Dennis Henry Cleary

1949 - 2014

OCEANSIDE, CALIF. >> Dennis Henry Cleary, 65, of Oceanside, Calif. died of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma on June 15, 2014 at Pacifica House, Hospice of the North Coast, in Carlsbad, Calif.
Mr. Cleary was born May 3, 1949 in Willimantic, Conn. to Charles F. and Geraldine A. Cleary. The family moved to Weymouth, Mass. in 1953 and to Oneida, N.Y. in 1960. A 1967 Oneida High School graduate, Mr. Cleary was yearbook editor, a National Honor Society member, and a New York State Regents Scholarship winner.
Mr. Cleary earned the B.S. in History in 1971 from Niagara University, where he was Student Government President. He joined the Reserve Officer Training Corps, later serving as Captain, AG, Army Reserve for eight years. He graduated from Cornell University Law School in 1974.
In 1975 Mr. Cleary married the former Jane Cole (nee Zeller), who brought her young son Justin to the union, which was then blessed with another son, Daniel. That marriage ended in 1989, and in 1990 Mr. Cleary married Major Diana Martin (U.S. Army, ret.) and they raised the boys together.
Mr. Cleary practiced real estate law in Central New York and retired to Oceanside, Calif. in 1998. An avid bridge player and director, Mr. Cleary and his wife owned the Vista Bridge Club from 1999-2004. Because of their extensive volunteer work, Mr. and Mrs. Cleary were co-recipients of the City of Oceanside's Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Service Award in 2010.
Mr. Cleary is survived by his wife, Diana; two sons, Justin Cole (Genora) and Daniel Cleary (Soraya); three grandchildren, Ashley Cole, Daniel Cole and Devaj Cleary; his mother, Gerry C. Pardy; two brothers, Paul Cleary (Mary Leo) and Philip Cleary; two stepbrothers, Robert Pardy (Carol) and Tracy Pardy; a nephew, Kevin Cleary; a sister-in-law, Phyllis Martin; an uncle, Maurice Smith (Mary Alice); an aunt, Marguerite Cooke Smith, and numerous cousins. He was predeceased by his stepfather, William T. Pardy; his father, Charles F. Cleary; an uncle, Thomas M. Smith; and a stepbrother, Roy Pardy.
A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, June 28 at 3 p.m. at Pilgrim United Church of Christ, 2020 Chestnut Ave., Carlsbad. An inurnment at Miramar National Cemetery will follow at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests a contribution to Hospice of the North Coast, 2525 Pio Pico Drive, Ste. 301, Carlsbad, Calif. 92008.