Barbara Dennis, a former president of Maumee City Council, on which she served for 16 years, and a member of community boards long afterward, died Aug. 5 in the Elizabeth Scott Community in Springfield Township. She was 89.
Her daughter, Julie Cartwright, attributed the cause to the effects of her age. No longer able to live independently, she moved from her home in uptown Maumee to Elizabeth Scott more than a year ago.
She served on Maumee's civil service commission until about two years ago, her son Dave Dennis said.
Mrs. Dennis was a member of Maumee council for 16 years, through 1997, winning election to eight two-year terms. Her council colleagues twice elected her president.
She was a lifelong Democrat, but did not base her council votes on party affiliation.
"She wouldn't vote with the Democrats if she didn't agree with them," Mrs. Cartwright.
Former Mayor Steve Pauken, who served with Mrs. Dennis on council, said: "I believe because of her ability to work across the aisle, Maumee is a better community today.
"She was a staunch Democrat, but at the same time, she was a person who was more interested in doing something positive for the people of Maumee," said Mr. Pauken, a fellow Democrat when on council from 1984-93 and as mayor from 1993-99. He is the city manager of Bisbee, Ariz.
"She was very easy to talk to. You couldn't meet her without becoming her friend," he said.
She supported the needs of the city's service and public safety forces and listened to constituents - at council meetings and, regardless of the hour, at home.
"Her phone would ring any time," Mrs. Cartwright said. "She took it all very seriously, and she was pretty well liked, because she did what she said she would do."
Mr. Dennis said: "She was pretty even-keeled. She wasn't in anybody's back pocket. She had integrity."
In 2008, Mrs. Dennis was named Maumee's Outstanding Citizen of the Year, and a dinner was held in her honor.
"Barbara is dedicated to everything she gets involved in," then-Mayor Tim Wagener said in 2008. "She never does anything halfway. Whatever it is, she puts all her knowledge and energy into making sure it's successful. She has belonged to more civic organizations than you'd have space to list."
And she became president of most, including the Maumee Chamber of Commerce, the St. Luke's Hospital Auxiliary, and the Maumee Valley Historical Society.
She persisted through trying circumstances. Her husband, David, a Maumee firefighter and the department's chief engineer, died at age 46 in 1979. The youngest of their four children then was 10, and the oldest was 20.
"She's our hero," Mrs. Cartwright said. "She was very strong. She chose her path to stay strong and teach us to be strong."
Mrs. Dennis, in her role as a vice president of the Toledo-Lucas County League of Women Voters, monitored Maumee council meetings. And then she ran for council. A technical issue kept her off the ballot in 1979, but she was elected successfully in 1982.
She also enrolled in the University of Toledo and, the week of her 50th birthday in 1984, received a bachelor's degree in business management.
"We had a big party for her," her son said.
She lost her 1997 council re-election bid and was philosophical in defeat.
"I'm not surprised, and I'm not disappointed,'' Mrs. Dennis told The Blade then. "It seems like the young people are taking over now. I guess it means that Maumee is starting to rejuvenate itself."
Mrs. Dennis was a longtime volunteer for the Great Lakes Consortium and played host to visitors from nations in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East who were eager to learn about local government in the United States.
"She liked meeting people from different countries and hearing their stories," Mrs. Cartwright said.
Still, she made ample time for children and grandchildren.
"Her biggest passion was the family," Mrs. Cartwright said. "And she was close to all of our friends.
She was born May 15, 1934, in Cleveland to Eugenia and Sylvester Keller. She grew up in West Toledo and attended St. Ursula Academy.
She and her husband married June 28, 1958. He died April 3, 1979.
Surviving are her sons David Dennis, Scott Dennis, and Michael Dennis; daughter, Julie Cartwright; sister, Mary Helen Knuth; seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren,
A celebration of life event will be from 1-4 p.m. Saturday in the Northern Light Lodge, F&AM, 119 W. Wayne St., Maumee. Arrangements are by Maison-Dardenne-Walker Funeral Home, Maumee.
