A celebration of the life of attorney Gerald Dennenberg, 69, who died Feb. 2 in West Palm Beach, Fla., will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28, on the Kon Tiki, which will be tied up at the Charlotte Amalie waterfront.
Dennenberg moved to St. Thomas in the mid-'60s where he served as a law clerk in the Territorial Court before becoming a partner in the law firm of Dudley, McGowan, Loud and Dennenberg. Dennenberg left the firm in the mid-'70s to explore other career venues ranging from jewelry to journalism. With new partners, he started the first Pan American Airways Virgin Islands in-flight magazine, and established an island medical directory.
One of his most lasting endeavors was the creation of the popular 24K and Credit Suisse gold jewelry sold on Main Street and in the states. Following these ventures, Dennenberg returned to his law practice until last year when he moved back to the States for health reasons.
Dennenberg was born Oct. 5, 1931, in Milwaukee, Wis., and graduated high school in Hollywood, Cal. He moved back to Wisconsin where he graduated from the University of Wisconsin Law School and practiced law in Milwaukee before serving as a captain in the U.S. Army, after which he moved to St. Thomas. He was a member of the Wisconsin and V.I. Bar Associations.
Dennenberg may be remembered by many early risers for his prompt arrival near the Coast Guard dock at 6:20 a.m. each morning in his speedboat (known to friends as the "James Bond Boat"), from his Water Island home. Spiffily attired, never appearing to get wet, he would handily tie up the boat, greet nearby boaters by name, and march briskly off to his office.
In addition to his love of the law, Dennenberg enjoyed racquetball, football, good jokes, traveling and Sundays with his "boatnik" friends. He is survived by his mother, Anne Dennenberg.
The Kon Tiki will be at the waterfront until about 6:45 p.m., after which there will be about a 45-minute harbor tour. Per Dennenberg's request: "Anyone is invited who will admit to being a friend of mine."
