In the fall of 1969, Dennis Haas, then a Marianist brother, joined the Chaminade family. For 48 years, in his own quiet and humble way, he served the school in various capacities, and made lasting connections with four decades of alumni, parents, and employees.
Chaminade College Preparatory is deeply saddened to announce Dennis died on February 17, 2017 in West Hills, California. He was 70-years-old.
According to the Fall 1969 issue of Chaminotes, Dennis came to Chaminade by way of Honolulu Trade Tech, where he majored in carpentry. By the 1970-1971 school year, Dennis was campus manager of the West Hills campus; and he served as a Marianist from 1965 to 1974.
While he did not always work at Chaminade (he was a customer hardware technical support representative for IBM after he gradated from Pierce College), Dennis was a fixture on campus. He led KAIROS retreats, served as moderator for LIFE workshops, chaperoned various student activities, and helped the Advancement Office with archives and events. Perhaps what most in the Chaminade family will remember him for are the pictures he took, and the time he spent with the drama department. The 1988 yearbook was dedicated to him, “The Man with the Camera.”
Dennis was a 1964 graduate of Archbishop Riordan High School in San Francisco. His physics teacher was former Chaminade President, Fr. Allen DeLong. After graduating from Riordan, Dennis entered the Marianist religious community and moved to Cupertino.
During a Mass on Friday, February 17, 1989, the school celebrated the founding of Chaminade College Preparatory. Dennis was honored as one of Chaminade’s first Founders, 28 years ago; a fitting milestone for the uniquely simple and humble man who served Chaminade for so many years.
So sorry to hear. I, too, remember him as a quiet and humble guy – going about his custodial duties with little fanfare and doing his service well. I’m sure he’ll be busy doing similar stuff up in Heaven!
Dennis attended St. Anne’s Grammar School in San Francisco, CA – the class of 1960. Many of us knew him since kindergarten. As many learned later in his life, he was indeed a gentle and kind person. He will be missed but not forgotten by his childhood friends and fellow students. Rest peacefully, Dennis. Larry Dito, St. Anne’s Class of 1960
Dennis was a good guy. My prayers and thoughts go out to his family and close friends.
I remember Dennis fondly as a classmate at both St. Anne’s and Riordan. Just always a very nice person and a friend you could count on. Absent the body and present with the Lord!