The family suggests tributes to Hospice of Northwest Ohio.
Published by The Blade on Aug. 18, 2023.
Her daughter, Julie Cartwright, attributed the cause to the effects of her age. No longer able to live independently, she moved from her home in uptown Maumee to Elizabeth Scott more than a year ago.
She served on Maumee's civil service commission until about two years ago, her son Dave Dennis said.
Mrs. Dennis was a member of Maumee council for 16 years, through 1997, winning election to eight two-year terms. Her council colleagues twice elected her president.
She was a lifelong Democrat, but did not base her council votes on party affiliation.
"She wouldn't vote with the Democrats if she didn't agree with them," Mrs. Cartwright.
Former Mayor Steve Pauken, who served with Mrs. Dennis on council, said: "I believe because of her ability to work across the aisle, Maumee is a better community today.
"She was a staunch Democrat, but at the same time, she was a person who was more interested in doing something positive for the people of Maumee," said Mr. Pauken, a fellow Democrat when on council from 1984-93 and as mayor from 1993-99. He is the city manager of Bisbee, Ariz.
"She was very easy to talk to. You couldn't meet her without becoming her friend," he said.
She supported the needs of the city's service and public safety forces and listened to constituents - at council meetings and, regardless of the hour, at home.
"Her phone would ring any time," Mrs. Cartwright said. "She took it all very seriously, and she was pretty well liked, because she did what she said she would do."
Mr. Dennis said: "She was pretty even-keeled. She wasn't in anybody's back pocket. She had integrity."
In 2008, Mrs. Dennis was named Maumee's Outstanding Citizen of the Year, and a dinner was held in her honor.
"Barbara is dedicated to everything she gets involved in," then-Mayor Tim Wagener said in 2008. "She never does anything halfway. Whatever it is, she puts all her knowledge and energy into making sure it's successful. She has belonged to more civic organizations than you'd have space to list."
And she became president of most, including the Maumee Chamber of Commerce, the St. Luke's Hospital Auxiliary, and the Maumee Valley Historical Society.
She persisted through trying circumstances. Her husband, David, a Maumee firefighter and the department's chief engineer, died at age 46 in 1979. The youngest of their four children then was 10, and the oldest was 20.
"She's our hero," Mrs. Cartwright said. "She was very strong. She chose her path to stay strong and teach us to be strong."
Mrs. Dennis, in her role as a vice president of the Toledo-Lucas County League of Women Voters, monitored Maumee council meetings. And then she ran for council. A technical issue kept her off the ballot in 1979, but she was elected successfully in 1982.
She also enrolled in the University of Toledo and, the week of her 50th birthday in 1984, received a bachelor's degree in business management.
"We had a big party for her," her son said.
She lost her 1997 council re-election bid and was philosophical in defeat.
"I'm not surprised, and I'm not disappointed,'' Mrs. Dennis told The Blade then. "It seems like the young people are taking over now. I guess it means that Maumee is starting to rejuvenate itself."
Mrs. Dennis was a longtime volunteer for the Great Lakes Consortium and played host to visitors from nations in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East who were eager to learn about local government in the United States.
"She liked meeting people from different countries and hearing their stories," Mrs. Cartwright said.
Still, she made ample time for children and grandchildren.
"Her biggest passion was the family," Mrs. Cartwright said. "And she was close to all of our friends.
She was born May 15, 1934, in Cleveland to Eugenia and Sylvester Keller. She grew up in West Toledo and attended St. Ursula Academy.
She and her husband married June 28, 1958. He died April 3, 1979.
Surviving are her sons David Dennis, Scott Dennis, and Michael Dennis; daughter, Julie Cartwright; sister, Mary Helen Knuth; seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren,
A celebration of life event will be from 1-4 p.m. Saturday in the Northern Light Lodge, F&AM, 119 W. Wayne St., Maumee. Arrangements are by Maison-Dardenne-Walker Funeral Home, Maumee.
The family suggests tributes to Hospice of Northwest Ohio.
Published by The Blade on Aug. 18, 2023.
