Denis John Curtin Sr.

Denis John Curtin, aged 86, of Silver Spring, MD entered eternal rest on Wednesday, November 19, 2025. Denis was born on October 4,1939 to Denis and Helen Curtin in New York City, NY. He is the older brother of Sister Joan Curtin and the two of them were raised in Woodside in Queens, New York amongst a large extended Irish Catholic family. Denis was a hard-working and talented student graduating from Rice High School before earning a scholarship to study physics at Iona College. He continued his studies at Catholic University in Washington, DC, where he earned an M.S. in physics and a doctorate in engineering.
On July 11, 1964, he married Patricia Kilmartin in New York.The new couple moved to Maryland where Patricia worked as a teacher and Denis continued his studies in Washington. His engineering and physics studies led to an interest and long career in solar cell research and their application in powering communication satellites.
Denis started his career at COMSAT Labs, a research and development company specializing in the design and operation of communication satellites and earth stations. He helped design and build satellites while leveraging his academic research to improve the solar cells and solar arrays powering satellite operations. Denis stayed with COMSAT for over twenty-five years managing projects leading to multiple successful satellite launches for countries around the world.
In 1988, Denis was recruited by the startup company Orion Network Systems to lead the building, launch, and operation of three planned satellites. Orion was acquired by Loral Corporation and Denis was kept on to lead the successful development of XTAR a joint venture with the Spanish government and Loral to build and manage two additional satellites. He served as COO of XTAR until his retirement in 2010. He has been recognized for his contributions to the aerospace engineering industry having been elected a Fellow of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics and received the AIAA Communications Award. In 2009, Denis was elected to the Communications Satellite Hall of Fame.
Denis and his wife loved to travel and shared many adventures throughout the U.S. and overseas. While he frequently traveled internationally for business including long stints in the Middle East, Europe, and Asia, Denis often reflected on the extraordinary trip he and Patricia took driving across the U.S. while on their honeymoon. His international travels likely shaped his connoisseur taste in wine. He refined his wine expertise by first attending and eventually leading numerous tastings in and around Washington, DC.
Denis and Patricia were blessed with four children and thirteen grandchildren. Patricia passed away last year, and Denis found peace and joy spending time with his children and grandchildren.
He is survived his daughters Beth Boyle (spouse Matt Boyle) and Rosemary Dailey (spouse James Dailey), sons Denis Curtin (spouse Elizabeth Curtin), and Peter Curtin (spouse Emily Curtin), and grandchildren James Dailey, Molly Boyle, Charles Dailey, Jack Curtin, Kate Boyle, Lucille Dailey, Andrew Curtin, Joseph Dailey, Liam Curtin, Sarah Curtin, Finn Boyle, Rebecca Curtin and Nora Curtin; Also survived by his sister Sister Joan Curtin CND, nephew William Baroni Jr., and brother-in-law William Baroni Sr. (spouse June Mulraz).
Visitation at Our Lady of Grace Church, 15661 Norbeck Blvd, Silver Spring, MD, Wednesday, December 3, 2025, from 10 to 11 a.m., followed by celebration of the Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. Interment Gate of Heaven Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Catholic Charities.