Denis' obituary (published on the Recompose website, in The Port Townsend Leader, and in The Peninsula Daily News):
"Denis Body died after being struck by a vehicle while out for an evening walk in his rural neighborhood. May all involved in this tragedy and all who knew Denis find peace in their hearts, joy in living, and acceptance in not knowing.
Denis was a 12-year-old Boy Scout; his entire life filled with wonder, awe, and curiosity. He was adventurous, playful, and willing to be silly. He delighted in learning new information and thoroughly researched whatever tickled his fancy. He had the intuitive ability to understand how mechanical things worked and could visualize them in 3D.
Born in Highland Park, Michigan with club feet, he started life wearing leg braces made by his father. At age 7, while Denis had cat scratch fever, his older brother died suddenly, shortly before his younger brother was born. Summer vacations included visits to his grandparent's farm in Iowa and playing in the hayloft with his brother and cousins. As a teenager, Denis delivered newspapers in his "Midget" — a hand-built car made by his father from a Ford fender, with a Briggs & Stratton engine out of a lawnmower. Denis' family moved to Whittier, California when he was a junior in high school, where he ran track. He drove his 1952 MG TD through the winding hills to Mt. San Antonio College.
Denis received his BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Berkley, and an MS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Cincinnati. He went to work for the US Public Health Service as a mechanical engineer, eventually becoming part of the air pollution group which transferred to the EPA when it was first established. Highlights of his career were the design and construction of a chamber to measure radon in people's breath, building a plant growth chamber to assess the impact of air pollution in the field, and his final assignment supervising the building of a new EPA marine research lab at the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, Oregon.
Denis married his best friend, Kath, and they became life partners. They shared adventures, dreams, and learning as well as the work and difficulties. Always encouraging each other to be the best they could be. Their early life together included multi-day whitewater river trips on the Rogue River in Oregon, Salmon and Selway rivers in Idaho and three-week trips down the Grand Canyon. They were exercise buddies and learned about the best foods for a healthy human body. When they put their two households together, part of what Denis contributed were copies of "Diet for a Small Planet" and "Laurel's Kitchen: A Handbook for Vegetarian Cookery and Nutrition." He also had a membership to a food co-op 50 miles away, and his hand-cranked grinder to make his own hot cereal recipe fondly called "gruel" by friends.
Denis made his own choices based on personal values, experiences, beliefs and science, often outside of popular or normal. He believed his health and wellness was his responsibility and worked on this his entire life. At age 49, Denis was diagnosed with a brain tumor that turned out to be a stroke. He dealt with the 80 percent carotid artery blockage without surgery, using "Dr. Dean Ornish's Program for Reversing Heart Disease" without drugs or surgery, a peer-reviewed scientific study. Gradually, the blockage decreased to zero to 15 percent. Over 30 years later, Dr. Ornish's program is now covered by Medicare, once you've had a heart attack! At 83, Denis was proud of needing no prescription drugs and having a total cholesterol of 150 and LDL of 70. Both of his parents died of heart disease.
After Denis retired he and Kath designed an energy-efficient home on property in Blyn, Washington that Denis had purchased in the 1970s. Many vacations were spent in a nylon tent camping on the property before moving there full time in 1993.
Sailing became a lifelong passion after Denis took a PE class in college. After moving to Blyn, he and Kath bought a Tartan 37. They spent 22 years gunkholing, mostly along the BC coast, for three to four months each summer. A few years before selling "Thin Ice," a Sprinter van was converted in a similar fashion to Denis' old VW camper. Road trips became more like cruising. Wandering with a general direction in mind, no reservations, an openness to discovery and changing plans based on what was discovered along the way and the weather.
Denis built the shop of his dreams where he was a master at the disappearing art of fixing a broken item. Researching options, thoughtfully considering the use, then grabbing his teddy bear (shop safety supervisor) and heading out to his "body shop" to begin repairs. He often fixed it to work "better than new" and what couldn't be fixed was saved for parts.
Denis was good at living his dreams. He enjoyed overnight cross country ski trips, building igloos, exploring on his Honda Trail 90, loading his own ammo for target shooting, running whitewater rivers in an open canoe, kayak, and oared rafts, day hikes, backpacking, rowing his shell on Sequim Bay, flint and steel fire-starting, casual bike rides, time-trial cycling, and peddling and grinning on his Scorpion trike.
