Dennis James “Doc” Day, PhD, 76, of Portsmouth, Ohio passed away at Southern Ohio Medical Center on Tuesday, June 15, 2021. Born January 15, 1945, in Washington, Pennsylvania, he was the son of the late James Hiram Day and Helen Naomi (Bedillion) Day.
He was preceded in death by his brother, Dave Day, of Washington, Pennsylvania. He is survived by his three children, Jim Day (Billie), of Elkins, West Virginia, Dennis Day (partner Jesse Caldwell) of Cincinnati, Ohio, and Jennifer Picklesimer (Jed) of South Portsmouth, Kentucky. He also leaves behind his siblings, Steve Day (Peg) of Washington, Pennsylvania, Barbara Day of Abingdon, Maryland, Lynn Schmoyer (Bob) of Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania, Duane Day (Christine) of Washington, Pennsylvania, and sister-in-law LuAnn Day of Washington, Pennsylvania. Along with the siblings, he leaves behind his three grandchildren, Seth Day, of Harrisonburg, Virginia, and Oran and Olivia Picklesimer, of South Portsmouth, Kentucky, and special friend Sherrill Day, of Portsmouth, Ohio.
Dr. Day was retired from Shawnee State University where he was a Professor of Business Management. He earned his Doctorate in Business from the University of Iowa in 1980. He was the author of three Business and Management publications focusing on Business Management Policy and Strategies. James also attended numerous conferences and seminars both in the U.S. and abroad representing Shawnee State University.
Teaching was his passion and he inspired his students to reach for their dreams and challenged them to continue their education into advanced degrees. He could easily be recognized across campus by his white dress shirt and suspenders and exotic turquoise jewelry that he acquired from around the world. He was an avid world traveler fulfilling his lifelong dream of visiting all seven continents and even taught a semester in China at Zhejiang University as part of an International Professor Exchange Program.
James loved gardening, reading, the theater, and the arts, his yellow Labrador, Sadie Mae, spending time with his family, playing games, and telling jokes and stories. He was a generous and thoughtful man, always thinking of others before himself. His greatest treasures were his youngest grandchildren, Oran and Olivia.
There will be a private memorial led by Pastor Phil Howard with immediate family at the home of his daughter, Jennifer Picklesimer.
Doc was an esteemed and highly respected professor at Shawnee State University where he taught in the Business department for 20 years.
