Denise Mary (Wholihan) Jackson/Glenz 62, Cudjoe Key, FL, died after a gallant struggle on March 14. Born Nov. 24, 1960, in Detroit, Michigan. Survived by loving husband David Glenz; many friends and family, brothers Peter(Nicole)Wholihan and Christopher Wholihan; dear friends, Lisa Sato and Rocky. She is preceded in death by her parents, David and Jean Wholihan. Denise was a whirlwind, who loved animals, the water, and squeezed every moment of her too-short life, to the fullest.

Denise was an energized woman. When she entered a room you knew it! Whatever her mission was; a whale rescue, movie shoot, planning an event, or just whatever it was at the moment to be worked on or figured out, she was a force to be reckoned with.

Denise was born and raised in Detroit, MI. She graduated St. Mary of Redford, then attended Eastern Michigan University. After taking a “graduation” trip to the UK, she left EMU one class shy of her business degree as she already was involved in marketing at Bendix. She saw no need to finish university since she was already in business. That was Denise, not waiting, forging ahead at her own speed- fast. She left Bendix, to assist a small auto repair garage become a regional auto parts distributor.

Her love of the water grew out of summers spent at the cottage at Island Lake.   Denise and Tom Jackson spent a number of years living on Whitmore Lake, Michigan, and sailing on Lake Erie, where she especially loved Put-in-Bay and Pat Daily’s music. Her love of the water and business acuity motivated them to buy and sail a boat from Michigan to Key West to start a charter boat business, which grew to build and bring the first large tourist catamaran in Key West “Stars & Stripes”.

Being with people and involved with activities was central to Denise’s life. Whether these be on the water, at festivals, or at parties she intertwined this love with an entrepreneurial spirit. She did catering, and party planning, assisted in running a restaurant, and scouted locations for movies in the Keys, where sometimes all these business skills intertwined for film productions seeking to steal a bit of Keys sunshine. Even as she battled for life in her final months, she organized a group and participated in her final Fantasy Fest.

The love of animals was integral to Denise’s persona. From a young age, she looked out for critters of all kinds. Kola bears were her favorite; dolphins as she matured. As a very young girl, she brought a big toad into the house to show her mother, who told her, to keep that ugly thing outside where it belonged. Denise answered, "But it has golden eyes." Another time when her brother was bothering ants on the cottage retaining wall, she pelted him with rocks to safeguard these insects. In the Keys, Denise was integrally involved with the Florida Keys Marine Rescue Team and other concerns for the welfare of Keys wildlife. Whether it was rescuing, releasing, taking care of, or coordinating these services for whales, dolphins, or other wildlife Denise threw her heart and soul into safeguarding these critters so dear to her heart.

In the past few years, Denise and her husband Dave traveled the country in the “Beast” their motorhome, celebrating life with friends, chasing NASCAR races, and exploring the country. The Beast was their home away from home when they were not enjoying the azure waters of the Keys, around their Cudjoe Key home.

Denise and Dave were soulmates. In this past year, when Denise walked away from death once, to rebound, live life, and fight for it to the bitter end, she was blessed to have Dave there every step of the way, taking care of her as only a loving husband can.

Denise led an unrestrained life, full of friends, love, and adventure. Her effervescent spirit will be greatly missed by family and friends. The electric energy she brought to their lives will be lacking, but her spirit lives on as we remember that twinkle in her eye, her mischievous smile, and the meteoric fashion in which she flew through our lives.

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