Dennis E. Comer

Mr. Dennis E. Comer, 79, died peacefully after a brief period of rapidly declining health on Saturday, February 1, 2025 at Countryside Healthcare of Milford surrounded by his family. Mr. Comer, formerly of Needham, Massachusetts, was born in Walker, Minnesota. As a child, he moved with his family to Kellogg, Idaho. He attended Kellogg High School where he participated in many sports, particularly basketball, football and track. He was the recipient of several honors including the Bausch and Lomb Honorary Science Award for academic excellence.

Dennis traveled to the east coast for college and attended Harvard University in Cambridge, MA.  He went on to work for Loomis Sayles & Co. in mutual funds, and later was a founding member of Capital Growth Management in Boston. Dennis married, had a family of four children, and later divorced.  

Dennis had suffered a series of strokes in 1989, after which he was challenged with an extensive and daunting rehabilitation.  While he would never make a full recovery, the determination and perseverance he had in managing his stroke symptoms over many decades never ceased to both amaze and inspire those that came to know him.  He always said what pushed him to survive was that he needed to be there for his children.  He lived his life always putting his children first, a pledge he made to himself and never wavered from.

One of his more impactful and far-reaching traits, Dennis was known, revered, and perhaps at times cursed, for his advice and thoughts on a matter.  To his children and those who knew him, he was a fount of sage wisdom, a touchstone of empathy, and a cold splash of no baloney reason.  

While he had many academic and career related achievements throughout his life, arguably his most important achievement was the unending love, support and investment he put into his children.  

Dennis is survived by his children Kristen Comer and her husband Nathan Ritchie of Jacksonville, FL, Brian Comer of Greenfield, MA, Alexandra Comer Meeker of North Andover, MA, and Amanda Comer of Framingham, MA.  He leaves behind two grandsons Marshall Henry Meeker and Owen Emerson Meeker, as well as his sister Lynnette Watson and her husband Gary of Green River, Wyoming.  Dennis is survived by his partner of many years, Paula O’Hare, of Milford, MA, with whom he shared a close bond and a deep and enduring friendship.    

Dennis was predeceased by his parents, Carol Lucy Comer and Dennis Comer of Kellogg, Idaho and Apache Junction, Arizona; and his brothers Kurt Comer of Kentucky and Craig Comer of Kellogg.

A Celebration of Life is planned to be held at Eaton Funeral Home in Needham, MA, on Friday, February 21st from 4-6pm, for friends and family to gather and exchange some words of remembrance.  

The family would like to express their gratitude to the nurses and staff at Countryside Healthcare of Milford for their unwavering care and kindness.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the American Stroke Association or to The Perkins School for the Blind.

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