Dennis S. Greene

Dennis S. Greene was born December 7, 1935, in New York City to William M. Greene and Rita E. Venn.  He grew up in Queens, NY and the surrounding area, graduating from Great Neck High School in 1953.  He attended Cornell University, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Animal Husbandry.  Later in life he earned a Master of Science degree in International Affairs from George Washington University and an executive MBA degree from the University of Colorado – Boulder. 

Upon graduating from Cornell in 1957, he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in the U.S. Army.  He served 30 years in the Army, as an artillery officer, reaching the rank of Colonel. His career path took him to postings in Germany, Vietnam, Thailand, Korea, Colombia, the Pentagon, and numerous Army posts in the United States.  In Germany, he met Riitta Lassila in 1958 and they married on February 7, 1959, in Wildflecken, Germany.  They had three children:  Steve, Karen (Dave), and Rick (Tamela) and five grandchildren.

After retirement from the Army, Dennis taught cross cultural adaptation and management consultation courses at Metro State University in Denver and worked in commercial real estate with Trammell Crow and Vector Properties for nearly 20 years. He served as president of the Denver chapter of the Building Owners and Managers Association and was active in the Denver Downtown Partnership.  In his spare time, he enjoyed reading, writing (including writing his autobiography), sports (especially the Broncos), and traveling - with his motto being "100 before 100”. He made it to 86 countries.  He will truly be missed.

He was preceded in death by his parents and half-brother, William H. Greene, and is survived by his wife, children and grandchildren, sister, Sande Greene, and several nieces and nephews.   

A Memorial Service will be held Friday, January 26, 2024 at 11:30am at Horan & McConaty (11150 E. Dartmouth Ave., Aurora, Colorado).  In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Disabled American Veterans or any veterans related organization, in honor of Dennis.