Dennis Lawrence Papini
February 4, 1965 — November 25, 2015
Dennis Lawrence Papini, loving husband, father, son, brother, nephew, uncle, and friend passed away in his home on November 25 after a courageous four-year battle with cancer. Dennis was born in Chicago, Illinois, on February 4, 1965 to Alessandro and Elena Papini. He grew up in Long Beach, California, with his siblings Robert, Linda, and Elizabeth and as part of the extended Gagliardi family. Dennis attended St. Matthew’s Catholic School and graduated from St. Anthony High School in 1983. He attended California State University, Long Beach. Dennis met his future wife, Lisa (Dante), in 1992, and they were married in 1997 at St. Bartholomew’s Catholic Church. He and Lisa had three children: Alessandra, born in 1999, Sofia, born in 2001, and Nico, born in 2005. Completing the family is a furry friend, a terrier named Buzz Lightyear. He loved his children and family with all his heart. They were truly the loves of his life. Dennis was a realtor and a general contractor, but the role he was most proud of was stay-at-home dad. He loved fishing, particularly salt water fishing, with his brother Robert and friends. He later became an avid fly fisherman. His passion for cooking delighted his family and friends, and he taught his children to prepare healthy meals and specialty dishes at a young age. Dennis was very active volunteering at his kids’ schools and taking part in their activities. He also volunteered with Warriors in Quiet Waters in Montana serving as a fishing companion for traumatically wounded service members, although he was battling Stage IV cancer at the same time. He also volunteered in many roles and for many years with the Steel Magnolias of the Stramski Children’s Developmental Center. Dennis was very friendly and loved people, making connections with people everywhere he went. He was a truly kind-hearted, generous, and loving person. The family wishes to thank the physicians, nurses, and staff at the Samuel Oschin Cancer Center at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center for their commitment, dedication, passion, and their unwavering support of Dennis and the Papini family. Donations can be made in Dennis’s name to the charities that he supported: Steel Magnolias of the Stramski Children’s Developmental Center at Long Beach Memorial Hospital (http://thesteelmagnolias.org) or Warriors and Quiet Waters in Bozeman, Montana (http://warriorsandquietwaters.org).
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