Dennis Frederick Ensinger, age 46, of Deep River, passed away the evening of Sept. 11 at Hartford Hospital. Dennis was the beloved husband of Bess (Mackenzie) Ensinger. He was born Aug. 6, 1969, in New Haven, the son of James Arthur Ensinger of Trumbull and The Villages, Florida, and the late Gail Sophie (Trilling) Ensinger-Porter.

Dennis was a resident of Deep River for the last 18 years. He was a physical education teacher at Thomas Edison Middle School in Meriden for the last 14 years, and previously taught at Mount Saint John School in Deep River. He was an avid golfer and loved all sports. He was a very involved father who took pride in watching his sons play baseball, football, and basketball. Dennis loved to travel. He enjoyed the mountains and walking on the beach. He will be remembered as a loving husband, devoted father, great friend, and a man of impeccable honesty. He was a true straight-shooter.

Besides his wife Bess of 18 years, he leaves his sons Cole Theodore and Cade Harland Ensinger; his sister Nanci Kazegowitz and her husband George of Easton; his half-sister Katharine Ensinger of Fairfield; and his half-brother Steven Ensinger of Coventry. He also leaves his stepmother Mary Ensinger, his mother’s husband Richard Porter, and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 11:00 a.m. at The First Congregational Church in Deep River. To share a memory of Dennis or send a condolence to his family, please visit Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home’s website at www.rwwfh.com. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Dennis’ name to The First Congregational Church of Deep River, P.O. Box 246, Deep River, CT 06417, or the Deep River Ambulance Association, P.O. Box 274, Deep River, CT 06417.