He was born John Anthony Del Orfano but changed his name to John Denny so that he counld be employed as a blaster in the coal mines in PA.
His father was Pasquale Del Orfano and his mother was Theresa Penta.
Photo courtesy of great granddaughter Debbie Escobar
Denny succumbs at age 94
John A. Denny Sr. of 590 Daunesburg Road, Rotterdam, owner of Denny's Wood & Lumber Co. and an expert on dynamite blasting, died Monday in Ellis Hospital, Schenectady, after a brief illnes.
A native of Fondonarosa, Italy, Mr. Denny moved from Scranton, Pa., to Schenectady 78 years ago. He joined the Edison Electric Co. at the turn of the century and later founded the Schenectady Fireworks Co. and the Empire Fireworks Co.
Mr. Denny began his blasting career in Scranton, where he worked in the coal mines as a youth.
His skills in dynamite blasting were frequeuntly used in road construction by the state government, and his career continued when he was 85 and working along the Taconic Parkway near White Plains.
Mr. Denny was noted for his techniques in fireworks displays, which earned him several awards throughout the Northeast.
He was one of the first Rotterdam Republican committeemen after helping to organize the Schenectady County Republican party. He also was a founder of the Rotterdam Men's Republican Club, and served as school trustee during the formative years of the Jefferson School District.
Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Anna Pidgeon Denny: five sons, Raymond Denny Sr., John Denny Jr., and Ernest and Albert Denny, all of Schenectady, and Norman Denny of Wichita Falls, Tex.: two daughters, Ms. Ralph Neal of Schenectady and Mrs. Luther Wooddell of Fort Worth, Tex.: a sister, Mrs. Margaret Rosato of Dupont, Pa.: a brother Jospeh Denny of Scranton, 10 grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren.
Services will be conducted Thursday at 9:30 a.m. in the Rossi & Sons Funeral Chapel, Schenectady, by the Rev. Roland H. Kelly, pastor of Broadway Methodist Church.
Interment will be in Vale Cemetery, Schenectady.
The funeral home will be open tonight after 7.
His father was Pasquale Del Orfano and his mother was Theresa Penta.
Photo courtesy of great granddaughter Debbie Escobar
Denny succumbs at age 94
John A. Denny Sr. of 590 Daunesburg Road, Rotterdam, owner of Denny's Wood & Lumber Co. and an expert on dynamite blasting, died Monday in Ellis Hospital, Schenectady, after a brief illnes.
A native of Fondonarosa, Italy, Mr. Denny moved from Scranton, Pa., to Schenectady 78 years ago. He joined the Edison Electric Co. at the turn of the century and later founded the Schenectady Fireworks Co. and the Empire Fireworks Co.
Mr. Denny began his blasting career in Scranton, where he worked in the coal mines as a youth.
His skills in dynamite blasting were frequeuntly used in road construction by the state government, and his career continued when he was 85 and working along the Taconic Parkway near White Plains.
Mr. Denny was noted for his techniques in fireworks displays, which earned him several awards throughout the Northeast.
He was one of the first Rotterdam Republican committeemen after helping to organize the Schenectady County Republican party. He also was a founder of the Rotterdam Men's Republican Club, and served as school trustee during the formative years of the Jefferson School District.
Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Anna Pidgeon Denny: five sons, Raymond Denny Sr., John Denny Jr., and Ernest and Albert Denny, all of Schenectady, and Norman Denny of Wichita Falls, Tex.: two daughters, Ms. Ralph Neal of Schenectady and Mrs. Luther Wooddell of Fort Worth, Tex.: a sister, Mrs. Margaret Rosato of Dupont, Pa.: a brother Jospeh Denny of Scranton, 10 grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren.
Services will be conducted Thursday at 9:30 a.m. in the Rossi & Sons Funeral Chapel, Schenectady, by the Rev. Roland H. Kelly, pastor of Broadway Methodist Church.
Interment will be in Vale Cemetery, Schenectady.
The funeral home will be open tonight after 7.
