Dennis Allan Biasi passed away in Portland, Oregon on August 20, 2025 from Parkinson’s Disease and multiple myeloma. He had recently celebrated his 78th birthday with close friends and family.

Dennis was born in Oceanside, California to Estella Arlene (Mallory) Biasi while his father, Robert J (Bob) Biasi, was in the U.S. Navy. They returned to Bob’s hometown of Dubuque, Iowa, where Dennis was soon joined by brothers Robert, Gary, and Chad. The Biasi boys were active in scouting, church, and sports while growing up in Dubuque and in St. Joseph, Michigan. They were especially close to cousins in Dubuque and Chicago, and the move to St. Joe gave them even more opportunities to spent time together at the lake. Dennis was a competitive swimmer in high school and excelled at art. He graduated from St. Joseph High School in 1965 and earned an Associate’s degree in Advertising Art at Kendall School of Design in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

A talented and multifaceted designer, Dennis worked for an ad agency in Louisville, Kentucky until he was drafted into the U.S. Army during the Vietnam conflict - despite declaring his objection to war as a Conscientious Objector.  He served his time in Virginia as an artist for his battalion and, after discharge, joined his parents and brothers Gary and Chad in Portland, Oregon.

Dennis met Nancy Rosenkranz while studying art at Portland State University. They were married in 1974 and began a half-century-long adventure. Simon Alexander was born in 1977, and Christopher Martin in 1980. 

Dennis’ creative talents were wide-ranging. He and Nancy started screen printing his original designs on T-shirts when Simon was a baby. After a decade at Portland Saturday Market, they opened a printed apparel store in the historic New Market Theater and then licensed the designs for wholesale distribution. Dennis was an in-house graphic designer for the Oregon Zoo, colleges and universities, ad agencies, and Pratt and Larsen Tile, in addition to free lance work for corporate and non-profit clients.  He loved architecture and residential design, and the 100-year old family home on NE Davis Street became an 40-year project - as well as the center of activity for a large community of family and friends as Simon and Chris were growing up. 

A new adventure began in 2002 when Nancy joined the U.S. Department of State as a Foreign Service officer. Dennis was the perfect “trailing spouse” for 15 years of overseas postings. He loved exploring new cities and meeting new people. He created welcoming homes in Washington, DC, Amsterdam, Bogota, Mumbai, Monterrey, Vancouver,  and Tijuana - all with a studio where he could pursue his art. Always adaptable, Dennis worked as a visa adjudicator, security escort, and support staff, and was a beloved addition to every team. But painting remained his focus, and travel inspired a large body of work that captured the beauty of the world he saw. 

Dennis returned to Portland part-time in 2014 to care for his parents and Simon’s daughter, Maya. Nancy retired in 2018 and they returned to the family home. Despite his health issues, Dennis continued drawing, enjoying happy hours and meals with friends, relaxing at the beach and at the family house on the Sandy River, and dreaming new dreams. He joined a new community of friends and caregivers at Morningstar Senior Living in 2023. 

Dennis is survived by Nancy, son Christopher, and granddaughter Maya; brothers Bob (Rosemary), in Rockford, Illinois, and Chad (Jean), of Portland, Oregon, as well as numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was preceded in death by parents RJ and Arlene, son Simon, and brother, Gary. 

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