Dennis Wayne Hunn was many things to many people yet, he was “Denny” to family, “Brother” to his sister, “Uncle” to his nephews, “Pops” and “Mr. Hunn” to his children’s friends, “The Baddest Black AD man” to his colleagues and simply “Dad” to Danelle, Dominic, and Danica.
Born the son of Bertha M. Hamm and Roscoe Hunn Jr., on February 2,1951 in St. Charles, Missouri, Dennis was their second and last child. He started his academic journey in St. Charles until relocating to the sunny state of California with his mother Bertha, sister Cynthia and extended family.
Though initially landing in Venice, CA in 1959, Bertha, Cynthia and Denny made their home in Santa Monica, where Dennis continued to excel academically in elementary, junior high and high school. Though Dennis ran track, his heart was threaded through the red lacing of the baseball and the diamond that surrounded the field. From little league to recreational baseball games the goal was always to get better. His son, Dominic, and grandson, Chip, have followed in his footsteps and fallen in love with the game.
Dennis matriculated at Santa Monica Community College and transferred to California State University, Los Angeles where he graduated with his Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism. In his constant theme of “being better,” he enrolled UCLA’s Anderson School of Management and received an Executive Management Certificate.
He began his professional career as a sports reporter for the Los Angeles Times. Deciding he was better suited for sales, he entered into the sales department, determined to be great and rose to Director of Retail and Regional Advertising – a position he held for 22 years. While climbing the corporate ladder, he met and began dating Rosalyn Moore. He got a chance to practice his parenting skills with her two young children Nicole and Marquis.
In 1981, his first child, Danelle Rene was born. In 1983, after meeting Dana Lyons at the Times Credit Union, they dated and married in April 1984. From this union, Dominic Ross was born. Danica Renae followed in 1989. Though their marriage dissolved they remained intrinsically involved in one another’s lives.
Though a full-fledged family man, Dennis continued excelling at work managing and directing advertising for nine regional sales offices and was responsible for generating over $140 million in advertising revenue. Wooed from the Times in the 1990s and forever in search of a new challenge, he took his tried and true skills, knowledge of advertising and trademark smile to multiple markets. Later returning to L.A., he became the vice president of Bakewell Media, where he continued generating revenue for the Los Angeles Sentinel and other Black national newspapers.
Dennis remained highly coveted in the Ad world, known for his ability to mentor those he supervised. He was adept at developing, restructuring and managing aggressive sales teams. Former colleagues often commented that Dennis was “a pleasure to work for,” “holds individual’s accountable while treating them with respect,” ”high standards, personal and professional integrity,” and “consistently exceeded our multi-million dollar revenue goals while building long lasting internal and external relationships.”
After retiring his briefcase and closing the season on the advertising world, Dennis and Danelle created DEDALA Entertainment to support and assist Dominic with merchandising. All while determined to live life to its fullest, Dennis expanded his love of reading by devouring biographies of successful men and women.
Though he lived a minimalist lifestyle he was surrounded by a bevy of books. He loved exploring the world via museums, biking and hiking famous trails and mountains. Whether it was walking the beaches of Jamaica or Santa Monica, sightseeing solo in Paris, Dennis found a way to be in the moment.
Though he liked raising children – embracing a bonus daughter Danielle Dykes in the early 1990s – he found his passion being “Grandpa.” Grandpa filled his days with picking up and dropping off his grandchildren at school, attending Back to School Night, Science Night and award ceremonies.
He enjoyed taking Chip to baseball practices and games, even jumping in as coach when needed; driving Chip and Emma to piano practice and going over drills with them, giving Emma tips and tricks on improving her athleticism, and faithfully reminding Bailey to “focus” during soccer practice and tennis lessons.
Dennis Wayne Hunn completed his life’s journey on July 23, 2023 at the age of 72 after being skillfully cared for by his cousin, Janet Hamm, and family.
Preceding him in death is his mother, Bertha M. Hamm; father, Roscoe Hunn Jr.; grandmothers, grandfathers, aunts, uncles and cousins.
He will be forever missed by his uncle, Virgil Hamm (Phyllis); sister, Cynthia A. Giles-Hunn; nephew, Troy C. Giles (Adauna); and nephew, Jason E. Madison.
His three children who shall preserve his legacy with love – Danelle (Larry) Tyler, Dominic Ross Hunn and Danica Canada (Davyhon Canada) and bonus daughter, Danielle Dykes; grandchildren, Emma Rose Tyler, Dennis Wayne Hunn II (Chip) and Bailey Shia-James Tyler; bonus grandchildren, Kamara Couch and Brandon Richardson, cousins, Donna Smith, Beverly Davis, Vincent Hamm, Phyllis Hamm; and a host of family and friends in St. Charles and worldwide.
