MADISON - David Coates Denison passed away on Sunday, March 6, 2022, at Meriter Hospital, after a short illness. He was born on March 24, 1934, in Grant Hospital in Chicago, to Joseph and Dorothy (Coates) Denison.

David served in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1955, an experience that later led him to become involved with Veterans for Peace. In 1956, he married Marie Gibson and they had three children. They later divorced, but the children have many memories of spending holidays, birthdays, and vacations with him. These included excursions in Chicago and later in Wisconsin, and David made it a point to take the kids to Expo ’67, a World’s Fair, held in Montreal, Canada, which was a formative experience for them.

David worked for the Canadian Consulate in Chicago, and after first moving to Vernon County in Wisconsin in 1970, and subsequently to Madison in 1977, he worked for Dane County Social Services, Wisconsin Department of Revenue, and finally as a Social Security adjudicator, retiring in 1996.

He met Diana DuPont in 1990, and they married in 1997. Along with her son, Josh, they also enjoyed many trips to Canada and Lake Superior.

David was a pacifist and progressive, with a passion for fairness and equality for all. In 1964, after three Civil Rights workers were killed, he traveled to Mississippi as an outside agitator, working towards desegregation and voter registration efforts. Attending the weekly Socialist Potluck and annual Fighting Bob Fest were particular favorite activities.

David is survived by his loving wife, Diana DuPont; and his stepson, Joshua Slomski. He is further survived by his children, Nicole Denison, David Denison (Alice) and Valerie Porcello; grandsons, Seth Denizen (Tat) and Niccolo Porcello (Sasha); great-granddaughter, Ona Bonvehi-Denizen; and his sister, Sarah Hazeltine, mother of Richard and Kristiana.

The family would like to thank the staff of Oak Park Place East for all the excellent care and kindness extended to him on the Memory Care Unit over the last year, especially Pat, RN; Paige, and Jazmine; along with administrators, Becky and Jennifer; Gail Gaustad, NP; and Dr. Shropshire, and Dr. Mozina. Lastly, much gratitude for the Meriter Hospital Surgery and ICU staff, who all helped make David’s final transition calm and peaceful.

Visitation will be held at GUNDERSON EAST FUNERAL AND CREMATION CARE, 5203 Monona Drive, Madison, from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 10, 2022.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to the ACLU (https://action.aclu.org/give/now) or to the Madison, WI Clarence Kaitlin chapter of Veterans For Peace (https://madisonvfp.org/) would be greatly appreciated. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com.

Gunderson East

Funeral & Cremation Care

5203 Monona Drive

(608) 221-5420

David Denison

March 24, 1934 - March 06, 2022

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