Donald R. Denning

Hampton — Donald Robert Denning, a lifelong public servant, electrical contractor, and devoted figure skating official whose service spanned the U.S. Army, local emergency services, and nearly eight decades in the trade industry, died peacefully in Exeter, New Hampshire on April 8, 2025. He was 96. Mr. Denning was born in Boston on Jan. 22, 1929, and raised in Chelsea, Mass., where he graduated from Chelsea High School in the Class of 1947. He was the son of Henry James Denning and Jessie Talbot (MacPherson) Denning. Soon after high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Tokyo, Japan, during the post-World War II occupation. He served as an aide to General Douglas MacArthur at the Supreme Command of the Allied Powers, General Headquarters — an experience that deeply shaped his lifelong sense of duty and patriotism. Following his military service, Mr. Denning became an electrical contractor and joined the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 103 in Boston. He remained an active and proud member for nearly 75 years, and he joked with loved ones how even at 96, he still had not earned the top spot as 103’s oldest and longest serving member. His commitment to public service extended into civilian life in Arlington, Mass., where he served as Chief of the town’s Auxiliary Fire Department. He was among the original members of Arlington’s Civil Defense Force and contributed to the development of the town’s emergency management programs. Decades later, he remained proud of building one of the region’s first lighting trucks, a mobile vehicle that could light up a fire scene to increase safety for first responders. Mr. Denning's greatest joy came from his family, especially his cherished wife, the late Barbara (Tremblay) Denning. Their story began with an outing at a roller skating rink, blossoming into a lifelong partnership. They married and raised two children in their homes in Arlington and Hampton, NH. Mr. and Mrs. Denning were longtime members of the Skating Club of Boston and prominent figures in the regional figure skating and roller skating communities. Together, they judged figure skating competitions and test sessions throughout New England, sharing a passion for the sport and shaping generations of young skaters. In his later years, Mr. Denning took great interest in genealogy. He was especially proud of his family’s deep New England roots and Revolutionary War lineage, including two ancestors who wintered at Valley Forge. He was a member of the Old Middlesex Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, where he enjoyed preserving and promoting the legacy of America’s founding generation. Being of Scottish decent he was a true jack of all trades and resourceful to the core, famously frugal, and never disposed of a screw or nail—believing firmly that every item might prove useful someday. He was predeceased by his beloved wife of 56 years, Barbara, and his siblings Norman, Charles, Henry, and Barbara Webster. Mr. Denning is survived by his daughter, Kathleen Farrington, her husband Mark, and grandson Jack, of Hampton, New Hampshire; his son, Donald R. Denning Jr., of Shirley, Massachusetts, and Washington, D.C.; his cousin Norma June Hadley of New Mexico and many nieces and nephews. A visiting hour will be held on Saturday, April 12 from 10:00am to 11:00am at the Remick & Gendron Funeral Home-Crematory, 811 Lafayette Road, Hampton, NH followed by a short memorial service and internment in the High Street Cemetery, Hampton, NH. He adored his four-legged grandchildren and in lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his memory to Sweet Paws Rescue, 310 Main Street, Groveland, MA 01834 or online by clicking here.

Donald R. Denning

January 22, 1929 - April 8, 2025