Obituary of Jeffery Darlington Denit

Jeffery Darlington Denit, 79, died Friday, December 24, 2021 at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington, VT after battling illness unrelated to COVID. Mr. Denit was born in Washington, D.C., the son of the late Willet and Ruth Denit. He graduated from Northwestern High School in College Park, MD. Mr. Denit graduated from Clemson University in Clemson, S.C. in 1964 with a bachelor of science degree in Engineering and in 1966 with a master of science degree in Economics. In 1968, Mr. Denit received a master of science degree in Environmental Engineering from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C. From 1968 to 1970, Mr. Denit was a Captain in the US Army. He was a dedicated public servant, devoting his career to the protection of the environment throughout the country. He was an administrator of environmental programs for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, D.C. for over 30 years. Mr. Denit served in a variety of roles throughout his career including as Deputy Director of the Office of Solid Waste, where he managed a $200 million budget and approximately 300 people. He was personally involved with major issues affecting the disposal of waste in the United States and his efforts resulted in the cleanup of numerous contaminated sites. Mr. Denit received many government awards including EPA’s Distinguished Service Award. Mr. Denit was also a life-long Clemson Tigers football team fan, dedicated gardener and avid reader. Whether flying the Clemson flag outside the house, sharing vegetables from the garden or describing his latest flower or bulb purchase, his passion for those pursuits was known by all who met him. He was a devoted husband and father, and he loved to spend time singing and watching Looney Tunes with his granddaughters. He will be greatly missed. Surviving are his wife, Carol, of Tupper Lake; a daughter, Kelly Denit of Silver Spring, MD; a son, Jeffery D. Denit, Jr. (Amanda) of Castle Rock, CO; and three granddaughters, Sydney Denit of Silver Spring, MD, Rylynn and JoEllen Denit of Castle Rock, CO. There will be a memorial service in 2022 at the convenience of the family. Donations in his memory may be made to Tri -Lakes Humane Society at 255 George Lapan Memorial Hwy. Saranac Lake, N.Y. 12983 or United Community Church at 25 High Street, Tupper Lake, NY 12986.