He enjoyed every opportunity to talk with his neighbors, friends, and people he didn't know. Giving people his full attention even when he had other things to do. He initiated and was block captain for MYN, squad leader for CERT, and a longtime volunteer with Peninsula Trails Coalition. A few years, he volunteered with SPCUG tech shop and did several work parties for the New Dungeness Lighthouse. Denis was an active participant and eager learner in the Greater Diamond Point Net. He truly enjoyed learning more about ham radios at the fire station.
Denis' last act of thoughtfulness was his requested funeral at Recompose, which offers Natural Oxygen Reduction, an accelerated human composting. A ceremony and celebration was held virtually on Dec. 22, 2021. His soil was transported to Bells Mountain, a protected natural wilderness near Battle Ground, Wash., managed by Remember Land, to be used in ecological restoration.
The times we shared together, things Denis made or fixed, his ideas and thoughts remain with us. Denis' essence, his spirit, his energy, continues to be available to those of us open to it.
You can honor Denis by being kind to everyone and everything. Listen with curiosity. Learn new ideas and perspectives. Put the effort into creating something different and leave every place better than you find it."
"Denis Body died after being struck by a vehicle while out for an evening walk in his rural neighborhood. May all involved in this tragedy and all who knew Denis find peace in their hearts, joy in living, and acceptance in not knowing.
Denis was a 12-year-old Boy Scout; his entire life filled with wonder, awe, and curiosity. He was adventurous, playful, and willing to be silly. He delighted in learning new information and thoroughly researched whatever tickled his fancy. He had the intuitive ability to understand how mechanical things worked and could visualize them in 3D.
Born in Highland Park, Michigan with club feet, he started life wearing leg braces made by his father. At age 7, while Denis had cat scratch fever, his older brother died suddenly, shortly before his younger brother was born. Summer vacations included visits to his grandparent's farm in Iowa and playing in the hayloft with his brother and cousins. As a teenager, Denis delivered newspapers in his "Midget" — a hand-built car made by his father from a Ford fender, with a Briggs & Stratton engine out of a lawnmower. Denis' family moved to Whittier, California when he was a junior in high school, where he ran track. He drove his 1952 MG TD through the winding hills to Mt. San Antonio College.
Denis received his BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Berkley, and an MS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Cincinnati. He went to work for the US Public Health Service as a mechanical engineer, eventually becoming part of the air pollution group which transferred to the EPA when it was first established. Highlights of his career were the design and construction of a chamber to measure radon in people's breath, building a plant growth chamber to assess the impact of air pollution in the field, and his final assignment supervising the building of a new EPA marine research lab at the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, Oregon.
Denis married his best friend, Kath, and they became life partners. They shared adventures, dreams, and learning as well as the work and difficulties. Always encouraging each other to be the best they could be. Their early life together included multi-day whitewater river trips on the Rogue River in Oregon, Salmon and Selway rivers in Idaho and three-week trips down the Grand Canyon. They were exercise buddies and learned about the best foods for a healthy human body. When they put their two households together, part of what Denis contributed were copies of "Diet for a Small Planet" and "Laurel's Kitchen: A Handbook for Vegetarian Cookery and Nutrition." He also had a membership to a food co-op 50 miles away, and his hand-cranked grinder to make his own hot cereal recipe fondly called "gruel" by friends.
Denis made his own choices based on personal values, experiences, beliefs and science, often outside of popular or normal. He believed his health and wellness was his responsibility and worked on this his entire life. At age 49, Denis was diagnosed with a brain tumor that turned out to be a stroke. He dealt with the 80 percent carotid artery blockage without surgery, using "Dr. Dean Ornish's Program for Reversing Heart Disease" without drugs or surgery, a peer-reviewed scientific study. Gradually, the blockage decreased to zero to 15 percent. Over 30 years later, Dr. Ornish's program is now covered by Medicare, once you've had a heart attack! At 83, Denis was proud of needing no prescription drugs and having a total cholesterol of 150 and LDL of 70. Both of his parents died of heart disease.
After Denis retired he and Kath designed an energy-efficient home on property in Blyn, Washington that Denis had purchased in the 1970s. Many vacations were spent in a nylon tent camping on the property before moving there full time in 1993.
