Dennis Charles Dix
April 18, 1935 ~ December 12, 2021
DENNIS CHARLES DIX (Age 86)
On Sunday, December 12, 2021, minutes before his Green Bay Packers were set to take the field against the Chicago Bears, Dennis Dix went peacefully to be with the Lord (and get the best seat in the house). Dennis, son of Charles A. and Dorothy Riese Dix, was born in Milwaukee on April 18, 1935. From 1945 to 1953 he was educated at the Berlin American School where he witnessed firsthand the Berlin Airlift and reconstruction of Europe; they were formative memories. Following graduation from the College of William & Mary, Dennis was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. When not serving as an artillery officer, Dennis played basketball and football for the USMC and performed with the men’s choir, most notably on The Ed Sullivan Show. After honorably serving his country and finishing graduate school at The American University, it was perhaps only natural that “Mr. Nice Guy” would enter association work. First came the National Crushed Stone Association, The American Nursing Home Association, then The United States Chamber of Commerce. For just shy of 30 years, Dennis headed the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute in Alexandria from which he retired as President. During that time, he led this international organization through significant changes not only in the power equipment industry, but in association management generally. The trade show Dennis and other industry leaders founded in the 1980s was named the sixth largest trade show in the United States. Outside of work, Dennis doted on his family. He also loved politics and current affairs, a proud victim of Potomac Fever. Dennis is survived by his beloved wife of 57 years, Clare Neuberg Dix, sons Matthew (Laura Friedrich) and Mark (Heidi Reester), granddaughters Kaley, Erika and Reese, and grandson Luke. A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 19 at 10 AM at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 2589 Chain Bridge Road, Vienna, Virginia 22181. The family suggests that you consider making donations in his name to the USO or Emmanuel Lutheran Church.
On Sunday, December 12, 2021, minutes before his Green Bay Packers were set to take the field against the Chicago Bears, Dennis Dix went peacefully to be with the Lord (and get the best seat in the house). Dennis, son of Charles A. and Dorothy Riese Dix, was born in Milwaukee on April 18, 1935. From 1945 to 1953 he was educated at the Berlin American School where he witnessed firsthand the Berlin Airlift and reconstruction of Europe; they were formative memories. Following graduation from the College of William & Mary, Dennis was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. When not serving as an artillery officer, Dennis played basketball and football for the USMC and performed with the men’s choir, most notably on The Ed Sullivan Show. After honorably serving his country and finishing graduate school at The American University, it was perhaps only natural that “Mr. Nice Guy” would enter association work. First came the National Crushed Stone Association, The American Nursing Home Association, then The United States Chamber of Commerce. For just shy of 30 years, Dennis headed the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute in Alexandria from which he retired as President. During that time, he led this international organization through significant changes not only in the power equipment industry, but in association management generally. The trade show Dennis and other industry leaders founded in the 1980s was named the sixth largest trade show in the United States. Outside of work, Dennis doted on his family. He also loved politics and current affairs, a proud victim of Potomac Fever. Dennis is survived by his beloved wife of 57 years, Clare Neuberg Dix, sons Matthew (Laura Friedrich) and Mark (Heidi Reester), granddaughters Kaley, Erika and Reese, and grandson Luke. A memorial service will be held Saturday, March 19 at 10 AM at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, 2589 Chain Bridge Road, Vienna, Virginia 22181. The family suggests that you consider making donations in his name to the USO or Emmanuel Lutheran Church.
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Dennis Dix will always be one of my favorite people in the outdoor power equipment industry. Our family published OPE magazine for many years, and I got to interview Dennis many times. He was a true gentlemen. The last time I got to be with him was in the late 1990s. My wife, daughter and friend, and I visited Washington, and Dennis generously loaned me his car so we could go to Mount Vernon. The world and the industry have lost a terrific guy, and I considered it an honor to be his friend. We send our deepest sympathy to his family. — Rix Quinn, rix@rixquinn.com