Dennis was an outstanding athlete. He excelled at baseball as a catcher during his middle school, high school, and college years. He was a defensive back on the high school football team. He competed nationally with a local dance team. He was an accomplished downhill skier and snowboarder. And early on, he mastered the skateboard. While he made his athleticism look effortless, his secret to success, as in every one of his accomplishments, was hard work.
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Dennis was a sophomore at The College of Saint Rose where he hoped to land the starting position of catcher on the Division 1 baseball team. Things were looking positive for him when he got the bad news that the NCAA had declared him ineligible due to complications in his status as a transfer student from the University of Buffalo, where he had been studying electrical engineering. Undaunted, he turned his energy toward starting a band that became known as Stilgrass.
One day Dennis came up to me and, in a matter of fact way, announced that he had gotten a gig. Since I didn’t have a clue what he was talking about, it eventually became evident that he had been able to land a coveted slot to play at Saratoga Winners just south of the Crescent Bridge on Route 9. I offered him the opinion that it would prove difficult to meet the commitment since he didn’t have a band. “Right”, he responded. “I’ve got to get working on that”. And he disappeared for two weeks.
The night of his performance, Joanne and I dutifully trudged into Saratoga Winners with the expectation of supporting our nearly adult son in the same manner in which we attended his sixth-grade recital, where he had played the cello. Like all parents of our generation, we lugged a large, shoulder-mounted camcorder to record the event. I’m glad we did. The band was really phenomenal! Stilgrass had picked up a singer/songwriter name Nate from St. Rose who teamed up with Dennis to write a song called “Trials”. I was blown away by it and it has been one of my favorites from the first time heard it. Check it out for yourself.
Dennis was never intimidated by any challenge that he faced. Even though he made it look easy, he worked his rear end off to overcome any obstacle that impeded his progress.
After his graduation from Burnt Hillls-Ballston Lake High School in 1996, Dennis surprised his parents with this thank-you “card”, fashioned from his drafting board. As this webpage develops, some of Dennis’s references will be explained. Pictures (clockwise from the top right) are 1) Dennis with his older sister, Mindy; 2) Dennis with Joanne, the best mother a son (and daughter) could ever hope to have; 3) Dennis at the prom; 4) Dennis in his baseball uniform standing next to his grandmother, Bridget Conduzio; 5) Dennis showing a leg during graduation at Saratoga Performing Arts Center; 6) Dennis harassing his mother; 7) Dennis in different prom gear; 8) Dennis and Dad, Dennis Robert Hull; 9) Dennis with Santa and, clockwise, his sister, Mindy, his cousin Kurt Conduzio, and his other cousin Eric Conduzio.
Hull, Dennis Arthur BALLSTON LAKE It is with great sadness we announce the death of Dennis Arthur Hull, 40, who was tragically struck down by a vehicle while walking in a neighborhood crosswalk on August 2, 2018. We are still dazed and shocked by the unfairness and senselessness that took him from us. We seek to make some sense of the reality that he is gone and taken from his loved ones so abruptly. We express our sadness, and acknowledge the great importance of Dennis’s life, and the loss to all of us that this unbearable tragedy brings and, although we must face the untimely death, we owe it to Dennis to look at the bigger picture of his life. Dennis was born and raised in Ballston Lake and graduated from Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake High School where he was starting catcher on the Varsity baseball team. He was a graduate of the University of Albany with a bachelor of science degree in computer science and Mediterranean archeological studies. While in college, he was a talented athlete and the editor of the college newspaper and was sent to New York City on assignment to interview Geraldo Rivera. He continued his brilliant writings throughout his life and wrote selected pieces for Finding America and wrote professional articles about his grandfather’s ship, the “USS Neches” battles during World War II. He also worked as an archeologist at the Albany Museum. He was a gifted musician and the founder of the rock group Stilgrass. He was also a performer in several area plays and performed in competition dance as well. He had a great sense of humor that could light up a room. He was an extremely talented and respected professional computer programmer. In his professional career, he was responsible for the development of several critical programs and software systems and code, working for several area I.T. giants in the industry, such as Commerce Hub, MapInfo, and New York State. He was the recipient of many information technology innovation awards and accolades. He was a world traveler and adventurer. He was a person who loved to learn about experiences and new places. He was an avid boater and docked his own boat at Lake George, a lake that he loved to boat on with his family since a child. He was also an experienced skier and snowboarder. Dennis was a talented, kind, caring, and loyal person who always helped a friend in need. He was an animal lover devoted to his rescue cats, Tiger and Tiger 2, and was a volunteer at the cat rescue center. Dennis Arthur was the son of Dennis R. Hull and Joanne (Conduzio) Hull of Ballston Lake; the brother of Mindy Hull, M.D. of Boston and the brother-in-law of her husband Marc Richute. He was the nephew of Arthur L. Conduzio (Eileen) of Lake George; and cousin to Kurt (Lisa) and Eric Conduzio. He was the grandson of the late Arthur and Bridgett Conduzio. Although there is much sadness and no comprehending how he could be struck down and taken from us in the prime of his life, our hearts are breaking however, he will live on in all of us, enriching, guiding and blessing our lives. Dennis, we love you so much. There will be a private Roman Catholic Mass followed by burial. Contributions in Dennis’s name may be made to a favorite animal rescue of your choice. Arrangements have been entrusted by the family to the Glenville Funeral Home.
My son was struck and killed by Charles P. Fiorino of 185 Paisley Street RD217, Ballston Spa, NY. He was driving a truck owned by Storage Solutions of NY, 78 Freemans Bridge Road, Glenville, NY. It was approximately 2:00AM on August 2, 2018. The incident occurred near the intersection of State Street and Washington Avenue. There were no witnesses to the incident so it is likely that Fiorino’s was the only vehicle on the road at the time. The area is very well lit and visibility is quite good. The initial information was that Dennis was struck in the crosswalk as he headed across State Street in the direction of Gateway Park. We believe that he may have been going to an all-night store on Erie Blvd since the Stockade Market had closed an hour earlier.
Fiorino, who was a volunteer firefighter and first responder, phoned in the accident and paced back and forth for 10 or 15 minutes while he waited for the police to arrive. He did absolutely nothing on the scene to try to save our son’s life or comfort him in his final moments. A few hours later, he posted the following to his Facebook page:
Very classy. He never reached out to apologize to us.
Fiorino died on November 1, 2023, about 5 years after he killed Dennis. According to a fundraiser held for him, he died of brain cancer. We will always wonder if his condition contributed to the events of the early morning of August 2, 2018.
August 2, 2018 was a beautiful day. I had gotten up a bit earlier than usual, put our two dogs, Josee and Jaydee in the car, and gone to Price Chopper to pick up some bagels. When I arrived back home at maybe 9:00 or 10:00 AM, I guess it didn’t register with me that my son-in-law’s truck was in my driveway. I put the leashes on the dogs, picked up the bag of bagels and headed toward the front door. As I was walking up the walk, my daughter, Mindy, came out of the front door. I said, “Hi, Mindy, how are you doing?” She answered, “Give me the leashes, Dad” and took the dogs from me. It was then that I noticed that she was crying. I asked what was the matter and she ushered me into the house. Once inside, she devastated me with the words, “Denny is dead.”