Sailing became a lifelong passion after Denis took a PE class in college. After moving to Blyn, he and Kath bought a Tartan 37. They spent 22 years gunkholing, mostly along the BC coast, for three to four months each summer. A few years before selling "Thin Ice," a Sprinter van was converted in a similar fashion to Denis' old VW camper. Road trips became more like cruising. Wandering with a general direction in mind, no reservations, an openness to discovery and changing plans based on what was discovered along the way and the weather.
Denis built the shop of his dreams where he was a master at the disappearing art of fixing a broken item. Researching options, thoughtfully considering the use, then grabbing his teddy bear (shop safety supervisor) and heading out to his "body shop" to begin repairs. He often fixed it to work "better than new" and what couldn't be fixed was saved for parts.
Denis was good at living his dreams. He enjoyed overnight cross country ski trips, building igloos, exploring on his Honda Trail 90, loading his own ammo for target shooting, running whitewater rivers in an open canoe, kayak, and oared rafts, day hikes, backpacking, rowing his shell on Sequim Bay, flint and steel fire-starting, casual bike rides, time-trial cycling, and peddling and grinning on his Scorpion trike.
He enjoyed every opportunity to talk with his neighbors, friends, and people he didn't know. Giving people his full attention even when he had other things to do. He initiated and was block captain for MYN, squad leader for CERT, and a longtime volunteer with Peninsula Trails Coalition. A few years, he volunteered with SPCUG tech shop and did several work parties for the New Dungeness Lighthouse. Denis was an active participant and eager learner in the Greater Diamond Point Net. He truly enjoyed learning more about ham radios at the fire station.
Denis' last act of thoughtfulness was his requested funeral at Recompose, which offers Natural Oxygen Reduction, an accelerated human composting. A ceremony and celebration was held virtually on Dec. 22, 2021. His soil was transported to Bells Mountain, a protected natural wilderness near Battle Ground, Wash., managed by Remember Land, to be used in ecological restoration.
The times we shared together, things Denis made or fixed, his ideas and thoughts remain with us. Denis' essence, his spirit, his energy, continues to be available to those of us open to it.
You can honor Denis by being kind to everyone and everything. Listen with curiosity. Learn new ideas and perspectives. Put the effort into creating something different and leave every place better than you find it."
Denis' obituary (published on the Recompose website, in The Port Townsend Leader, and in The Peninsula Daily News):
"Denis Body died after being struck by a vehicle while out for an evening walk in his rural neighborhood. May all involved in this tragedy and all who knew Denis find peace in their hearts, joy in living, and acceptance in not knowing.
Denis was a 12-year-old Boy Scout; his entire life filled with wonder, awe, and curiosity. He was adventurous, playful, and willing to be silly. He delighted in learning new information and thoroughly researched whatever tickled his fancy. He had the intuitive ability to understand how mechanical things worked and could visualize them in 3D.
Born in Highland Park, Michigan with club feet, he started life wearing leg braces made by his father. At age 7, while Denis had cat scratch fever, his older brother died suddenly, shortly before his younger brother was born. Summer vacations included visits to his grandparent's farm in Iowa and playing in the hayloft with his brother and cousins. As a teenager, Denis delivered newspapers in his "Midget" — a hand-built car made by his father from a Ford fender, with a Briggs & Stratton engine out of a lawnmower. Denis' family moved to Whittier, California when he was a junior in high school, where he ran track. He drove his 1952 MG TD through the winding hills to Mt. San Antonio College.
Denis received his BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Berkley, and an MS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Cincinnati. He went to work for the US Public Health Service as a mechanical engineer, eventually becoming part of the air pollution group which transferred to the EPA when it was first established. Highlights of his career were the design and construction of a chamber to measure radon in people's breath, building a plant growth chamber to assess the impact of air pollution in the field, and his final assignment supervising the building of a new EPA marine research lab at the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, Oregon.
Denis married his best friend, Kath, and they became life partners. They shared adventures, dreams, and learning as well as the work and difficulties. Always encouraging each other to be the best they could be. Their early life together included multi-day whitewater river trips on the Rogue River in Oregon, Salmon and Selway rivers in Idaho and three-week trips down the Grand Canyon. They were exercise buddies and learned about the best foods for a healthy human body. When they put their two households together, part of what Denis contributed were copies of "Diet for a Small Planet" and "Laurel's Kitchen: A Handbook for Vegetarian Cookery and Nutrition." He also had a membership to a food co-op 50 miles away, and his hand-cranked grinder to make his own hot cereal recipe fondly called "gruel" by friends.
