Maria Rieger

When I think of Brother Dennis, I think of a towering figure. I think of greatness.

Although I've been privileged to meet important and wise people along the years in my life in several continents, no one had the breadth and depth of knowledge and capacity for work that Brother Dennis had.

From being an instructor, teacher, archivist and illustrious historian to his work as an arborist, growing from grasses to redwood trees, his extensive knowledge left one in constant amazement.

I remember a game my father used to teach my brother and me as children in Spain, which consisted in playing with an Encyclopedia by looking up a word or name, like Rome for instance, and then following all other names mentioned in that entry, like Caesar, Romulus, etc. till their ramifications extended to infinity. Talking to Bro. Dennis was much like that. Mention of a given place in Moraga, or actually anywhere in the world, would open the floodgates of his knowledge and he would jump from one subject to the next, with great facility and interest, while one listened in amazement.

At the same time, like most great people, he was modest and unassuming. In a group of people he was slow to talk and let others carry the conversation, but when he talked all listened to his soft voice, knowing that what he said was important.

His capacity for work was incredible, and if he had any defect it was to expect others to be just as dedicated, not patient with excuses and lack of effort. Sometimes after he retired, when we talked on the phone to his home in Napa, he would give me so many things to research, look up or obtain that it would keep the entire staff of the History Center busy for a while, as I spread out his requests. Others had the same experiences with his thirst for knowledge and accomplishments.

Needless to say, the majority of the research material, objects and collections that the Society has at the Center were either made or obtained by him along a life of study and effort. It was for him a "labor of love" as he often mentioned and we are blessed with the results of this great man's legacy.

I hope that we can be worthy successors of his leadership.

Back to Main Page