Dennis Paul Prater Sr.

1941 - 2021

Dennis Paul Prater, Sr.
Kittery, ME - Beloved father, grandpa, and Pressroom regular, Dennis 'Denny' Paul Prater Sr., slipped away peacefully on Wednesday, March 24, 2021. He was 79. Denny was born in Palo Alto, California to Paul and Agnes (Cain) Prater on August 16, 1941. From a very early age, Denny was fascinated by cars; He spent his teenage years hot-rodding, cruising, and racing with friends in his first love, a 1950 Olds. Denny began his career in the warehouse of a small manufacturing firm, ultimately becoming president decades later. As for home life, he raised a family with his wife Diane in Redwood City, California. In 2008, Denny moved to Kittery, Maine to be closer to his daughter and granddaughters. Despite his regular complaints about the weather, Denny adored living on the Seacoast. A perfect day for Denny consisted of driving along backroads and scenic highways, windows down with a cigarette fixed between his lips. Denny also enjoyed maintaining and restoring cars, particularly when doing so with his son Dennis. Other treasured pastimes entailed listening to Joan Baez, fishing, hunting with his Brittany Spaniel, and flipping through Hemmings Motor News. His favorite places included Hawaii, Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, and San Francisco. Denny was a lover of all animals, especially dogs, house cats and big cats, hamsters, and horses. Most recently, he enjoyed summer days in Kennebunkport Harbor with his daughter Deidre, evenings watching M*A*S*H with his granddaughter Alex, and afternoons hanging out in downtown Portsmouth. As everyone knows, Denny's sarcasm was bar none, and his ingenuity present until the very end. Denny is survived by daughter Deidre Smyrnos and her husband John of Epping, NH, son Dennis Prater Jr. and his wife Manuela of Surprise, AZ, and ex-wife Diane Prater of Tucson, AZ. He also leaves behind four grandchildren whom he loved dearly; Alex Smyrnos, Taylor Smyrnos, Jeremie Prater, and Jordon Marcantonio, as well as three great-grandchildren. He is predeceased by brothers Ronnie Prater and Roy Jacopetti. No formal service will be held. In lieu of flowers, please tip your favorite servers and other hospitality staff generously. It's very much what Denny would have wanted.