Denis made his own choices based on personal values, experiences, beliefs and science, often outside of popular or normal. He believed his health and wellness was his responsibility and worked on this his entire life. At age 49, Denis was diagnosed with a brain tumor that turned out to be a stroke. He dealt with the 80 percent carotid artery blockage without surgery, using "Dr. Dean Ornish's Program for Reversing Heart Disease" without drugs or surgery, a peer-reviewed scientific study. Gradually, the blockage decreased to zero to 15 percent. Over 30 years later, Dr. Ornish's program is now covered by Medicare, once you've had a heart attack! At 83, Denis was proud of needing no prescription drugs and having a total cholesterol of 150 and LDL of 70. Both of his parents died of heart disease.
After Denis retired he and Kath designed an energy-efficient home on property in Blyn, Washington that Denis had purchased in the 1970s. Many vacations were spent in a nylon tent camping on the property before moving there full time in 1993.
Sailing became a lifelong passion after Denis took a PE class in college. After moving to Blyn, he and Kath bought a Tartan 37. They spent 22 years gunkholing, mostly along the BC coast, for three to four months each summer. A few years before selling "Thin Ice," a Sprinter van was converted in a similar fashion to Denis' old VW camper. Road trips became more like cruising. Wandering with a general direction in mind, no reservations, an openness to discovery and changing plans based on what was discovered along the way and the weather.
Denis built the shop of his dreams where he was a master at the disappearing art of fixing a broken item. Researching options, thoughtfully considering the use, then grabbing his teddy bear (shop safety supervisor) and heading out to his "body shop" to begin repairs. He often fixed it to work "better than new" and what couldn't be fixed was saved for parts.
Denis was good at living his dreams. He enjoyed overnight cross country ski trips, building igloos, exploring on his Honda Trail 90, loading his own ammo for target shooting, running whitewater rivers in an open canoe, kayak, and oared rafts, day hikes, backpacking, rowing his shell on Sequim Bay, flint and steel fire-starting, casual bike rides, time-trial cycling, and peddling and grinning on his Scorpion trike.
He enjoyed every opportunity to talk with his neighbors, friends, and people he didn't know. Giving people his full attention even when he had other things to do. He initiated and was block captain for MYN, squad leader for CERT, and a longtime volunteer with Peninsula Trails Coalition. A few years, he volunteered with SPCUG tech shop and did several work parties for the New Dungeness Lighthouse. Denis was an active participant and eager learner in the Greater Diamond Point Net. He truly enjoyed learning more about ham radios at the fire station.
Denis' last act of thoughtfulness was his requested funeral at Recompose, which offers Natural Oxygen Reduction, an accelerated human composting. A ceremony and celebration was held virtually on Dec. 22, 2021. His soil was transported to Bells Mountain, a protected natural wilderness near Battle Ground, Wash., managed by Remember Land, to be used in ecological restoration.
The times we shared together, things Denis made or fixed, his ideas and thoughts remain with us. Denis' essence, his spirit, his energy, continues to be available to those of us open to it.
You can honor Denis by being kind to everyone and everything. Listen with curiosity. Learn new ideas and perspectives. Put the effort into creating something different and leave every place better than you find it."
"Denis Body died after being struck by a vehicle while out for an evening walk in his rural neighborhood. May all involved in this tragedy and all who knew Denis find peace in their hearts, joy in living, and acceptance in not knowing.
Denis was a 12-year-old Boy Scout; his entire life filled with wonder, awe, and curiosity. He was adventurous, playful, and willing to be silly. He delighted in learning new information and thoroughly researched whatever tickled his fancy. He had the intuitive ability to understand how mechanical things worked and could visualize them in 3D.
Born in Highland Park, Michigan with club feet, he started life wearing leg braces made by his father. At age 7, while Denis had cat scratch fever, his older brother died suddenly, shortly before his younger brother was born. Summer vacations included visits to his grandparent's farm in Iowa and playing in the hayloft with his brother and cousins. As a teenager, Denis delivered newspapers in his "Midget" — a hand-built car made by his father from a Ford fender, with a Briggs & Stratton engine out of a lawnmower. Denis' family moved to Whittier, California when he was a junior in high school, where he ran track. He drove his 1952 MG TD through the winding hills to Mt. San Antonio College.
