FHS80 : Remembered - Dennis Kailburn

A man with the strength of lions. He was in a motorcycle accident once. He drove his bike the two miles to get home with the kickstand protruding through his foot. The capacity to endure that makes him a hero in my book...

-- Steven Britt - submitted February 28, 2002

I shared homeroom with Dennis Kailburn throughout our years at Fairport High School. He always sat behind me until we got to FHS and then he sat next to me. Dennis had a great sense of humor, was always upbeat, and we traded jokes and stories before we had to head off to class.

I ran into Dennis (six or seven years after we had graduated high school) in Shorts (In the village of Fairport.) He came over, gave me a huge hug, and we played catch up. The years after high school hadn't been so kind to him. He had lost a finger in a work-related accident, married and divorced, and then told me that he had cancer and was going through chemo. Despite all these "challenges" he was very upbeat and confident about his future. I saw him three more times at Shorts that year.

When I found out that he had died, I was devastated.

Billy Joel was right. Only the good die young.

-- Marsha Jones - submitted April 30, 2002

In our sophomore year, I believe, there was a "harvest dance" at the Jefferson Avenue School gym. I was smitten with Steve Looney. Hunting him in the hallways and running into him accidentally on purpose at every turn, I sent out none too subtle vibes that I wanted to go to the dance with him. Three times I asked, three times he said, "No."

Dennis was equally as tenacious and repeatedly asked me to the dance. I accepted his third appeal. I'm so glad I did! Dennis and I had a great time. He was a good sport and was interested in dancing to every selection. He was loosening up and trying new moves when he spun me under his raised arm. Bam! Stars filled my head. His elbow had caught me full in the mouth. My lower lip split and I felt the warmth and taste of blood. He looked at me in stark terror, and for a moment I thought he was going to faint.

In the ladies room, many concerned girls were saying, "Did someone hit you?" and I knew this would be hard to obfuscate especially when his mom came to pick us up. I explained that it was an accident, but my lip was swelling to great proportions. Thank goodness, the gym was darkly lit.

I made my way back to Dennis. He was sitting down, for the first time that evening, with his face in his hands. He kept saying, "I can't believe I did that." He was so shaken and upset that my unyielding heart began to melt. He was so sweet. I did my best to interject some humor.

I told him it didn't hurt and to let it go. He bounced back with a little less bounce, but we still managed to boogie on.

That evening his mom picked us up and suggested Lum's for ice cream. She sat across from us in a booth and suddenly noticed my lip. I had to come up with something credible and quickly. I said, "Oh this? Such a freak accident. I was hit when the door to the ladies room opened suddenly! It doesn't hurt at all, it just looks bad." Under the table Dennis gave my knee an appreciative squeeze. What a doll.

That year he signed my yearbook,

"Thanks for the boxing lessons."

It still makes me smile.

click for larger image

-- Suzanne Fell Rickard - submitted May 5, 2003

My brother, Dennis Kailburn, graduated with you in 1980.

Dennis passed away in 1997 after suffering with cancer for more than five years. The disease was terribly debilitating and took its toll on his life and family.

He graduated from Alfred State College in 1982 with a degree in mechanical drawing. He was employed for many years as a Tool and Die Maker at Brayley Tool and Die in Rochester. He was married for a few years before the disease destroyed his marriage. He had no surviving children from the marriage.

Dennis's passion was riding his BMW Motorcycle and making tools as his profession. He is resting in Marion Cemetery in Marion, New York.

Just thought this information would be helpful for the gathering reunion Class of 1980.

Sincerely,

-- Karl A. D'Accursio, North Port, Florida - April 17, 2005

More from Karl: 26-June-2005

I saw there was some confusion about the type of Cancer he had. It was a rare tumor that had never been identified in the medical community. It originated in his abdomen behind his stomach and attached to his spine. It grew at an extremely high rate of speed. It spread to his Kidney ... [and eventually] the tendrils of the tumor invaded his spinal cord and rendered his right side partially paralyzed. In the end, he could not stand up straight or straighten his right leg.

Dennis died at St. Mary's Hospice, Rochester, NY on November 3, 1997 of Renal and Gastrointestinal Failure resulting from the growth of the Malignant Tumor that was named after him in the New England Journal of Medicine, January 1998.

He is resting in Marion Cemetery in Marion, New York.

A very loving son, who was devoted to life and me all his short life. That was all too short.

We spent his final months together riding cycles and a goal to do at least one thing each week he wanted to do. We accomplished the list together before he became too weak. A wedding, celebrated the birth of a friend's first child, a family reunion, a fishing/camping trip to Canada, at a favorite lake, taking pictures of each excursion along the way.

With these, we made two memory books, one for him to take with him and one for me. Though for me, he will always live on in my heart. The memory book helps me to remember the happier days and the laughter. Still dearly missed each day.

-- His mother. Missy - submitted April 24, 2005

Missy would love to hear from anyone with memories of Dennis. You may write to her at: MNOBLE129@peoplepc.com