Ricky J. Dennis

Ricky J. Dennis

February 5, 1971 - February 22, 2025

Ricky J. Dennis, 54, of Norwalk, Connecticut, passed away peacefully in his sleep at home on February 22nd. Born in San Antonio, Texas, to Richard and Ella Dennis, he was the youngest of six children.

Smart as a whip and extremely observant, Ricky used to say that he had a sense, even as toddler, that he was blessed to be part of a special family. As the youngest Dennis, Ricky quickly learned to size up his “audience,” and work the “family crowd.” His sister Betty, older by 15 years, soon become his biggest fan and someone he cherished as his best friend.

Over the years, Ricky’s signature quick wit and sense of style also emerged. And, besides being handsome and charming, he had a huge heart, a bigger smile, and an unbelievable set of dimples. When that smile and dimples appeared they were often accompanied by his quirky laugh that could light up a room – and make you laugh too. His signature eye roll let you know exactly what he was thinking. He was magical.

Growing up in San Antonio, Ricky cultivated a remarkably close group of lifelong friends. He graduated from the Health Careers High School and went on to Our Lady of the Lake University, earning his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music. His deep passion for music was a constant throughout his life, nurtured by both parents, with his mom’s singing and his father curating soundtracks of soul classics from the ‘60s and ‘70s. Ricky’s own musical tastes were far-ranging and embraced piano classics, pop, dance, soul, and funk. And not everyone knew this, but Ricky also was a talented composer and recorded his own compositions. Like his music hero, Prince, with exceptional ability to proficiently play a wide range of instruments, Ricky also created complex and diverse music, with distinctive, often pulsating rhythms. He took great pleasure putting together innovative playlists for his family and friends and for businesses where he worked.

Along with music, Ricky had a lifelong passion for food and cooking that gained traction in the early 2000s when he worked as a line cook and caterer. Over the years his menus and repertoire expanded from the simple and comforting – like his herb butter-infused roasted chicken that would make a French chef cry – to Beef Wellington for a special occasion or green chicken enchiladas for an easy meal at home.

With music and food, often comes travel, and Ricky loved to travel. In 1994, he went to work for American Airlines as a customer service representative, booking flights and handling customer and agent inquiries. That initial experience, along with his love for exploring new places, planted the seed that eventually led him back to aviation.

Ricky’s diverse professional career spanned over three decades in multiple industries. In the insurance industry, he served as a flood insurance sales rep at USAA General Agency from 1998 to 2000, where he consistently ranked in the top 5% of the agency's customer service team and received its highest sales performance recognition. Prior to that (1995 to 1998), he worked as an insurance service representative at USAA Property & Casualty, providing insurance and claim services to members nationwide.

Most recently, Ricky was an in-flight crew member with JetBlue. In his eight years with the airline, he was a friendly face and a consummate safety professional, prepared to handle emergencies and provide exceptional passenger care. His colleagues valued Ricky for his attention to detail, calm demeanor, and genuine warmth toward everyone he encountered. Prior to JetBlue, Ricky dedicated himself to healthcare, working in various capacities, including as a healthcare call center rep at Stamford Health Medical Group Orthopedics, and was a dedicated volunteer at Stamford Hospital. His compassion and organizational skills made a difference in the lives of countless patients during difficult times.

To know Ricky Dennis was to know Joe Bruha, Ricky’s beloved life partner and husband (and sometime sous chef). They met in 1996 while working at USAA, and their loving relationship spanned the next 29 years. In 2006, they moved to Connecticut, where they have lived ever since. Together, Ricky and Joe traveled the country and overseas creating wonderful memories, like celebrating Ricky’s 50th in Rome. Just last month, they returned from a week in London where they dined well and visited many art museums.

Ricky and Joe’s partnership brought out the best in both of them. Beyond being amazing hosts, they shared a passion for fine arts, antiques, and real estate, enabling Ricky’s entrepreneurial side and interior design skills to shine. With Joe, he co-owned Bruha & Dennis LLC, which specialized in antiques and collectibles, jewelry and fine arts, and he also oversaw its online sales. Concurrently, Ricky managed an antique center in Stamford, overseeing operations that generated over $1 million in annual sales. He also studied real estate and became a licensed agent in Connecticut.

Ricky was preceded in death by his father Richard; sisters Deborah Bell and Betty Roberson;  brothers Anthony and Gary; nephew Stephen Zemault; grandparents Leranza and Ethel Mae Thomas and Andy and Cornelia Dennis; mother and father in-law Carryole and Harlan Bruha; and numerous beloved uncles, aunts, and cousins. He is survived by his husband Joe; mother Ella; brother Darius; sister-in-law Pam Dennis; brother-in-law Elbert Roberson; brother and sister-in-law Mark and Carla Bruha; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins who will forever cherish his memory.

Memorial service arrangements in Norwalk, Connecticut, will be announced at a later time. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Neighborhood Studios or Treetops Chamber Music Society.

Throughout his life, Ricky was known for his exceptional interpersonal skills, organizational abilities, and loyalty to his friends and colleagues. Ricky's warm presence, kind spirit and timely quips will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing him. Our memories of him are a blessing.

Memorial service arrangements in Norwalk, Connecticut, will be March 22, 2025 1:00 pm at St. Paul's Church on the Green.. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Neighborhood Studios or Treetops Chamber Music Society.

https://www.nstudios.org/

https://www.treetopscms.org/