Barbara Dennis, a former president of Maumee City Council, on which she served for 16 years, and a member of community boards long afterward, died Aug. 5 in the Elizabeth Scott Community in Springfield Township. She was 89.
Her daughter, Julie Cartwright, attributed the cause to the effects of her age. No longer able to live independently, she moved from her home in uptown Maumee to Elizabeth Scott more than a year ago.
She served on Maumee's civil service commission until about two years ago, her son Dave Dennis said.
Mrs. Dennis was a member of Maumee council for 16 years, through 1997, winning election to eight two-year terms. Her council colleagues twice elected her president.
She was a lifelong Democrat, but did not base her council votes on party affiliation.
"She wouldn't vote with the Democrats if she didn't agree with them," Mrs. Cartwright.
Former Mayor Steve Pauken, who served with Mrs. Dennis on council, said: "I believe because of her ability to work across the aisle, Maumee is a better community today.
"She was a staunch Democrat, but at the same time, she was a person who was more interested in doing something positive for the people of Maumee," said Mr. Pauken, a fellow Democrat when on council from 1984-93 and as mayor from 1993-99. He is the city manager of Bisbee, Ariz.
"She was very easy to talk to. You couldn't meet her without becoming her friend," he said.
She supported the needs of the city's service and public safety forces and listened to constituents - at council meetings and, regardless of the hour, at home.
"Her phone would ring any time," Mrs. Cartwright said. "She took it all very seriously, and she was pretty well liked, because she did what she said she would do."
Mr. Dennis said: "She was pretty even-keeled. She wasn't in anybody's back pocket. She had integrity."
In 2008, Mrs. Dennis was named Maumee's Outstanding Citizen of the Year, and a dinner was held in her honor.
"Barbara is dedicated to everything she gets involved in," then-Mayor Tim Wagener said in 2008. "She never does anything halfway. Whatever it is, she puts all her knowledge and energy into making sure it's successful. She has belonged to more civic organizations than you'd have space to list."
And she became president of most, including the Maumee Chamber of Commerce, the St. Luke's Hospital Auxiliary, and the Maumee Valley Historical Society.
She persisted through trying circumstances. Her husband, David, a Maumee firefighter and the department's chief engineer, died at age 46 in 1979. The youngest of their four children then was 10, and the oldest was 20.
"She's our hero," Mrs. Cartwright said. "She was very strong. She chose her path to stay strong and teach us to be strong."
Mrs. Dennis, in her role as a vice president of the Toledo-Lucas County League of Women Voters, monitored Maumee council meetings. And then she ran for council. A technical issue kept her off the ballot in 1979, but she was elected successfully in 1982.
She also enrolled in the University of Toledo and, the week of her 50th birthday in 1984, received a bachelor's degree in business management.
"We had a big party for her," her son said.
She lost her 1997 council re-election bid and was philosophical in defeat.
"I'm not surprised, and I'm not disappointed,'' Mrs. Dennis told The Blade then. "It seems like the young people are taking over now. I guess it means that Maumee is starting to rejuvenate itself."
Mrs. Dennis was a longtime volunteer for the Great Lakes Consortium and played host to visitors from nations in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East who were eager to learn about local government in the United States.
"She liked meeting people from different countries and hearing their stories," Mrs. Cartwright said.
Still, she made ample time for children and grandchildren.
"Her biggest passion was the family," Mrs. Cartwright said. "And she was close to all of our friends.
She was born May 15, 1934, in Cleveland to Eugenia and Sylvester Keller. She grew up in West Toledo and attended St. Ursula Academy.
She and her husband married June 28, 1958. He died April 3, 1979.
Surviving are her sons David Dennis, Scott Dennis, and Michael Dennis; daughter, Julie Cartwright; sister, Mary Helen Knuth; seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren,
A celebration of life event will be from 1-4 p.m. Saturday in the Northern Light Lodge, F&AM, 119 W. Wayne St., Maumee. Arrangements are by Maison-Dardenne-Walker Funeral Home, Maumee.
