Dennis G GABRIEL
Class of 1972
Air Force, 31 Years
Born in the tiny community of Cherryfield, NS to parents Gloria M. Robar and Cornelius A. Gabriel.

Like most of his friends, Dennis thought he knew enough and decided to quit school after completing the first term of Grade 11. He moved to Halifax in 1970, where he worked the previous summers at the old Halifax Infirmary.
In 1971 he decided to join the Canadian Military (RCAF) where he had a very successful 30+ years of service, retiring in 2004. Initially, he was trained as a Medical Assistant 711. After receiving an accelerated promotion to Corporal in 1974, in July he married his first true Love, Marilyn E. Millar of Kelvin Grove, PEI.
1974 was a very memorable year as Dennis was selected for a re-musterer into the X-Ray Technology Trade and he and his new Bride moved to Ottawa when he attended training at the National Defense Medical Center (NDMC).
Upon completion of that training, he was posted on independent duty to CFB Portage La Prairie 1974-1978. Their oldest Son Jeff was born in 1977. Promoted to M Cpl in 1978, the family moved onto an Isolated Post in Masset BC, where youngest Son Andrew was born in 1980.

That summer the young family headed eastward to CFB Chatham where Dennis was promoted to Sergeant in 1981.
It was around this time period that Dennis began his journey of acknowledging his true Mi'Kmaq Culture and Heritage that culminated by becoming a Founding Member of the Qalipu First Nation in Newfoundland on the 27th of September, 2012. He shared this with his descendants.
Education was a large part of his career. Being selected for a 4-year Degree program at Dalhousie University 1982-86 followed by a two-year posting in Halifax. He was then posted as Detachment Commander of Maritime Command Detachment, CFB Greenwood, as the Area Social Work Officer, 1988-1990 and promoted to Captain.
Dennis was then selected for Post Graduate Training in 1990 and completed his program at the University of Calgary in (MSW)1992. With the total support of his family, they moved east again to Halifax where Dennis worked within The Addiction Rehab Program, ARC-Atl, as the Coordinator of the Family Program, perhaps the most challenging period of his Military career.
Dennis and Marilyn have been blessed with two outstanding Sons' Jeffrey N and Andrew K. Andrew is married to Krista L Knowles. I've been further blessed by Andrew & Krista with four tremendous Grand-daughters, Adelyn, Mylah, Rayelle and Elora.
Dennis often said, “although not perfect, I've done the best that I could and pray that my time on this journey has had a positive impact on the folks that I have the pleasure to both serve and know. I never thought that I could feel the full intensity of love until I became a Grampa!”.