I always remember Dennis from one of my last encounters with him away from School . Summer of 71', Ticketron outlet (memba those?) us both in line with different people, trying to score Tickets to an upcoming Steppenwolf Concert at the Auditorium. Maybe it was at Wards, upstairs? Tickets were 4.50, 5.50, or 6.50--affordable to even some teens like us at the time. As we waited in line we talked--talked of Steppenwolf, their songs, their sound, the seats we might get, how cool the show would be. He called me "Reagie" back then, and it always felt special to me when he did. Not sure why, just did. Fast forward a little, and the next encounter with him was not so upbeat and positive. He was worried, and spoke of it. Worried he said "I cant go back there", or even now on to real jail as he put it. "Back there" I think was juvie hall. Either way he was worried, But how worried is anyone ever, that we as the onlooker can gauge--who wouldnt be worried about getting busted and going to jail? None of us ever had any idea it was that kind of worry--the kind that one ends their own Life over. But he did. And those who knew Dennis were sad and maybe mad too...mad at the kid who sold him the drugs, but that kid didnt know what Dennis would do with them. Mad that Dennis did this...but in the end, Sad to know one as happy and gentle as a Dennis Grinnel would no longer be among us. Even if just in passing. I often think of that moment at Ticketron with Dennis, for no other reason than a simple encounter with a positive Soul like his can etch and preserve a moment in time in us forever. Bill Regan 72'