Dennis "Denny" A. Priser

Dennis “Denny” Alan Priser, age 83, of Kettering, passed away on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, at Miami Valley Hospital, Dayton, OH. He was born November 16, 1940 in Dayton, OH and was preceded in death by his parents Carey and Dorothy (Flint) Priser. 

He was a 1959 graduate of Fairmont High School and a 1963 graduate with a Bachelor of Arts degree from DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, where he was a Rector Scholar. Denny was a member of Men’s Hall Association, a Life Member of the Washington C. DePauw Society, and served for six years as a proud member of the DePauw University Alumni Association Board of Directors. He was a very active member of the DePauw Dayton Alumni Club. He was graduated from Miami (OH) University in 1968 with a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree. He was a member of the Fairmont Marching and Concert bands and the NCR Teenage Band and, as a senior, he was first chair trombonist in all three bands. He was also a member of the DePauw Marching and Concert bands and was awarded the “Tarnished Spitvalve” his senior year. Denny taught high school mathematics for five years at Springfield (OH) South High School, for 15 years at Fairmont East High School, and for the final 12.51 years of his teaching career at Kettering Fairmont High School. He was the assistant softball coach at Fairmont East when the team won the Class AAA state softball championship in 1982. He was the head coach of girls’ soccer at Kettering Fairmont from 1985-1995 and was awarded by the membership of the Ohio Scholastic Soccer Coaches Association and the Ohio High School Athletic Association its first ever “Sportsmanship, Ethics, and Integrity Award” (SEI) for girls’ soccer in 1995. He was also the head coach of softball at Oakwood High School from 1990-2002. He was extremely proud when the 1998 Oakwood softball team, which was the Southwestern Buckeye League (SWBL), Dayton District II Sectional and Dayton District II District Champions, was inducted into the Oakwood High School Athletic Hall of Fame in 2018. In 2006, Denny was inducted into the Kettering City Schools’ Chester A. Roush Educational Hall of Fame. In 2024, Denny was inducted into the Kettering Fairmont Athletic Hall of Fame. He thoroughly enjoyed teaching and coaching. He was very proud of his Life Membership in the Fairmont Association of Retired TeacherS. From 1977-1984, Denny was also a member of the Ninth Virginia Regiment in the Continental Line for the re-enactment of Revolutionary War battles. This group re-enacted the events at many of the actual sites such as Valley Forge, PA, Monmouth, NJ, Cowpens, SC, and Yorktown, VA. They also traveled to Paris, France in 1983 to represent the United States government by participating in ceremonies for the 200th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Paris/Versailles. Denny believed that he never worked a day in his life. He just only went to school and loved every minute of it. His pride and joy were his family. 

Denny is survived by his loving wife and “DePauw Sweetheart” of 60 years Marilyn, whom he met and with whom he fell in love while both were students at DePauw. Survivors also include his daughter Julianne Priser and grandson Cody Priser of Kettering, OH and his son Jim Priser and his wife Myra of Naperville, IL and grandsons Justin, Jake, and Cole Priser. He is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law Jack Priser (DePauw ’59) and Suan Weikert Priser (DePauw ’60) of Lancaster, OH, by his sister-in-law Carol Mead Todd LaBorde (DePauw ’60) of Montrose, CO, by brother-in-law David Steele of Copper Mountain, CO, and by many nieces and nephews. 

Denny has been cremated. There will be a joint Celebration of Life service following the passing of his beloved wife Marilyn. The inurnment of their ashes will be at Glen Haven Memorial Gardens, New Carlisle, OH and will be held at the convenience of the family.

If one so wishes, memorial contributions may be made in his name to “The Fund for DePauw” and designated for “Student Scholarships” at DePauw University, PO Box 37, Greencastle, IN 46135.