It is with great sadness that we learned that long time Camp Courageous Dietary Director, Chef Dennis Bayne, has passed, at the age of 76 (just short of his 77^th).

Dennis Bayne started volunteering at Camp Courageous during some of the Camp’s earliest days.  Having been an employee of the Monticello Express, at a very young age, he was part of the first publishing of the Camp Courageous Courier, and the thousands of print jobs that followed.  Later in life (50ish) he went back to school and became a Chef, through the Kirkwood Community College’s exceptional Chef program.  Dennis was a regular volunteer for the Camp’s Annual Omelet Breakfasts and Pancake Breakfasts, being a natural to teach others.  In 2002 Dennis was named to the position of Dietary Director at Camp Courageous.

Camp saw some of its greatest growth in quantity and quality during Dennis Bayne Era as Chef.  Camp hit all time highs of serving 3,000 visitors at the Annual Omelet Breakfasts, along with baking and selling 10,000 Camp Courageous Fruitcakes.  Dennis loved to cook for the campers and staff and for special groups.  He would cater weddings and other special events that occurred at Camp and established a special “Boardroom” experience where, small groups would have lunch and meet in Camp’s Board Room, and Dennis would serve an exceptional meal.  When Dennis started at Camp in 2002 over 4,500 campers were being served annually and when he retired from Camp the number had grown by 2,000 to over 6,500.  Dennis served as Dietary Director for eleven years and Camp Coordinator in his final year at Camp. He was presented the Camp Courageous Trailblazer Award for his exceptional service to camp over the years.

When computers and e-mail were new, Dennis, who was very much in love with his wife, Sandy, accidently sent an email to the entire staff, that was meant for Sandy, just letting her know how much he loved her.  Didn’t bother Dennis a bit, because he really loved his wife, Sandy, and their family with all his heart.  Camp’s sincere sympathy goes out to Dennis’s wife of nearly 60-years, Sandy and children Tim*, Karmen, and Joe, along with family and friends.

*Tim has passed.