Dennis Behunick, Jr.
June 26, 1930 — June 8, 2016
Dennis (Whitey) S. Behunick, Jr., 85, a lifelong resident of Stamford passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family on Wednesday, June 8, 2016. He was born in Stamford on June 26, 1930 to the late Dennis S. Behunick, Sr. and Isabell Mickosawich Behunick.
His youth was spent living in the Cove section of Stamford, where he formed many lifelong friendships. He attended KT Murphy Elementary School, Roger’s Junior High School, Blessed Sacrament High School and Stamford High School, where he graduated in 1950. He continued his education at Bridgeport University on a sports scholarship. In 1948 while at SHS, Dennis was awarded the SHS Football Trophy for character accomplishment and outstanding ability. In 1949 he attended Blessed Sacrament where he was the team’s quarterback.
In 1952 he was drafted into the United States Marine Corp, where he did his basic training at Parris Island, SC and his Advanced Combat Training at Camp Pendleton, CA. The Korean War was on and he was deployed to Korea with the first Marine Division where he spent eight months in Korea, until he was deployed to Hawaii to play football for the Pearl Harbor Marines. The Marines won the Service Championship. Subsequently, Dennis was stationed back to the East Coast at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. It was there that he met the love of his life, Mary Ann. They married in August of 1955 and made Stamford their home. In 1956 Dennis played semi professional football with the Franklin Miners’. They were the league champions. In 1957 Dennis founded the Stamford Golden Bears football team. The first year they made the playoffs. In 1958 he retired from playing football but remained as a manager and that year the Stamford Golden Bears won the Tristate Championship.
Dennis stayed active in sports through coaching. For many years he coached Pop Warner, the Little League Baseball, and sponsored and coached the Sam Coppola Baseball League. On April 11, 2013 he was honored by the Stamford Historical Society for helping to unify Stamford as a community by his dedication to sports. On December 3, 2013 he was honored to be inducted into the Old Timer’s Athletic Association for his outstanding achievement in sports.
Dennis is survived by his beloved wife of sixty years, Mary Ann, his loving children Kathleen Behunick and her husband Carlos Palacios of Stamford, Dennis M. Behunick and his wife Michelle Oliver of Ridgefield, CT, Steve Behunick and his wife Anna of Stamford, as well as six grandchildren Kari Ann, Daniele, Nicole, Mia, Sophia and Dennis.
Family and friends may call at the Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Myrtle Avenue, Stamford on Monday, June 13, 2016 from 4:00-7:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, June 14, 2016 at 10:30 AM at the Church of St. Cecilia, 1184 Newfield Avenue, Stamford. Interment will be private.
To leave online condolences, please visit www.cognetta.com
His youth was spent living in the Cove section of Stamford, where he formed many lifelong friendships. He attended KT Murphy Elementary School, Roger’s Junior High School, Blessed Sacrament High School and Stamford High School, where he graduated in 1950. He continued his education at Bridgeport University on a sports scholarship. In 1948 while at SHS, Dennis was awarded the SHS Football Trophy for character accomplishment and outstanding ability. In 1949 he attended Blessed Sacrament where he was the team’s quarterback.
In 1952 he was drafted into the United States Marine Corp, where he did his basic training at Parris Island, SC and his Advanced Combat Training at Camp Pendleton, CA. The Korean War was on and he was deployed to Korea with the first Marine Division where he spent eight months in Korea, until he was deployed to Hawaii to play football for the Pearl Harbor Marines. The Marines won the Service Championship. Subsequently, Dennis was stationed back to the East Coast at the Brooklyn Navy Yard. It was there that he met the love of his life, Mary Ann. They married in August of 1955 and made Stamford their home. In 1956 Dennis played semi professional football with the Franklin Miners’. They were the league champions. In 1957 Dennis founded the Stamford Golden Bears football team. The first year they made the playoffs. In 1958 he retired from playing football but remained as a manager and that year the Stamford Golden Bears won the Tristate Championship.
Dennis stayed active in sports through coaching. For many years he coached Pop Warner, the Little League Baseball, and sponsored and coached the Sam Coppola Baseball League. On April 11, 2013 he was honored by the Stamford Historical Society for helping to unify Stamford as a community by his dedication to sports. On December 3, 2013 he was honored to be inducted into the Old Timer’s Athletic Association for his outstanding achievement in sports.
Dennis is survived by his beloved wife of sixty years, Mary Ann, his loving children Kathleen Behunick and her husband Carlos Palacios of Stamford, Dennis M. Behunick and his wife Michelle Oliver of Ridgefield, CT, Steve Behunick and his wife Anna of Stamford, as well as six grandchildren Kari Ann, Daniele, Nicole, Mia, Sophia and Dennis.
Family and friends may call at the Nicholas F. Cognetta Funeral Home & Crematory, 104 Myrtle Avenue, Stamford on Monday, June 13, 2016 from 4:00-7:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, June 14, 2016 at 10:30 AM at the Church of St. Cecilia, 1184 Newfield Avenue, Stamford. Interment will be private.
To leave online condolences, please visit www.cognetta.com
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Dennis Behunick, Jr., please visit our flower store.