Dennis A. Gurdian, 45, died in his sleep in the early hours of Wed., July 19, in his Chicago home, as a result of undetermined causes. He is survived by his mother and father (Ruth A. Gurdian and William Gurdian), his brothers David and Will, and his sisters Rita Thompson and Regina Liebenthal. Dennis was the youngest of five children.

He was born on Oct. 18, 1971, in Managua, Nicaragua, Central America, which is his father’s country of origin. He came to the United States when he was only 14 months old, when the family moved there as a result of a massive earthquake that leveled the Nicaraguan capital in 1972.

Dennis grew up in Gary, Ind., his mother’s hometown, and attended Catholic parochial school there. He attended both Andrean Catholic high school and Merrillville public high in Merrillville, Ind., where the Gurdian family moved to in 1987. After graduating from Merrillville HS, he attended Purdue University, West Lafayette, for one year and then transferred to Indiana University, Bloomington, from where he graduated with a B.S. degree in Finance in 1996.

After college graduation, Dennis moved to Chicago to work in sales for IT and software corporations, including IBM and its premier business partners. He generated millions in revenue, becoming a top-selling Sales Executive who received numerous awards and recognitions, including incentive travel all over the world. Dennis was well-respected by his business associates and highly-valued and sought after by his employers due to his leadership, business acumen and expertise in negotiations.

With an enormous sense of humor and even larger heart, Dennis was the life of the party and center of attention wherever he went. Throughout his short life, he touched hundreds of lives, making connections that endured over many years. He built strong relationships – both professional and personal – with a natural ease and charm that was irresistible to people. He was a loving and devoted son, brother and a favorite uncle for many children. All the hundreds of friends and associates whom Dennis leaves behind will cherish their million memories of him. In his final months of life, he was lovingly devoted to the care of his girlfriend, who was battling cancer.

The family has arranged for two visitations for Dennis – one in Chicago, and one in Plainfield, Ind., (near to where his bereaved mother lives). The visitation in Chicago will be held on Sat., 7/22, from 2 - 7 pm, at Smith-Corcoran Funeral Home, 6150 N. Cicero Ave., Chicago, IL. The visitation in Plainfield will be held Mon., 7/24, from 5 - 8 pm at Hall-Baker Funeral Home, 339 E. Main St., Plainfield. The funeral Mass will be held on Tue., 7/25, at 11 am at St. Susanna Church, 1210 E. Main St., Plainfield, with Fr. Glenn O’Connor presiding. Maple Hill Cemetery in Plainfield will be Dennis’ final resting place. 

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