Dennis P. Haley, driver, outdoorsman

Dennis P. Haley of 96 West Redding Road, Danbury, a former Ridgefielder who enjoyed the outdoors and his Irish heritage, died on Thursday morning, May 24, in Kent, as a result of injuries sustained from an accident with a construction vehicle.
He was 39 years old and the son of Paul and Veronica Toomey Haley of Ridgefield.
Mr. Haley was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on June 2, 1961, and came to Ridgefield at the age of 11 with his family. He attended Barlow Mountain School and East Ridge Junior High School, and graduated from Ridgefield High School with the Class of 1980. He attended Magdalen College in New Hampshire.
In 1982, Mr. Haley moved to Charlotte, N.C., where he worked as a hotel chef and as a truck driver for the State of North Carolina. Returning to the area in August 2000, he was a transporter of construction equipment for United Rental of Danbury.
He enjoyed sailboating on lakes in North Carolina and at Candlewood as well as camping and traveling.
“He was most proud of his Irish Heritage,” said his mother, noting that several years ago, he spent a month in Ireland, visiting relatives in Galway and Tipperary. He did research on his family and was keeping in touch with his Irish cousins via e-mail.
He was a member of St. Mary’s Church and a former of the Marquette Council Knights of Columbus of Ridgefield.
Besides his parents, Mr. Haley is survived by a brother, John P. Haley of Oklahoma City, Okla.; seven sisters, Theresa A. Rooney of Kent, Mary Presnell of Danbury, his twin sister Eileen Pin of Dearing, Ga., Catherine Littleton of Danbury, Patricia Vas of Danbury, Veronica Courtney of Ridgefield and Deirdre Haley of San Francisco, Calif.; four nephews and 13 nieces.
A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Tuesday in St. Mary’s Church, Ridgefield. Burial was in St. Mary’s Cemetery.
Contributions in his memory may be made to St. Mary’s Pro-Life Committee, 183 High Ridge Avenue, Ridgefield, CT 06877.
The Kane Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.