Dennis John Dougherty

Dennis was born to the loving family of Herbert Franklin and Helen Bertha Dougherty, January 22, 1949. Home, was on the Magothy River next to the Magothy River Bridge. Dennis' parents referred to this first home as "The Shack" as it had no indoor plumbing and needed a lot of work. Later Herb, his brother Ed and his father built the family's "Forever Home" up the hill with many upgrades and comforts. Dennis attended Pasadena Elementary School where his mom was a substitute teacher. Dennis thought she took the job just to keep an eye on him. As a child of the times, he was a Cub Scout and played Baseball on a Little League team. Dennis had a host of friends and family in the neighborhood, some of which were lifelong friends.
Favorite childhood pastimes were anything that had to do with the river; fishing, swimming, and boating. Dennis' father loved the river and working with wood and built two boats; a 16 foot power boat and a 12 foot runabout for Dennis. Loving the water, they bought a vacation home in Montego Bay in Ocean City and spent many weekends there.
Dennis attended Severna Park High School and graduated in 1967.
He attended Anne Arundel Community College and graduated with an Associate Arts in Multimedia Technology. He graduated from University of Baltimore with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and minor in Psychology.
His love of photography started at a the young age of seven with a gift of a box camera. This love developed into a 45 year successful career in the field of Audio/Visual Media Technology. This fulfilling career started at Baltimore City Hospitals and Johns Hopkins Medical Institution School of Health Services. He moved a management position at the Anne Arundel County Central Services Department and the Arts Commission. His last position with Anne Arundel County was at the Police Academy at Police Headquarters in the photo lab using specialized digital photography for evidential photos for the law offices. He retired in 2014.
Another artistic passion for Dennis was music. Listening to music with Dennis was like being invited to a private concert. There were times when the Altec Lansing concert speakers vibes would shake the curtains off the windows. Dennis learned to play guitar and joined friends and family in the band called "The Shaperalles". They played at every event and opportunity and were a great hit.
He also loved to travel and took a tour of Europe starting with a visit to cousin Dale Hackmann and family in Germany. From there traveled to Austria, Italy, Venice and Switzerland. On a later trip later a trip Dennis traveled to South America to to Machu Picchu in the mountain range of the Andes in Peru.
Dennis and Diane Ferguson were married in 1989 and bought a house and a boat and enjoyed many good times with family and friends.
The family has always been a close one, sharing love of food, laughter, music, and a good card game. When his parents got older and needed help he moved home to care for them. His dad passed peacefully in the home he had built and lived in most of his life. Years later when is mom needs were beyond what he could provide Dennis searched the area diligently for the best assisted living care home. Dennis visited her every other day even during COVID and would call her from outside the window of her room and they would chat. His mom passed at the age of 103.
Dennis passed suddenly of a heart attack in his childhood home. I have no doubt that he was surrounded by the spirits of family and friends who have gone before and welcomed him home. Those of us who knew and loved him will miss his kind, loving, and generous personality, his creative talents and his loving spirit.
A gathering of family and friends for a celebration of Dennis' life will be held at a later date.
Donations in Dennis' name can be made to the Magothy River Association.

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This obituary beautifully captures the essence of Dennis John Dougherty's life, highlighting his upbringing, childhood memories, and the details of the upcoming celebration of his life. It also provides a meaningful way for those who knew him to honor his memory through charitable donations.