Dennis M. McGinn

Denny was born Sept. 9, 1938 in Escanaba, the son of Denis and Catherine (Semer) McGinn. He attended St. Joseph Grade School, St. Joseph High School (1952-54) and then Holy Name High School (1954-56), graduating with the second class of the consolidated Catholic high school. After spending one and a half years at St. Mary’s College in Winona, Minn., he transferred to the University of Michigan. At Michigan, he obtained a bachelor of science degree and, in 1965, his doctor of dental surgery degree. McGinn served as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Navy aboard the USS Okinawa off Vietnam and Okinawa tending to the dental needs of Marines and sailors. Following three years in the Navy, he practiced dentistry in San Diego until his retirement. Later, he spent several years performing dental work at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, an assignment that he very much enjoyed.

Survivors include his son, Michael Oster, of San Diego; his sister, Barbara, of Annapolis, Md.; his brother, Robert (Patricia Casey), of Saline, Mich.; nieces Megan McGinn-Meals (Michael) of Crownsville, Md., Erin Kopitzke (Casey) and Margaret Dame (Christopher), both of De Pere, Wis.; nephew Charles McGinn (Dayna) of Fox Point, Wis., great niece Christina Dame and great nephew Samuel Kopitzke.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Denis and Catherine, and infant brother, Michael.

An avid reader, Denny also spent about 15 years working as a volunteer at Point Loma/Hervey Library, one of the largest libraries in the City of San Diego. He cherished his cats, and was caring for five this year and many others over the years. He loved to shoot pool and, if it meant taking someone s money, so much the better. The Nevada casinos knew him as a shrewd poker and blackjack player. And dating to the mid-1960s, he almost always could be found driving a sports car. His carport over the years included more than one Corvette, more than one Camaro and more than one Thunderbird. A natural multi-sport athlete, he even body surfed in the waves of the Pacific Ocean.

The affection for his hometown never waned. He looked back happily on catching smallmouth bass at dawn and at dusk along the banks of the Ford River, chasing down frisbees while

eluding passing motorists in the 400 block of Ogden Avenue outside the family home and walking the fairways of the Escanaba Country Club and the Gladstone Golf Club in his bare feet during summertime rounds. His first exposure to California in the 1960s meant surfers, “Woodie” beach station wagons, the Beach Boys and “Bambi”, the Chargers’ Lance Alworth, hauling in bombs at Balboa Stadium. Ocean Beach and the endless summer kept him there forever.

Denny was the quintessential late bloomer. A 6-foot-4 right-hander, it took a while for him to grow into his body and gain confidence in his athletic gifts. He didn t even play baseball in high school until his junior year. He wasn’t a starter in basketball until his senior season. Eventually, he became a major piece in what gave Escanaba in the 1950s arguably the most successful era of baseball in any Upper Peninsula city.

He took tremendous pride in helping pitch the Escanaba Cubs to the 1955 Michigan American Legion state baseball championship (they took second in ’56). In the 95-year history of the Legion state tournament, Escanaba remains the only U.P. team to win the one-class/Class AA title. In May 1956, in what became known as simply “the 18-inning game”, he went the distance throwing an estimated 250 pitches in Holy Name’s 3-1 victory over the Escanaba Eskymos. “It was the most fantastic game within memory of fans,” wrote Ray Crandall, sports editor of the Daily Press.

Having lettered for the Trojans and Crusaders in basketball, football, golf and tennis in addition to baseball, he was awarded the Denis McGinn Trophy in 1956 as Holy Name’s top senior athlete-scholar. Home for Christmas break in 1957 and with his career stalled at St. Mary’s, Denny was given the chance to audition in front of Ray Fisher, Michigan’s baseball coach since 1921, based on the recommendation of John S. “Jack” Perrin, a star athlete from Escanaba living in Detroit who also played at Michigan. His father, Denis, promptly drove his son to Ann Arbor. After watching Denny throw in Yost Field House, Fisher offered him a baseball scholarship on the spot.

In 1960, Denny established himself as the Wolverines’ No. 1 starting pitcher. In 1961, he contributed as Michigan won the Big Ten and then hurled a five-hit, complete-game, 2-1 victory over Cincinnati in an NCAA regional tournament game. In both seasons, he compiled the lowest earned-run average on the staff. His career ERA was 3.20. He is one of only three players from the U.P. to earn a letter in baseball at Michigan in the last 73 years.

His ashes will be interred at Holy Cross Cemetery in Escanaba.