Robert C. Denz

1924 - 2018

SOUTH SUTTON – Robert C. Denz, 93, of South Sutton died on February 8 at Woodcrest Village in New London. 

Bob was born in Norwalk, Conn. on February 27, 1924, the third child of John William Denz and Sarah Young Denz.  He grew up in Norwalk and attended Norwalk schools.  His memories of his childhood are joyful and exuberant. He reveled in street ball games, sledding down Raymond Terrace, and riding his Elgin bike down the then-under construction Merritt Parkway.  He was a great friend and had great friends whose names he remembered all his life. He loved animals. From early boyhood, Bob was fascinated by radios and determined to understand how messages were sent and received over distances.  He graduated from Norwalk High in 1941 and went on to RCA radio school in New York City. On his evening trips home from the city, watching out the train window, he practiced translating the passing billboards into Morse code.  

One year and one day after Pearl Harbor, Bob enlisted in the Navy where he knew he'd be able to put his radio skills to good use. After twelve weeks of boot camp in Newport R.I. and four more months of radio school in Bedford Springs, he worked at Cheltenham, Md., the main east coast station for receiving radio messages from the war zone, and then was assigned to the light cruiser USS Vincennes which was active in the Marianas, and instrumental in the battle of the Philippines.     

After the war, Bob majored in American History and politics at Catholic University in Washington D.C. On a blind date, he met Martha Brooks and they married on September 10, 1949, and were happily married until Marty passed away in 2003. 

In the spring of 1951, Bob ran into an old classmate who was finishing the New Agents' class at the Federal Bureau of Investigation.  He suggested Bob look into it. Bob called the DOJ, was interviewed and hired. Graduation ceremonies at CU were on a Saturday in May, and Bob was in Quantico on Monday.  He worked as a "brick agent" in Newport News, Norfolk and Detroit, as Inspector and Assistant Supervisor in Detroit, Washington D.C., New York City, and as Supervisor of the Portland Oregon office. He retired in December 1976 as Special Agent in Charge of the New York City office. The "best job in the world," he called it.  His career in the Bureau held the kids in our family in constant thrall, leading one nephew to dub him "Elliott Ness." 

In 1976, Bob and Marty moved to South Sutton, N.H., and Bob managed the Governor's Crime Prevention Program. He also served as Assistant Director and Executive Director of the New Hampshire Lottery.  As member and consultant to the Association of Retired Intelligence Officers, Bob traveled to Scotland Yard, Whitehall and Bletchley Park.  Since 1991, Bob has been a dedicated volunteer for AARP NH, serving as acting President and its chief spokesperson.  He helped initiate and was active in AARP's Fraud Watch Network.  Issues affecting seniors, veterans and the more vulnerable citizens of our communities were near and dear to his heart. He acquired tremendous expertise in these and was in demand as a speaker at various organizations throughout the state. Fiercely active during political campaign seasons, he was the one who kept senior issues up top of the candidates' agendas.  He hosted Senior Speak on Concord Cable TV.

Bob was predeceased by his wife Martha, his sister Dorothy, his brother John, and his good friend Gerrie Porter. He is survived by his son Paul, daughter-in-law Laurie, and granddaughter Catherine of Parkton Md., by his daughter Sarah of Andover N.H., and several nieces, nephews and grand nieces and nephews.

Bob was befriended and beloved by so many.  Words are not adequate to describe how he'll be missed.

Bob was a parishioner of Our Lady of Fatima in New London.

Friends may call at the Chadwick Funeral Home, 235 Main Street, New London on Monday, February 12, 2018 from 4:00-6:00 P.M.  A funeral mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, February 13, 2018 at 11:00 A.M. at Our Lady of Fatima Church, 724 Main Street, New London.  Burial will be in Pine Hill Cemetery, Sharon, VT in the spring.

In his memory memorial donations may be made to Tracy Memorial Library, 304 Main Street, New London, NH  03257.