Obituary of Dennis Michael Cleary

Dennis M. Cleary Bainbridge, NY Dennis Michael Cleary, 48, of Rochester, NY, and formerly of Bainbridge, NY died at home on January 29, 2010 following an extended illness. He was born on October 1, 1961 in Detroit, Michigan to Gerald R. Cleary and Katherine B. Cleary. He resided in Bainbridge from 1969 to 1983. He was a member of the Bainbridge Cub Scouts and Boy Scout Troop 52. As a young teen he earned an extra-class amateur radio operator license and operated under the call sign WA2PKP. He enjoyed designing and constructing a variety of antennas which allowed long-distance radio communication at low power output. As an adult he was an avid car racing enthusiast. He raced throughout New England as a member of the Sports Car Club of America. He was a skilled mechanic and developed a number of electronic devices which enhanced racing engine performance. He enjoyed Formula I and NASCAR racing as a spectator. He graduated salutatorian of the Bainbridge-Guilford High School Class of 1979. Following graduation, he attended Cornell University from which he received a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in Electrical Engineering. Throughout his career, he was employed by a variety of high-tech companies. He developed an expertise in the design of radio-frequency analog devices and worked in the development of hardware which enabled the earliest wireless computer networking. He was preceded in death by his mother, Katherine Cleary. Survivors include his father, Gerald Cleary of the NYS Veterans Home in Oxford, NY, a brother, Kevin Cleary and his wife, Holly Walhberg of Poughkeepsie, NY, a brother, Timothy and his wife, Candace of Williamsburg, VA, a brother, Brian of Framingham, MA, a nephew, Andrew Cleary and a niece, Taryn Cleary, both of Williamsburg, VA The family will receive friends on Tuesday, February 9th from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at C. H. Landers Funeral Chapel 21 Main St. Sidney, NY 13838. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, February 10th at 11:00 a.m. at St. John's Catholic Church in Bainbridge. Interment will follow in Greenlawn Cemetery, Bainbridge. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Dennis' name may be directed to the American Heart Association at www.americanheart.org, or to the Haitian Relief Fund of American Red Cross at www.redcross.org. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family online at www.landersfh.com. Arrangements by C.H. Landers Funeral Chapel, 21 Main Street Sidney.