Dennis P. Profant, 58, Entomologist and Respected Professor
Dennis P. Profant, 58, of Nelsonville, Ohio, formerly of Lorain, Ohio, died April 15, 2015, at his residence.
He was born Oct. 30, 1956, in Lorain and graduated from Lorain High School in 1974. He earned an associate degree from Hocking College, a bachelor’s from the University of Florida and a master’s degree from Central Michigan University.
Dennis, an entomologist, was a respected professor for more than 25 years at Hocking College in Nelsonville, teaching field biology as well as courses on ornithology, botany and other disciplines.
His love for insects and nature was evident at an early age, when Dennis began collecting caterpillars so he could watch them turn into butterflies. While attending Hocking College, he was a counselor at the Youth Conservation Corps during summer breaks. After college, he worked for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and then as a park ranger in Florida, working with endangered manatees in Orange City.
After becoming a professor at Hocking, he published extensively, including researching and writing a textbook about trees for college students, and blogging about field biology. Dennis, who won a teacher of the year award, was highly rated by his students. During summer breaks he conducted research at Beaver Island in Michigan. His collection of moths and butterflies is extensive and spans 30 years.
In his spare time, Dennis was a player and manager on the Hocking softball team. He collected celebrity autographs and baseball cards, and enjoyed movies.
Dennis was also a jazz aficionado; he played trumpet and ran an Internet radio station featuring soft jazz and fusion music, and his record collection included hundreds of albums.
Dennis always made people laugh and was a loving person who will be dearly missed by all. Survivors include his parents, John and Elizabeth Profant (nee Miraldi); brother John M. (Sandra) Profant; sister Kim Profant; nephew Jason Profant; partner Barbara Reece; aunts Mary Miraldi, Annette Segalavich and Becky Profant; uncle Val Miraldi; and loving cousins. He was preceded in death by his uncles, Allan Profant and Tony Segalavich; and both sets of grandparents.
The family will receive friends at Reidy-Scanlan-Giovannazzo Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 2150 Broadway, Lorain (440) 244-1961 on Monday, April 20, 2015 from 4:00 - 7:00 PM. Closing prayers will be held at the Church prior to the Mass on Tuesday at 10:50 AM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 AM, Tuesday, April 21, 2015 at St. Anthony of Padua, 1305 E Erie Ave, Lorain, Fr. Richard Gonser, officiating. Christian entombment services will be held at Resthaven Memory Gardens in Avon, OH. Memorial donations may be made to the Dennis Profant Scholarship Fund at Hocking College, 3301 Hocking Parkway, Nelsonville, OH 45764. Online condolences may be sent using www.rsgfuneralhome.com.