· August 25, 2008 ·

You came to us in our early days, and your introduction said so much about the man who became a leader in our organization.You told us that you voted for the horrid Three Strikes Law and now saw the need to do your part to reverse your vote, and with that the votes of all who were duped by the lies.

What you brought to FACTS was commitment, passion, intelligence, energy, creativity, strength and a developing revolutionary outlook none of which can be measured nor duplicated.FACTS has been so incredibly fortunate to have you as a leader, a friend, and a voice.

Many of us, and certainly I, have been with you all the way.I will never forget the meeting when your fate as LA Chapter President was sealed.You became frustrated with the way the meeting was going and expressed as much.You didn’t get up and leave, rather, your input was based on correcting the problem, certainly a unique approach.Gail and I got on the phone that night and were hell bent on having you become the chapter president.We lied and told you that it wouldn’t take a lot of effort or time.How often, over the years, have you thought about how shamelessly we hid the truth?

During your amazing term as president, you were challenged with handling meetings with 25-35 people on a weekly basis.It was never easy, and we struggled much in our early days.As president, you had to take in the criticisms and deal with everyone evenhandedly.This you did with class and humor.Dennis, FACTS will not be the same without you.

Perhaps some could have led the chapter and really the organization with less commitment of time and energy, but not you.You saw to every detail involved in all our endeavors.In our first years, you held separate sessions with new folks giving them an orientation into our beginning and our purpose.How many others would add that to their job description?

When the chapter organized marches, you took the route yourself ahead of time and were always the first to be involved in outreach teams to build momentum for the event.Early on, you and Keith got up in the wee hours to be at the Criminal Courts Building to hand out flyers (all before the work day began).

You became our main go to speaker and rally organizer, and, after the first few times, an expert on radio and TV interviews, going all the way to producing your (our) own TV cable program.You were the man we sent to meetings with funders and others we were seeking to impress.Tell me, what will we do without you?

Those of us in this fight for all these years have become comrades tied together by our vision of a more just universe.We have lost three of our best (Leon, Dorothy and Jesse) and still we march forward, but Dennis, it will never, ever be the same without you.

I have no doubt that who you are will make the world a little better wherever you go.

With sadness, love, comradeship and mad respect,

~geri for all FACTS members wherever they are!