He was born Dec. 4, 1946, in Saco, a son of Roland L. and Therese M. (Dallaire) Petit, and was educated locally, graduating from Thornton Academy in the Class of 1965. He also attended the University of Maine at Orono and York County Community College.
He worked with his father in the R.L. Petit Co. in Biddeford, and later founded Petit Industries Inc. In the 1980s, he developed an interior magnetic storm window system that focused on energy efficiency in historical, residential and commercial applications. He retired in 2006 and passed the torch to his son, Matthew.
Dennis was an active Rotarian, a member and past president of the Biddeford- Saco Rotary Club. He was honored with Rotary’s Paul Harris Fellowship award. He was president of the Biddeford City Theatre for 10 years, a member of the Northern York County “Y” steering committee, and a two-term president of the Thornton Academy Alumni Association.
Anyone who knew Dennis knew his primary passion was the Boston Red Sox; however, he also enjoyed gardening, reading, fishing and camping, along with a healthy political debate.
Dennis was preceded in death by: his sister, Pamela Colleen Petit, in 1971; his father in 2002; and his mother in 2011.
He is survived by: Catherine Duffy, his loving partner and mother of his children; one daughter, Loren Cimenian and her husband Nahabet of Kennebunk; one son, Matthew Petit and his significant other Mia Riccardi- Toback of Richmond, Virginia; one brother, Michael Petit and his wife Pamela of Portland; two sisters, Nancy Twomey and her husband Richard of Saco, and Debra Robinson of Old Orchard Beach; two grandchildren, Kaitlyn Laura and Noah Garabed Cimenian of Kennebunk; and many nieces and nephews.
Visiting hours will be 2-5 p.m. Sunday, May 22, 2016, at Hope Memorial Chapel, 480 Elm St., Biddeford. A celebration of life will be held in the Hope Chapel at 11 a.m. Monday, May 23. Burial will be in Laurel Hill Cemetery in Saco.
Arrangements are by Hope Memorial Chapel. To share condolences online, please visit HopeMemorial.com.
In lieu of floral arrangements, Dennis requested that donations be made to the American Diabetes Association of Maine, 45 Forest Ave., Portland, ME 04101. Phone: 774-7714.
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