Dennis John McCance

Dennis John McCance was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland. He attended Queens University Belfast, where he received his undergraduate degree in Biology and made lifelong friends. Dennis then went on to a graduate degree in Microbiology at the University of Birmingham. After defending his PhD dissertation, he moved to London, where he lived for 16 years and met his wife Daksha Patel. Finn, their first child, was born in London in 1989. Later that year, the family made a transatlantic move to the USA for Dennis to take up a position at the University of Rochester, New York. Callum, their second son, was born in 1992. After a very productive 17 years in Rochester, Dennis and the family relocated back to Belfast where he worked at his alma mater Queens University. Two years later he was appointed director of the Center for Cancer Research and Cell Biology at Queens University. In 2014, Dennis and Daksha 'retired' to one of their favorite places in the US - Placitas, New Mexico. Dennis continued his passion for science as a research professor in the Department of Pathology at UNM, serving as the scientific director of the Human Tissue Repository (HTR).

Outside of the lab Dennis was a loving husband, committed father, and doting grandad. He was passionate about the outdoors, photography, skiing, and birding. Friends meant a great deal to Dennis, and he loved sharing food, wine, and a good debate with them. Dennis never minced words, you knew exactly where he stood, but he always approached people with humor and humility. While driven as a family man and researcher, he never took life too seriously and always made time for laughter and fun. Dennis had a beautiful ability to mix his work, friendships, and family together. The scores of researchers he mentored were invited into his home and family, fostering kinship between them. He gave everyone an example of how to build community and camaraderie. His family and friends will miss his humor and his upbeat attitude. His glass was always half full.

Cheers!

He is survived by his wife, Daksha Patel, his two sons, Finn and Callum, daughter in law Stephanie, and his granddaughter Nyra Bonnie.

The family gives special thanks to the dedicated caregivers at Roadrunner Hospice. Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to an organization/charity of your choosing.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, February 13, 2025, at 12:00 pm at FRENCH-Wyoming.