Dr. Cleveland Ray Denton

Cleveland Ray Denton, M.D., age 93, died peacefully on June 23, 2015 at home in West Hartford. Born February 27, 1922 in Burlington, VT, he was the son of Floyd Denton and Dorothy (Cleveland) Denton, step-son of Earl Jennison, Sr., and was also raised by his beloved grandfather Clarence Cleveland. Growing up during the depression, he had happy memories as a member of the hockey and tennis teams at Burlington High School, "where everyone who wanted to play got a chance to play." He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry in 1944 from the University of Vermont in Burlington, and went on to earn his M.D., graduating cum laude from UVM College of Medicine in 1948. After completing his internship and residency at the University of Michigan, he served with the Public Health Service in Cincinnati, Ohio, then moved to West Hartford, CT in 1954, beginning a 32-year career in the practice of Dermatology in Hartford. He served as chairman of the Dermatology Section of the Department of Medicine at Hartford Hospital from 1966-1986, and was a member of many local and national medical organizations, serving as vice president and president of the Dermatology Section of the Connecticut State Medical Society 1966-67, and of the New England Dermatological Society 1976-78. He was a published author of many research articles relating to the protective and toxic effects of chemical agents on skin tissue. He was an active member of the First Baptist Church of West Hartford, a devoted Boston Red Sox fan, and enjoyed many leisure pursuits including tennis, fly fishing, skiing, and especially traveling throughout the world with the love of his life, his wife, Jean. He was predeceased by his wife, Jean (Carlton) Denton. Surviving him are his children, Stephanie J. Cuzzocreo and her husband Roy of Orange, Carol D. Arrowsmith and her husband Ted of Broad Brook, and Robert W. Denton and his wife Kimberly of Framingham, MA, and his grandchildren, Matthew, David, Daniel and Brian & Katie (Colomonico) Cuzzocreo, and Tyler and Nathan Arrowsmith, and his great-grandson, Matthew Drolett. He is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law Earl and June Jennison, Jr., beloved extended family members, and cherished friends. Dr. Denton's family sincerely thanks the nursing staff at The McAuley, the McLean Hospice and Home Care team, and especially Amy's Angels Kerrie-Ann, Nessa, Pam, Queyonna, Sandra, Trician, and Valerie for their dedicated and compassionate care. During these last difficult years, Dr. Denton's wonderful dry sense of humor, his kind and considerate nature, and his phenomenal memory remained strong as he endured his increasing infirmity with aplomb and grace. He was grateful for those who guided and supported him along his life's path, and wished to be remembered simply as, "a good fellow." A memorial service in celebration of his life will be held 11:00 am, Saturday, July 18, 2015, at the First Baptist Church of West Hartford, 90 North Main Street, West Hartford, CT. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The University of Vermont Foundation, 411 Main St., Burlington, VT, 05401, or to the First Baptist Church of West Hartford, 90 North Main St., West Hartford, CT 06107. For online condolences, please visit www.taylorandmodeen.com.