat transfer. While serving as a professor, Denis simultaneously attended Fairleigh Dickinson University, ultimately earning a Masters in Business Administration in 1972. His service in the Army included Commander of Camp Casey in view of the DMZ, South Korea, plant commander of the Scranton Army Ammunition Plant and numerous advanced army schools including Command and General Staff Colleges.

Denis retired as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1980, and began a successful business career most notably as part owner of Hunter Ceiling Fan Co. in Memphis, TN, in the 1990s. Hunter was a failing privately held company which Denis and a few partners successfully rejuvenated and took public. Subsequent to Hunter Ceiling Fan, Denis served as Chief Operating Officer of Reeves, International. Denis and Ann then relocated to Hilton Head Island, where they became silent partners in the popular San Miguels restaurant while devoting most of their time and energy to a myriad of charitable endeavors, significantly bringing the Hilton Head Island Crisis Pregnancy Center from the brink of closure to the thriving non-profit agency it remains today serving hundreds of young women in need every year. Denis and Ann were also responsible for sponsoring men in financial need to attend the Catholic seminary fulfilling their dreams of becoming a Catholic priest. Denis was a longtime parishioner of St. Francis by the Sea Catholic Church in Hilton Head, where he was Parish Council President, and a regular lector and Eucharistic Minister for many years. Denis is remembered for his razor sharp intellect, understated manner, deep religious conviction, and unmatched dedication to his family. Denis and Ann shared an uncommon love of 63 years and Ann, with the help of her children, unceasingly cared for Denis at home for the duration of his long and difficult battle with Alzheimer's.

Denis is survived by Ann and their 4 children, daughters Julie (George) Cook, Mary (Jim) Grenen, Denis Jr. (Beth) Dice and Kevin (Rosemary) Dice, as well as 13 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at St. Joseph Catholic Church, O'Hara Township, Pittsburgh PA with Denis' nephew Rev. Dan Walsh, CSSP, Duquesne University Chaplain, as celebrant at 11:00 a.m. on December 16, 2017.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Joseph A. Massaro Alzheimer's Research Fund or the Hilton Head Island Crisis Pregnancy Center.

For further information please call 312-421-0936.