Happy Birthday Dennis!

Today would have been Dennis' 63rd birthday. Dennis always loved birthdays because they would bring him close to his past with all the people most important to him wishing him yet another year of happiness.

Cheers, Dennis!

Dennis Kuronen Scholarship Fund

Dennis loved teaching, particularly at Philadelphia University, where he was the Interim Dean of the School of Design and Media.

Dennis had hoped to have a scholarship started in his memory to support students in the design field. Thanks to the kind and generous contributions from family and friends, there has begun a scholarship fund in his name. I am hoping that we can reach the goal of making this fund into an ongoing scholarship in Dennis' name, ensuring his legacy at the place he liked to refer to as his second home and family.

Contributions to the Dennis Kuronen Scholarship Fund can be mailed directly to:
Joshua E. Liss
Assistant Vice President of Development Operations
Office of Development and Alumni Relations
Philadelphia University
School House Lane and Henry Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19144-5497

Contributions may also be made online at www.philau.edu/giving
Please make sure all gifts are directed to the Dennis Kuronen Scholarship Fund.

Never Better

The Celebration of Dennis at Philadelphia University on Valentine's Day, was just as Dennis would have wanted, complete with family, friends, food, music, and drink. And stories, lots of stories, for and from so many.

My very brave daughter, Jessica, read a story on my behalf:
I want thank each and every individual here,
each for the varied ways you have embraced my family into yours.
All the kind thoughts, the brave actions, the sincere stories, the deep prayers, and all of the delicious homemade foods, have sustained my family throughout this journey.

We could not have done this without any of you, near and far,
so for that I gratefully thank each of you.

People ask how I am doing, how the girls are doing.
I try to answer as Dennis had answered everyday
for the past year, no matter how hard the journey became
. . . “never better.”

The past year was the best and the worst year,
it brought Dennis and I closer to each other
in ways I never could have imagined.
This entire journey, with my very best friend and soul mate Dennis,
couldn’t have been any better.

And now, seeing a bit Dennis in each of you,
I know we will all be “never better”
and journey on with Dennis as a guiding light
in each of our hearts.

We all have Dennis stories to share.
Share them freely, as Dennis would want.

Today the blanket of new snow reminds me to feel graced in awe at the beauty of the moment. Just as Dennis would want.

The Mapping of an Idea

This is one of the last drawings that Dennis made of himself in this notebook.

I found this page of brainstorming he had done for the Spring Lecture Series poster at Philadelphia University in that same book.


A glimpse into how Dennis solved design problems.

A Gathering for Celebration

There will be a celebration of Dennis on
Sunday, February 14
2 - 4pm

Kanbar Campus Center
Philadelphia University,
4201 Henry Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19144



Please see The Philadelphia Inquirer article
http://www.philly.com/philly/obituaries/83994762.html

The Next Journey

At 10:40pm on Saturday, Dennis peacefully passed away. Surrounded by his family and a swirling snow storm, he took his last breath with grace, dignity, and peace.

There will be a memorial service celebrating Dennis' life on Sunday, February 14 at Philadelphia University. Details will be posted at a later time.

Dennis had requested that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in his honor to a scholarship to benefit his passion, the education of a student at Philadelphia University. Details will be posted at a later time.

I am so grateful and humbled by the vast outpouring of love sent to Dennis during this time. This support paved the way for the peaceful change from his broken body to each of your loving hearts. He will live on in each of us, and for that I sincerely thank each of you.

The Dance Continues

Late Monday afternoon while Dennis was awake, we turned up the Beatle's song Do You Want to Know a Secret and Darcy gave Tasha dancing lessons. Dennis and I clasped hands and danced along, bringing a huge smile to his face.

Today Dennis is doing another kind of dance with life, peacefully allowing the world to swirl around him. While he has become very still and quiet, he continues to surprise me with an occasional demand for company or water. His tenacity is awe inspiring.

A Tradition of Love

For the past ten years, starting on the first day of February and continuing daily until Valentine's Day, Dennis would make a valentine and hide it somewhere in the house for the girls to find. We all delighted in this February ritual, taking the time before the hectic start of school and work to hunt for and marvel at the creation of love Dennis constructed for us. It started out as small cards made of paper, and over the years progressed into more elaborate sculptural objects. When the girls got older, they began to take turns making the valentines, spending hours in the studio together, using humble materials at hand to create a magical symbol of love.


Dennis continues to rest comfortably. He slips in and out of lucidity, sometimes confused and other times clear and commanding. He is frustrated that his body is failing and will not follow his commands.


Dennis feels safe and comforted by our presence, but gets confused by other peoples voices so we keep visitors to a minimum. When he gets confused, the first question he asks is "What is the truth," the question one could always count on Dennis asking.

Day 365

It has been exactly one year since Dennis was first diagnosed with cancer. It has been both the best and the worst year, the fastest and the slowest time. The year has been filled with these kinds of contradictions, changing our sense of time and space. We live in the present, always aware that the taste of a particular food, a warm shower, a nap taken together, a walk hand in hand, could be the last one taken. One never knows when that last time anything will happen, and so the present becomes so vividly real. This presentness is comforting, for the past and the future are too difficult to dwell upon.

Dennis continues to rest comfortably, surrounded by the love being showered on him from so many, keeping us lovingly in the present.

We wish you all a moment of true presentness today.

The Force

Dennis has slowed down considerably over the past four days and speaks only when necessary. He does so enjoy having the emails and comments that friends and family have sent read to him. He nods in acknowledgement as we read to him, his face softening. Members of the hospice team have separately commented on his strong and determined spirit. Dennis continues to be a force to be reckoned with.

An Evening at Home

We spent the evening exactly as Dennis wished, surrounded by his children and his brother, as we laughed and reminisced and watched one of Dennis' favorite movies, Dances With Wolves. Jessica has inherited Dennis' mark making ability, as witnessed by the sketches she has been making of him during the past few days.

Day 361

It is almost a year since Dennis was first diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He has been a true warrior throughout this journey.


His health has deteriorated quite a bit during the past few days but he continues to fight a brave battle.

Caring Hands

So many people have offered and given help to Dennis during the past few weeks. He so enjoys the visits he gets from friends and family, giving focus and meaning to his days. We are both so very grateful for the community of help.

Dennis continues to struggle with the accumulation of fluids, called ascites. They seem to be accumulating faster and the procedure to get rid of them more difficult to tolerate. He is needing more pain medications which have their difficult side effects.

Dennis is alone for about 3 hours every Tuesday and Thursday. He does need to be checked up on during the times I am away from home, so I am asking our community of friends to help with Dennis' care during these times. I have started a volunteer calendar on http://nac.lotsahelpinghands.com/c/621299/ if anyone is interested in helping us through this time.

Dennis continues to be a true warrior, rising everyday with verve and determination and never a complaint about his plight. He speaks about the blessed life that he continues to live, grateful for the time spent with loved ones. It is I that is blessed with the presence of such a bodhisattva.