Dennis Felix Diaz

With great sadness, the family of Dennis F. Diaz announce his death on Friday, July 31 after a lengthy illness.

Dennis was born in 1946, the second of three children to Jose and Ida Diaz. As a child he enjoyed playing baseball, a passion that stayed with him throughout his life. One of his proud childhood achievements was building and racing his own soapbox derby car.

He attended Christ the King Catholic School, where he served as an altar boy. He graduated from Plant High School in 1966 and attended St. Petersburg Junior College. He considered a career in the medical field and worked for a while as a surgical technician. Eventually, his interests changed, and he worked at Jai Lai alongside his father. There he became fast friends with the players, who took him to visit their home in the Basque country of Spain.

Later, he and his brother started a business called Rent-A-Rug and ran it until other opportunities came their way. Dennis took a job selling surgical supplies, and that was where he found his calling in sales. In time he joined Southern Glazers Wine and Spirits as a salesman and worked with them for forty-one years until his retirement in 2024.

Dennis had a salesman’s personality. He was outgoing, quick with a joke, and he never met a stranger. He was at home no matter where he went. Underneath this exuberance beat a tender heart. He loved his family deeply and cherished times together, whether at the beach on the Fourth or at his brother’s in Georgia for Christmas. He loved all his pets, especially Sam and Chrissy, whose ashes are in urns by his bedside. He loved his church, Christ the King Catholic Church, and served as an usher there. He loved his many friends and remained close to them through good times and bad.

Dennis enjoyed life. Inspired by his earlier trip to Spain, he traveled through Europe, South America, and Costa Rica. He kept himself fit by working out at the gym and eating a healthy diet. He enjoyed the simple routines in life that are so comforting, such as going to Hyde Park every morning for coffee. And although he remained single, he had the gift of being surrounded by people who loved him.

Dennis was preceded in death by his parents Jose F. and Ida F. Diaz. He is survived by his brother Joe A. Diaz (Delores), his sister Cheryl D. King (Kenneth), and five nephews; Joe R. Diaz (Blair), David M. Diaz (Lisa), Derek W. Diaz, Andrew J. King (Ashley), and Alex M. King.