Dennis John “Denny” Herlihy

Dennis John “Denny” Herlihy died peacefully with his only son, Scott, by his side in Austin, Texas on Sunday, March 23, 2025. He had just celebrated his 90^th birthday on March 8, 2025 with Scott and Scott’s wife, Amanda.

Named after his grandfather Dennis who immigrated from Skibbereen, County Cork, Ireland through Ellis Island in 1872, Dennis was born on March 8, 1935 at Shelby Hospital in Shelby, Ohio, the youngest child of James Michael & Catherine Cecelia (Metzger) Herlihy. Growing up at 32 Raymond Avenue, he attended St. Mary’s School just across the street and was a 1953 graduate of Shelby High School. Following in his older brother Bill’s footsteps, he enrolled at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, graduating in 1957 with a B.A. in Education and later received a master’s degree in Guidance and Counselling in 1967 from Miami.

Denny served in the US Army and was honorably discharged as a Sergeant. He took his first teaching position at Hamilton Junior High School in Hamilton, Ohio.

On August 19, 1967, Denny married Barbara Richter. To this union was born one son, Scott, who survives along with his wife Amanda, of Austin, Texas.

Denny taught in public schools in Skokie, Illinois, was the Assistant Principal in Kenosha, Wisconsin, then High School Principal in Burlington, Wisconsin. He went on to serve as the Assistant Principal at Alvin Junior High School in Alvin, Texas, then as the Assistant Superintendent for both the Galveston and Bryan, Texas school districts. He retired in 1996.

After moving to New Orleans in 1996, Denny worked as a supervisor of college students doing their practice teaching at local elementary schools, passing along his years of experience to the next generation of educators. He lived in New Orleans until 2021, when he moved to Austin, Texas.

He enjoyed many cultural and civic opportunities while living in New Orleans and was very involved with the Uptown Triangle Neighborhood Association. He also enjoyed cooking, collecting first-day-issue commemorative stamp covers, watching old movies, going to local coffee shops, and spending time with his faithful and beloved miniature Schnauzer, named “Girl.”

Also surviving are one sister, Anne C. (Emile) John of Willard; sister-in-law Joanne Herlihy of Middleburg Heights, Ohio, and numerous nieces, nephews, great- and great-great-nieces and nephews, and many friends.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by siblings: Rosemary (John) Bertka, James (Edna) Herlihy, and William “Bill” Herlihy.

Denny’s memorial Mass will be held on Saturday, April 26, 2025 at 11 am at Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Church, 29 West Street, Shelby, OH 44875 with Fr. Jeff Smith celebrating. Family members and friends are welcome to gather at the church, prior to Mass, beginning at 10:30 am. Dennis will be laid to rest next to his parents and among his deceased siblings at Most Pure Heart of Mary Catholic Cemetery, Shelby.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Sheeran-Crowley Trust https://www.sheerancrowley.org/donate; the Uptown Triangle Neighborhood Association, P.O. Box 850105, New Orleans, LA 7018; or to the Wounded Warrior Project.