Denis received his BS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of California, Berkley, and an MS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Cincinnati. He went to work for the US Public Health Service as a mechanical engineer, eventually becoming part of the air pollution group which transferred to the EPA when it was first established. Highlights of his career were the design and construction of a chamber to measure radon in people's breath, building a plant growth chamber to assess the impact of air pollution in the field, and his final assignment supervising the building of a new EPA marine research lab at the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport, Oregon.
Denis married his best friend, Kath, and they became life partners. They shared adventures, dreams, and learning as well as the work and difficulties. Always encouraging each other to be the best they could be. Their early life together included multi-day whitewater river trips on the Rogue River in Oregon, Salmon and Selway rivers in Idaho and three-week trips down the Grand Canyon. They were exercise buddies and learned about the best foods for a healthy human body. When they put their two households together, part of what Denis contributed were copies of "Diet for a Small Planet" and "Laurel's Kitchen: A Handbook for Vegetarian Cookery and Nutrition." He also had a membership to a food co-op 50 miles away, and his hand-cranked grinder to make his own hot cereal recipe fondly called "gruel" by friends.
Denis made his own choices based on personal values, experiences, beliefs and science, often outside of popular or normal. He believed his health and wellness was his responsibility and worked on this his entire life. At age 49, Denis was diagnosed with a brain tumor that turned out to be a stroke. He dealt with the 80 percent carotid artery blockage without surgery, using "Dr. Dean Ornish's Program for Reversing Heart Disease" without drugs or surgery, a peer-reviewed scientific study. Gradually, the blockage decreased to zero to 15 percent. Over 30 years later, Dr. Ornish's program is now covered by Medicare, once you've had a heart attack! At 83, Denis was proud of needing no prescription drugs and having a total cholesterol of 150 and LDL of 70. Both of his parents died of heart disease.
After Denis retired he and Kath designed an energy-efficient home on property in Blyn, Washington that Denis had purchased in the 1970s. Many vacations were spent in a nylon tent camping on the property before moving there full time in 1993.
Sailing became a lifelong passion after Denis took a PE class in college. After moving to Blyn, he and Kath bought a Tartan 37. They spent 22 years gunkholing, mostly along the BC coast, for three to four months each summer. A few years before selling "Thin Ice," a Sprinter van was converted in a similar fashion to Denis' old VW camper. Road trips became more like cruising. Wandering with a general direction in mind, no reservations, an openness to discovery and changing plans based on what was discovered along the way and the weather.
Denis built the shop of his dreams where he was a master at the disappearing art of fixing a broken item. Researching options, thoughtfully considering the use, then grabbing his teddy bear (shop safety supervisor) and heading out to his "body shop" to begin repairs. He often fixed it to work "better than new" and what couldn't be fixed was saved for parts.
Denis was good at living his dreams. He enjoyed overnight cross country ski trips, building igloos, exploring on his Honda Trail 90, loading his own ammo for target shooting, running whitewater rivers in an open canoe, kayak, and oared rafts, day hikes, backpacking, rowing his shell on Sequim Bay, flint and steel fire-starting, casual bike rides, time-trial cycling, and peddling and grinning on his Scorpion trike.
He enjoyed every opportunity to talk with his neighbors, friends, and people he didn't know. Giving people his full attention even when he had other things to do. He initiated and was block captain for MYN, squad leader for CERT, and a longtime volunteer with Peninsula Trails Coalition. A few years, he volunteered with SPCUG tech shop and did several work parties for the New Dungeness Lighthouse. Denis was an active participant and eager learner in the Greater Diamond Point Net. He truly enjoyed learning more about ham radios at the fire station.
Denis' last act of thoughtfulness was his requested funeral at Recompose, which offers Natural Oxygen Reduction, an accelerated human composting. A ceremony and celebration was held virtually on Dec. 22, 2021. His soil was transported to Bells Mountain, a protected natural wilderness near Battle Ground, Wash., managed by Remember Land, to be used in ecological restoration.
The times we shared together, things Denis made or fixed, his ideas and thoughts remain with us. Denis' essence, his spirit, his energy, continues to be available to those of us open to it.
You can honor Denis by being kind to everyone and everything. Listen with curiosity. Learn new ideas and perspectives. Put the effort into creating something different and leave every place better than you find it."
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