Dennis East II of Bowling Green, passed away on June 8, 2016 at Bridge Hospice. Born May 27, 1940 in Alton, Illinois to Mary Margaret Cornwell and Dennis (Dade) East of Jerseyville, Illinois, it was his mother’s birthday as well. Both of his parents preceded him death.Dennis graduated from Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois and earned his Master’s and PhD from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, with graduate studies in American History. In his professional work in libraries, archive and history, he was Supervisor of Field Services, 1963-5 at the State Historical Society of Wisconsin and an archivist from 1967-76 at Wayne State University’s Archives of Labor and Urban Affairs. In 1976, he became the State Archivist and Chief of the Archives-Library Division of the Ohio Historical Society in Columbus until 1988.
He then joined Bowling Green State University where he held positions as Assistant-Associate and Interim Dean of Libraries and Learning Resources until he retired in 1997. Following his retirement from BGSU, he headed the Archives Service Center at the University of Pittsburgh, 1999-2002.
A member of various library, archival and historical professional organizations during his career, he also authored several scholarly and popular articles related to libraries, archives and history. He also taught labor history and hosted a television program for work and labor studies at Wayne State and labor history for the Toledo Electrical Joint Apprenticeship and Training Program; white collar work for the University of Michigan-Dearborn, and the archives course for the Library School at Kent State University, among other teaching activities. Most recently Dennis served as chair of the Wood County Law Library Resources Board.
Growing up near St. Louis made him a life-long fan of the Cardinals baseball team and the years in Wisconsin made him a Green Bay Packers fan. A member of the BGSU Falcon Club, he supported the football and women’s basketball programs. He enjoyed annual hunting trips to South Dakota to hunt pheasants and hunting turkeys near his hometown in Illinois. Locally he belonged to the Forks Conservation Club.
Black Swamp Players was an endeavor he thoroughly enjoyed as an actor, producer, director, set builder beginning with his first experience in Hot L Baltimore to his last production in September, 2015, of The Black Bonspiel of Wullie McCrimmon.
As a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Perrysburg, he served as Clerk of Session and with his wife Kathy, assisted as youth advisor and teacher. They coordinated and participated in mission/youth work camp projects in West Virginia for more than 40 years.
Survivors include his wife of nearly 52 years, Kathy, sons Brian, of Oak Park, Il and Bradley, of Toledo. His sister Georgia K. Lee (Paul) lives in Towanda, IL. There are two grandchildren, Erin M. East (Brian) and Brayden L. East (Bradley), a nephew and several nieces, all of whom he was very fond.
A Celebration of Life service will be held Thursday, June 16, 2016 at
11am at First Presbyterian Church, 200 E. Second St., Perrysburg. A luncheon will follow.
Memorials can be made to WVA Work Camp c/o First Presbyterian Church, Perrysburg, Black Swamp Players (PO Box 601, BG), Maurer Cancer Center at Wood County Hospital, Bridge Hospice, or the donor’s choice.
The family extends heartfelt thanks to Bridge Hospice, the Maurer Cancer Center, Wood County Hospital, UTMC Cancer Center for their care and support during Dennis’ journey with pancreatic cancer.
