Dennis J. Alfonso (59) of Dade City, passed away with his family by his side on May 13, 2023. He was born on April 30, 1964 in Tampa, FL to Cesar Placido Alfonso and Violanda "Violet" Rosemary (Puleo) Alfonso.

Dennis spent his childhood in Tampa, Florida embracing his Cuban and Italian heritage. He graduated from Jesuit High School in 1982 and went on to receive his BA degree from the University of South Florida in 1987 and his law degree from Stetson University College of Law in 1989. He began his practice of law as a Supreme Court Certified Legal Intern for the Hillsborough County State Attorneys Office in 1989. After admission to the Florida Bar in 1990, Dennis practiced in Tampa in the areas of criminal law, general civil litigation, and family law.

While at Stetson, he met and later married the love of his life, Nancy McClain Alfonso in 1995. They settled in Dade City where they merged their practices and raised their family. Dennis began assisting in the representation of the Pasco County Clerk of Circuit Court and the School Board of Pasco County, where he served as General Counsel for the past 25 years. In 2011, he began his representation of the Hernando County School Board as General Counsel. While he continued to practice in the areas of general civil litigation and family law, Dennis was certified by the Florida Supreme Court as an expert in Education Law. He was appointed to membership on the Florida Board of Bar Examiners by the Florida Supreme Court in 2018 and was also an active member of the Florida School Board Attorneys Association, which awarded him the Graham C. Carothers Award of Excellence in 2022.

Dennis loved Dade City and made an impact on it by his service in the community. He was a Lay Eucharistic Minister and the Chancellor for St. Marys Episcopal Church and was a member of the Dade City Redevelopment Advisory Committee, Downtown Dade City Main Street, and Habitat for Humanity for East and Central Pasco County. He was a Past President of the Ybor City Rotary Club and Zephyrhills Daybreak Rotary Club, a graduate of Leadership Pasco (Class of 2014), and was a Little League and Youth Soccer Coach.

Dennis saw music as a language of love, light, family, and friendship. From his earliest memories to his final moments, he always brought joy and happiness to others through song. Throughout his life he performed in several bands with childhood friends and Dade City friends who are far too many to name. They played at weddings, fundraisers, work retreats, birthdays, holidays, and school reunions. He was a gifted guitarist and a beautiful singer.

Dennis was preceded in death by his parents, Cesar & Violet Alfonso. He is survived by his wife of 28 years, Nancy, and their children, Alexander and India, as well as his brothers Cesar (Julie) and Robert (Clara), and many nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, May 27, 2023 at St. Marys Episcopal Church in Dade City. In lieu of flowers, gifts in Denniss name may be made to St. Marys Episcopal Church Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 452, Dade City, FL 33526 (www.stmdc.com) or to Jesuit High School, 4701 N. Himes Avenue, Tampa, FL 33614 (jesuittampa.org) to provide the gift of education for students in need.

St. Mary's Episcopal Church