Dennis Calkins

DeWitt resident Dennis P. Calkins, 86, was not a stranger to marathons and hard fights. He ran the Boston Marathon in the year following his 50th birthday. He ran the Mountain Goat in Syracuse every year for decades, and created the graphics for several of that event's t-shirts.
On October 21 this year, he finished his most valiant marathon, against stage-four prostate cancer. He never complained or took the frustrations of his situation out on others, and he leaves family and a large group of friends who love and remember him for many things. Including, apparently, many children of the 60s who were fans of Verry Hairy, sidekick of Baron Daemon on Colorful Channel 9, then known as WNYS TV. This was a sidebar to his career as Art Director at Syracuse's third network station. Unlike today's electronically generated graphics, what you saw in the 1960s was designed, built, and made camera-ready by a studio crew led by a person in Dennis' position.

Dennis was born in Fulton, NY, on October 11, 1938, the son of Porter and Cora Baker Calkins. He lived with them and his older brother Dorr at the family farm on the Calkins Road, until they moved to Division Street in Fulton in time to celebrate the end of World War II.
He attended public schools in Fulton, graduating in 1956. He took evening courses at Syracuse University and started a vigorous freelance commercial art business that eventually brought him to the attention of Phil Markert at Channel 9 in Syracuse, where the new ABC affiliate was about to go on the air in 1962. That was to be his career until his retirement in 2003 from what had become WIXT (now WSYR). He designed the station's 30-year broadcast center at the NY State Fair, its 40th-anniversary Parade of Horses entry "Ruby," and numerous signature logos, sets and promotional materials for 9's programs and promotions. Along the way he also contributed time and talent to Make-A-Wish of Central New York, Syracuse University, and numerous volunteer committees and events.

He is survived by his wife, Lois C. Gridley; five children: Dennise (Spencer) Adams, Denneva Calkins, Dawnne (Austin) Rose, Christopher (Lisa) Calkins, and Dianne (Ken) Gridley-Calkins Pugh; five grandchildren: Jessica VanNostrand, Madison Calkins, Matthew Klier, Emi Adams, and Alex Calkins; two great-grandsons, Cameron Calhoun and Josh VanNostrand; nieces Tracee Roye, Jamie Watson, and Caroline Lois Miller Jordan; and nephew Dorr B.C. Begnal. He was predeceased by great-granddaughter Jullia Lyn.

A celebration of Dennis and all of us who he loved will be held beginning at 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 26, at Drumlins Country Club, in the University room.Dennis and his family would like to thank Hospice of Central New York and Hematology Oncolgy Associates, especially Dr. Ajeet Gajra for their encouragement and strategic help during his last marathon. It will never be forgotten. Please make donations in his honor and memory to your favorite nonprofit or cause.