Dennis C. Braje, 84, of Londonderry, NH, passed away Friday September 12, 2025, in Portsmouth Regional Hospital in Portsmouth, NH. Dennis was born on August 21, 1941, in Chicago, IL, a son of John and Sylvia (Novak) Braje. He had been a resident of Cincinnati, OH for 31 years, and for the past 15 years in Londonderry in the Nevins Adult Community.
Several years ago an article in the Londonderry Times described Dennis as “A Renaissance Man”, because he had so many interests. Most recently, he painted, sculpted, wrote poetry, and was a gourmet cook. He began painting in college at Georgia Tech to relieve his stress as a Chemical Engineering student, continued to paint throughout his lifetime, became a Bob Ross certified instructor, and until recently taught art lessons in his basement studio.
He began seriously cooking when his wife went back to work full time. After retiring from IBM, he became a Personal Chef, cooking meals for busy people who had no time or interest in cooking. He continued his love of cooking at the Nevins, where he began a Chef’s Table group of 20 residents who would cook complete meals for the residents several times a year, also often cooked breakfasts for residents, and conducted some men’s cooking classes. Judy loved the fact that he cooked most of the daily meals at home and for the many parties he loved to throw. He spent a lifetime doing volunteer cooking, first in Cincinnati at an inner city catering restaurant, teaching people who had been incarcerated how to organize meals and cook them for various local meetings and functions, and then in Derry, NH at the Sonshine Soup Kitchen.
Early in his IBM career, he won a small plastic sailboat in an IBM Sales Contest and that began his passion for sailing. BB was his motto…..bigger boat. He graduated to a 21 footer, then 32 footer, and finally a 42 foot catamaran stationed in the British Virgin Islands. His family and friends enjoyed many years of sailing vacations in the BVIs. After moving to the Nevins, he sold the boat and spent many wonderful years traveling with Judy, mostly to places with different cultures, like China, Cambodia, Thailand, India, Nepal, Bhutan, but also loving visits to Australia, New Zealand, Croatia, France, Austria, Hungary, and Nova Scotia. In May 2024, he had knee surgery which resulted in complications and several falls over the next year, ending with two strokes and a fall, filling his brain with blood and finally leading to his passing. He amazingly stayed positive through all his physical ordeals and always joked with the nurses during his many hospital stays. Growing up in Chicago in very humble dwellings, he and Judy often reminisced about all they had achieved and the fun, blessed life they had with no regrets that there was anything they should have done.
He is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Judy (Smutny) Braje of Londonderry; two daughters, Wendy Braje, Cheryl Braje; son Scott Braje; and five grandchildren.
Following cremation there are no services scheduled at this time. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Sonshine Soup Kitchen in Derry, NH.