Ardazan L. "A.D., Arty, Chiquito" Dennis, Jr.

HOLYOKE

Ardazan L. “A.D., Arty, Chiquito” Dennis, Jr., age 23, of Holyoke, passed away on Friday, September 17, 2021 at home unexpectedly. He was born in Springfield, son of Ardazan L. and Jessica (Urbina) Dennis of Holyoke. Born with congenital heart disease, he was the recipient of a heart transplant at age 10 at Boston Children’s Hospital. After the transplant, he was able to enjoy life even though he faced many health obstacles throughout the next 13 years. Despite those challenges, he managed to pursue his passion of playing various sports, coaching, and mentoring Holyoke youths. He played youth soccer and volleyball and continued playing those sports during high school. Ardazan was educated in Holyoke schools as well as Valley West in Chicopee. He was a graduate of both cities’ schools- Class of 2016. He also worked as a referee for the Holyoke Youth Soccer League. Ardazan coached volleyball for Holyoke High School for the last three years and Western Mass volleyball and currently helping to run a volleyball camp at the YMCA. He was a lifelong resident of Holyoke and worked as an Educator’s Assistant at the Holyoke YMCA for the Holyoke Public Schools system.  Ardazan also became an ambassador for the Donate Life organization and gave many speeches about the great need for organ donors, especially among the young.  As a result of his efforts over the years, many high school students have chosen to become organ donors. His greatest treasure was his loving family. Besides his parents, he is survived by his brothers, Tyree and Tason, and his sister, Serena.  He also leaves behind grandparents Ruben, Gloria, Fernada, aunts Gloria, Rosie, Mieko, uncle Moises, cousins Nic, Adonis, Eván, Shayla, Anya; godparents, Craig and Nancy Butler and family, as well as many other family members, close friends and colleagues. Ardazan was a longtime communicant of Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish where he spent many hours volunteering for many activities for the church.

In life, there are people who live a full lifetime and never end up pursuing the many opportunities available to them and then there are those who cram a lifetime’s worth of achievements and are able to achieve a level of success that was never expected of them into the few years they were given. Ardazan was the latter.

The family would like to extend their most sincere thanks to: Nurse Midwife, Brenda Maloney; the staff of the Pediatric Unit at Baystate Medical Center; the entire staff of the Pediatric Cardiac Unit, Transplant Team, and Dr. Edward Walsh at Boston Children’s Hospital; Holyoke Pediatrics; the special care givers that took care of Ardazan at home and while he attended the Holyoke Public Schools; the Donate Life organization- Western Mass. chapter; as well as the Heart and Vascular Center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, September 22, 2021 at the Barry J. Farrell Funeral Home, 2049 Northampton Street from 3:00 to 7:00pm.  Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Mass of Christian Burial for Ardazan on Thursday, September 23, 2021 at 10:30am at Saint Jerome Church, 169 Hampden Street, Holyoke.  Burial will be held at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Ardazan’s name to the Greater Holyoke YMCA, 171 Pine Street, Holyoke, MA 01040 or the Pediatric Heart Transplant Program at Boston Children’s Hospital, 300 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115

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