Charles Reid Dennis, passed away on April 4th, 2020 at his home in St. Petersburg, Florida. “Reid”, as he was known his whole life, was the founder of the legendary Durty Reid’s Bar and Grill, on Grand Cayman Island. He was 79 years old.
Reid entered the United States Marine Corps in 1964 after earning his bachelors degree in journalism. He attended OCS in 1964, TBS in 1965 and was in Vietnam all of 1966 and 1967. While in Vietnam, thru some amazingly difficult circumstances he was awarded The Bronze Star medal with combat “V”, The Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and Vietnam Campaign Medal. Unfortunately, a serious injury while serving in Vietnam cost Reid his right leg. He was medically retired as a Captain in 1967.
Later that year, Captain Dennis travelled to the Cayman Islands as a visitor and fell in love with the place.
A native of New York City and an avid Washington Redskins fan, Reid grew up in Virginia where he later finished his college education. He opened Durty Reid’s on Grand Cayman 31 years ago in the old Red Bay Plaza site. It later moved to Pedro Castle when government demolished the building to make way for the East-West Arterial corridor.
In earlier years, he worked at Ports of Call, now The Wharf, and was manager and editor of the Caymanian Weekly, which later merged with the Cayman Compass, and acted as a fictional pirate named Durty Reid Walker in the movie ‘Cayman Triangle’.
Dennis is survived by his wife Dorothy, children Davina Anne Tressider (Benjamin), sons John Wesley (Brooke) Dennis and William Charles Dennis, grandchildren Ryder, Noah, Reid, Selena and a host of family and friends.
Reid will be laid to rest at Bay Pines National Cemetery. Formal Funeral Ceremonies including an honor guard from the United States Marine Corps and the Marine Corps League Det. 54 will take place on Thursday, August 5th, 2021 at 1030hrs. Attendees are encouraged to arrive between 1000 hrs and 1015 hrs ahead of the 1030 start time. Semper Fi !!
Rest in Peace, Reid–a man of courage and devotion to family and country. Reid suffered immeasurably from Viet Nam War injuries, but his spirit was strong, and his good nature brightened the world around him. Reid will be fondly and long remembered by all who knew him.
Reid Always to be remembered. A truly great Marine. Sympathy to wife and family.
Great memories going through OCS and TBS . Rest in Peace fellow Classmate TBS 4/65.
You were always my best friend. I miss you, man. In those good days in the distant past, I think we had more fun than anybody! Great memories of you always. I’ll be joining you in the Party Room Upstairs someday soon!! Save me a cold one.
Only knew Reid for a short time, May through September,of 1966. But in that time from Pendleton, USS IWO Jima, Subic Bay, Phillipines, the Mekong Delta and the DMZ of Vitnam, I found him to be a good friend, professional Marine and a hell of a lot of fun. I wish I could have known him in the Caymams!
Semper Fi old friend, Rest in Peace.
Rest in Peace to a sweet friend – many fun years in the Cayman Islands. With love and sympathy to Dorothy, Wes, Davina, William and the grandchildren.
To the Dennis Family,
I knew Reid as a little girl when he and the family lived in Warrenton, Va. My parents, Lloyd and Catherine Hughes, worked for his parents, Dorothy and Wes Dennis. He and his brother, Morgan, played ball a lot. His Dad, an artist, and mother played lots of tennis and entertained frequently especially on Gold Cup weekend. We were all saddened when we learned of his “war” injuries. Reid was always jovial and fair minded. Whenever he came home to Warrenton, the phone range constantly. Everyone liked him. Sincerely, Angela