Master Chief Dee C. Cheshire USN RET, 84, of Ledyard, Connecticut passed away on October 4 after suffering a heart attack on September 30, 2021. He was surrounded by loved ones during his final hours.
Dee was born on February 5, 1937 to Evelyn Denzer in Montrose, Colorado. His mother died shortly after his birth and he was raised by his grandmother, Mabel Cheshire. He spent his youth in Colorado and Utah. He initially joined the Army then after realizing his love of the sea, adventure, and travel, he and enlisted in the Navy.
His service to our country brought him to Portsmouth, New Hampshire where he met his future wife, Helen Bruno of Winchester, Massachusetts. They married in 1962 and moved to Mystic Connecticut, where they raised their two daughters. Dee was stationed at the Groton Naval Submarine Base until he retired after proudly serving for 26 years. Dee rose through the ranks, achieving Master Chief Machinist Mate (MCMM) and Chief of the Boat (COB). Serving on the Theodore Roosevelt, Benjamin Franklin, and taught sub school.
After his retirement from the Navy in 1979, he focused on his site construction business, and acquired several rental properties through the years. He loved his trucks and equipment and to him, it was more play than work driving around with his beloved boxers, Rocky and Adrian.
He loved to shoot the breeze with just about anyone and could always get a smile or a laugh with his quick wit and blue eyes. Dee was always ready for an outing or a fun time. He was a member of the VFW, Sub Vets and the Elks Club in Groton. He looked forward to assisting with the Memorial Day Parade and other festivities and his homemade buffalo chicken wings were always requested. Dee was a force of nature and certainly one of a kind. He would give you the shirt off his back, a place to call home and tried to help anyone who was having a hard time.
Dee was predeceased by his wife, Helen, and he is survived by his loving companion Roseann Hoffland. He is also survived by daughter Diane Nazarko and Matthew Williams of Clinton, Connecticut and her children Masha & Nadia Nazarko. Younger daughter Tracy and son-in-law Mike Fillion of Middleton, Massachusetts and their children Katie, Abby & Jack.
Calling hours are Monday, October 11 from 4:30-7pm at the Dinoto Funeral Home, 17 Pearl Street, Mystic. A church service will be held on Tuesday October 12 at 11am at Union Baptist Church, Mystic.
The family requests in lieu of flowers donations be made in his name to the
Alzheimer's Association of Connecticut.
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