He was born John Anthony Del Orfano but changed his name to John Denny so that he counld be employed as a blaster in the coal mines in PA.
His father was Pasquale Del Orfano and his mother was Theresa Penta.
Photo courtesy of great granddaughter Debbie Escobar
Denny succumbs at age 94
John A. Denny Sr. of 590 Daunesburg Road, Rotterdam, owner of Denny's Wood & Lumber Co. and an expert on dynamite blasting, died Monday in Ellis Hospital, Schenectady, after a brief illnes.
A native of Fondonarosa, Italy, Mr. Denny moved from Scranton, Pa., to Schenectady 78 years ago. He joined the Edison Electric Co. at the turn of the century and later founded the Schenectady Fireworks Co. and the Empire Fireworks Co.
Mr. Denny began his blasting career in Scranton, where he worked in the coal mines as a youth.
His skills in dynamite blasting were frequeuntly used in road construction by the state government, and his career continued when he was 85 and working along the Taconic Parkway near White Plains.
Mr. Denny was noted for his techniques in fireworks displays, which earned him several awards throughout the Northeast.
He was one of the first Rotterdam Republican committeemen after helping to organize the Schenectady County Republican party. He also was a founder of the Rotterdam Men's Republican Club, and served as school trustee during the formative years of the Jefferson School District.
Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Anna Pidgeon Denny: five sons, Raymond Denny Sr., John Denny Jr., and Ernest and Albert Denny, all of Schenectady, and Norman Denny of Wichita Falls, Tex.: two daughters, Ms. Ralph Neal of Schenectady and Mrs. Luther Wooddell of Fort Worth, Tex.: a sister, Mrs. Margaret Rosato of Dupont, Pa.: a brother Jospeh Denny of Scranton, 10 grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren.
Services will be conducted Thursday at 9:30 a.m. in the Rossi & Sons Funeral Chapel, Schenectady, by the Rev. Roland H. Kelly, pastor of Broadway Methodist Church.
Interment will be in Vale Cemetery, Schenectady.
The funeral home will be open tonight after 7.
His father was Pasquale Del Orfano and his mother was Theresa Penta.
Photo courtesy of great granddaughter Debbie Escobar
Denny succumbs at age 94
John A. Denny Sr. of 590 Daunesburg Road, Rotterdam, owner of Denny's Wood & Lumber Co. and an expert on dynamite blasting, died Monday in Ellis Hospital, Schenectady, after a brief illnes.
A native of Fondonarosa, Italy, Mr. Denny moved from Scranton, Pa., to Schenectady 78 years ago. He joined the Edison Electric Co. at the turn of the century and later founded the Schenectady Fireworks Co. and the Empire Fireworks Co.
Mr. Denny began his blasting career in Scranton, where he worked in the coal mines as a youth.
His skills in dynamite blasting were frequeuntly used in road construction by the state government, and his career continued when he was 85 and working along the Taconic Parkway near White Plains.
Mr. Denny was noted for his techniques in fireworks displays, which earned him several awards throughout the Northeast.
He was one of the first Rotterdam Republican committeemen after helping to organize the Schenectady County Republican party. He also was a founder of the Rotterdam Men's Republican Club, and served as school trustee during the formative years of the Jefferson School District.
Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Anna Pidgeon Denny: five sons, Raymond Denny Sr., John Denny Jr., and Ernest and Albert Denny, all of Schenectady, and Norman Denny of Wichita Falls, Tex.: two daughters, Ms. Ralph Neal of Schenectady and Mrs. Luther Wooddell of Fort Worth, Tex.: a sister, Mrs. Margaret Rosato of Dupont, Pa.: a brother Jospeh Denny of Scranton, 10 grandchildren, and 17 great-grandchildren.
Services will be conducted Thursday at 9:30 a.m. in the Rossi & Sons Funeral Chapel, Schenectady, by the Rev. Roland H. Kelly, pastor of Broadway Methodist Church.
Interment will be in Vale Cemetery, Schenectady.
The funeral home will be open tonight after 7.
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