The family suggests tributes to Hospice of Northwest Ohio.
Published by The Blade on Aug. 18, 2023.
Her daughter, Julie Cartwright, attributed the cause to the effects of her age. No longer able to live independently, she moved from her home in uptown Maumee to Elizabeth Scott more than a year ago.
She served on Maumee's civil service commission until about two years ago, her son Dave Dennis said.
Mrs. Dennis was a member of Maumee council for 16 years, through 1997, winning election to eight two-year terms. Her council colleagues twice elected her president.
She was a lifelong Democrat, but did not base her council votes on party affiliation.
"She wouldn't vote with the Democrats if she didn't agree with them," Mrs. Cartwright.
Former Mayor Steve Pauken, who served with Mrs. Dennis on council, said: "I believe because of her ability to work across the aisle, Maumee is a better community today.
"She was a staunch Democrat, but at the same time, she was a person who was more interested in doing something positive for the people of Maumee," said Mr. Pauken, a fellow Democrat when on council from 1984-93 and as mayor from 1993-99. He is the city manager of Bisbee, Ariz.
"She was very easy to talk to. You couldn't meet her without becoming her friend," he said.
She supported the needs of the city's service and public safety forces and listened to constituents - at council meetings and, regardless of the hour, at home.
"Her phone would ring any time," Mrs. Cartwright said. "She took it all very seriously, and she was pretty well liked, because she did what she said she would do."
Mr. Dennis said: "She was pretty even-keeled. She wasn't in anybody's back pocket. She had integrity."
In 2008, Mrs. Dennis was named Maumee's Outstanding Citizen of the Year, and a dinner was held in her honor.
"Barbara is dedicated to everything she gets involved in," then-Mayor Tim Wagener said in 2008. "She never does anything halfway. Whatever it is, she puts all her knowledge and energy into making sure it's successful. She has belonged to more civic organizations than you'd have space to list."
And she became president of most, including the Maumee Chamber of Commerce, the St. Luke's Hospital Auxiliary, and the Maumee Valley Historical Society.
She persisted through trying circumstances. Her husband, David, a Maumee firefighter and the department's chief engineer, died at age 46 in 1979. The youngest of their four children then was 10, and the oldest was 20.
"She's our hero," Mrs. Cartwright said. "She was very strong. She chose her path to stay strong and teach us to be strong."
Mrs. Dennis, in her role as a vice president of the Toledo-Lucas County League of Women Voters, monitored Maumee council meetings. And then she ran for council. A technical issue kept her off the ballot in 1979, but she was elected successfully in 1982.
She also enrolled in the University of Toledo and, the week of her 50th birthday in 1984, received a bachelor's degree in business management.
"We had a big party for her," her son said.
She lost her 1997 council re-election bid and was philosophical in defeat.
"I'm not surprised, and I'm not disappointed,'' Mrs. Dennis told The Blade then. "It seems like the young people are taking over now. I guess it means that Maumee is starting to rejuvenate itself."
Mrs. Dennis was a longtime volunteer for the Great Lakes Consortium and played host to visitors from nations in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East who were eager to learn about local government in the United States.
"She liked meeting people from different countries and hearing their stories," Mrs. Cartwright said.
Still, she made ample time for children and grandchildren.
"Her biggest passion was the family," Mrs. Cartwright said. "And she was close to all of our friends.
She was born May 15, 1934, in Cleveland to Eugenia and Sylvester Keller. She grew up in West Toledo and attended St. Ursula Academy.
She and her husband married June 28, 1958. He died April 3, 1979.
Surviving are her sons David Dennis, Scott Dennis, and Michael Dennis; daughter, Julie Cartwright; sister, Mary Helen Knuth; seven grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren,
A celebration of life event will be from 1-4 p.m. Saturday in the Northern Light Lodge, F&AM, 119 W. Wayne St., Maumee. Arrangements are by Maison-Dardenne-Walker Funeral Home, Maumee.
The family suggests tributes to Hospice of Northwest Ohio.
Published by The Blade on Aug. 18, 2023.
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