Dennis J Deshaies

Dennis J. Deshaies, 88, of St Augustine passed away on November 7th. He was born in Albany, New York in 1932 the third of four children to Antonia (neé Lacaire) and Moïse Deshaies.

He is survived by: his three daughters, Catherine Deshaies Crist (Randy) their children, Berlin (Allison) and Sarah-Elizabeth; Suzanne Deshaies; Jeanne-Marie Deshaies Fournier and her son, Zachary; his two nieces and four nephews and was especially close to Darlene Morehouse and Christopher (Jacine) Robinson; 12 Great nieces and nephews; and, 11 Great-great nieces and nephews and his former wife Jean (Alfred) Michaelis. He had many friends throughout his life and those especially close to him were: Nate Caplan, Dacia Van Antwerp Denton, and Jim Strayer.

He was predeceased by his parents; siblings; Paulette (Donald) Rich, John Deshaies, and Lorraine (Gary) Robinson; grandson, Alexander Crist, and niece, Elizabeth Robinson.

As part of a close-knit French-Canadian family, he grew up in poverty moving from place to place within the immigrant quarter of the city. His parents worked hard to make the best of their experience and were proud to become Americans and forever grateful for the opportunities this country would provide for their children. His mother worked as a saleswoman at Woolworths on Pearl St. and later as a cook for NYS College. His father took the bus to Troy to work as an armature winder (electrician).

As a first generation American he understood firsthand how poverty and equal access to educational and employment opportunities were the key to success. He was proud to serve our country during the Korean War. After his service he was eligible for the GI Bill which enabled him to attend college attaining a BA from Russel Sage College-Troy and an AM in Sociology at the University of Chicago. The same GI Bill made it possible for him to purchase a home.

He spent his career in human services and human resource management, trying to make the world a better place. He founded Élan Vital and the Growth Center to provide counseling services regardless of ability to pay. He was instrumental in the development of a program at Jackson State Prison to provide training and job opportunities in the auto industry. After retirement he served as President of Humanists of Northeast Florida, authored many articles, and enjoyed keeping his wits sharp with the Socrates Club.

He retired to Florida and lived with his brother John, until his death in 2003. They were inseparable as children and looked out for one another their entire adult life. Some of our best memories come from family gatherings around a small kitchen table in New York, at their sister Paulette’s home (his Mother lived there in her last twenty years of life as well). “The boys” as they were fondly referred to would have all of us in stitches as they regaled us with their childhood shenanigans. Grandma and Paulette would give us a gentle smile and shake their heads, every once in a while, joining in with the roaring laughter. It was difficult to get him to smile for a picture, but he always had a good story to tell, often not able to get to a punch line without laughing uncontrollably.

He was an idealist and creative thinker focused on the possibilities of a good life; he was an optimist at his core and lived well beyond the years anyone expected. He never forgot his roots and spent is lifetime trying to make a difference in this world, engaging in social justice activities and organizations, from Chicago to Detroit to St. Augustine.