Dennis' Story
June 28, 2020
His journey began on June 2, 1937 in Topeka, Kansas. Dennis was born to parents Vernon Reed and Vada Burson Weathers and brother of two sister, Ann Gallion and Bonnie Lou Weathers Klein.
Dennis, was a lover of the arts from a young child, he spent all his spare time doodling and eventually went to University of Kansas to study Jewelry Design and Art.
In 1965 he moved to San Francisco to work for Shreve and Co. as a custom designer. He continued his career with other fine jewelry companies in San Francisco and Sausalito, as well as owning his own jewelry store "Denise's Wedding Ring Shop" before retiring in 1997.
Thant same year, Dennis was approached by two ladies on the streets of San Francisco and asked him if he would like to attend a Buddhist meeting, which he attended and then joined the organization SGI-USA. (then called NSA), and dedicated 53 years of practice till the day he passed.
Dennis was a pioneer in the organizations world peace movement and pored his life into his practice. Besides spending 7 days a week doing buddhist activities as a member, then a Chapter and District leader, he worked for the World Tribune as a photographer, and a founding member of the Lions Pipe and Drumb Core.
During the fist couple years of his practice he met his wife Akiko who was also a SGI-USA member and they practiced together in the same district, fell in love, married, and had a daughter Denise. They were happily married for 52 years.
Dennis' love for jewelry design did not stop after he retired and he continued to create jewelry for friends and family. However he then reconnected with his passion of art and began to start painting and continued to improve his craft and continued until the day he passed. His love of painting started with landscape and flowers, then he assumed a obsession with Lighthouses, which 90% are about, and finally he added portraits of family, friends and a his mentors; Diasaku Ikeda and Josei Toda.
Over the years Dennis suffered with health issues, but in 2019 was when his health would suffer the most. He broke his hip, while in rehab facility he had a heart attach and other obstacles, but was able to come through and make it home.
A few months later, he ended up in the hospital again and was diagnosed with blood infection that medication was not curing. The Dr's gave him two options of either heart surgery which was very dangerous or to go home in hospice and spend his last weeks with his family, which is what he did. During his time at home he had his ups and downs and from a diagnosis of two weeks he lived out his last days for 5 months and even celebrated one last birthday.
On June 15, 2020 after a long fight, Dennis took his last breath in the loving care of his wife Akiko, daughter Denise and son-in-law Eric by his side.
Dennis, was a lover of the arts from a young child, he spent all his spare time doodling and eventually went to University of Kansas to study Jewelry Design and Art.
In 1965 he moved to San Francisco to work for Shreve and Co. as a custom designer. He continued his career with other fine jewelry companies in San Francisco and Sausalito, as well as owning his own jewelry store "Denise's Wedding Ring Shop" before retiring in 1997.
Thant same year, Dennis was approached by two ladies on the streets of San Francisco and asked him if he would like to attend a Buddhist meeting, which he attended and then joined the organization SGI-USA. (then called NSA), and dedicated 53 years of practice till the day he passed.
Dennis was a pioneer in the organizations world peace movement and pored his life into his practice. Besides spending 7 days a week doing buddhist activities as a member, then a Chapter and District leader, he worked for the World Tribune as a photographer, and a founding member of the Lions Pipe and Drumb Core.
During the fist couple years of his practice he met his wife Akiko who was also a SGI-USA member and they practiced together in the same district, fell in love, married, and had a daughter Denise. They were happily married for 52 years.
Dennis' love for jewelry design did not stop after he retired and he continued to create jewelry for friends and family. However he then reconnected with his passion of art and began to start painting and continued to improve his craft and continued until the day he passed. His love of painting started with landscape and flowers, then he assumed a obsession with Lighthouses, which 90% are about, and finally he added portraits of family, friends and a his mentors; Diasaku Ikeda and Josei Toda.
Over the years Dennis suffered with health issues, but in 2019 was when his health would suffer the most. He broke his hip, while in rehab facility he had a heart attach and other obstacles, but was able to come through and make it home.
A few months later, he ended up in the hospital again and was diagnosed with blood infection that medication was not curing. The Dr's gave him two options of either heart surgery which was very dangerous or to go home in hospice and spend his last weeks with his family, which is what he did. During his time at home he had his ups and downs and from a diagnosis of two weeks he lived out his last days for 5 months and even celebrated one last birthday.
On June 15, 2020 after a long fight, Dennis took his last breath in the loving care of his wife Akiko, daughter Denise and son-in-law Eric by his side.