Robert Lee Denny's Obituary
Robert Lee Denny, 83, of San Diego, CA, passed away peacefully on July 10, 2024, in the palliative care unit of the VA hospital in La Jolla, California, due to poor recovery from heart failure and sepsis.
Robert was born on January 21, 1941, in Norwalk, Connecticut. He spent much of his youth in Columbia, South Carolina, where he married Shirley Riley and celebrated the birth of his first daughter, Shirley Ann Denny (Ann). Robert and Shirley graduated high school in 1960, and just two weeks after graduating, Robert enlisted in the United States Navy.
Robert completed boot camp in June 1960 and was joined shortly after by his wife and young daughter in Long Beach, California. Known affectionately as "Denny" by friends and colleagues alike, he distinguished himself as an exceptional leader and a passionate advocate for his fellow servicemen and women. His deployments across the globe—from Vietnam to Japan, the Philippines, Guam, and Thailand—earned him numerous accolades, including the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal with Star, and the Navy Achievement Medal with Star. After 26 years of service, Denny retired with the rank of Senior Chief, placing him among the top 4% of enlisted personnel—a distinction attained by only 2.5% of the entire enlisted Naval force. His unwavering commitment to mentorship and organizational effectiveness left an indelible mark on all who served alongside him.
Upon retiring from the Navy, Denny embarked on new endeavors, including a fulfilling career as a juvenile probation officer, a waiter and bouncer at the Petty Officer (PO) Club, and a 22-year career with the City of San Diego. During this transition, his now teenage children, Byron, Robbie, and Chemen, gave him the endearing moniker “Pop,” which spread to the workplace and community, where his leadership and compassionate guidance of countless young people made the name stick.
Pop loved the outdoors and was a role model for adventure and how to lead an active lifestyle. He was fearless, and his lifestyle was infectious. Pop welcomed everyone and is best known for his delicious large-scale cooking for absolutely anyone and everyone who walked through his door. He was an avid cyclist who always had an extra bike for neighborhood friends and family to join group rides around San Diego. He was the only person many in the neighborhood knew to join a marathon or 5k race. He was legendary at the local gym for his weightlifting and loved to “out-bench” any young challenger -laughing and smiling the entire time. Pop was the source of many neighborhood kids' first camping trip, tour of Yosemite, or visit to the Redwood Forest. He made us feel like we belonged anywhere.
Robert was preceded in death by his mother, Jeannette McClinton, and cousins Francis (Cookie) and Ruth (Betty). He is survived by his wife, Shirley Denny; his daughters, Shirley Ann Denny, Jeanette Celestine Ellis, and Chemen Mzima Neal; his sons Byron Edward Denny, Robert Lee Denny Junior, Jonathan Eugene Malietufa, Jacob Albert Clarence Curtis Denny, and Justin Woodell Denny, along with 15 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.
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