LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – On the early morning of Dec. 29, 2016, Denis passed away after a two-year battle with cancer. He was surrounded by his wife Dara, his son Ross, and his lifelong friend Lorna, and died bathed in their love. He was 59 years old at the time of his death.

Denis was a native of San Francisco, Calif., born there on Feb. 28, 1957, at 6:05 a.m. He was the first child of Rita Ross Cashman and Michael Denis Cashman, and was born on his mother’s birthday.

Denis was raised in the Catholic faith, and attended parochial schools his whole life. He attended St. Finn Barr Grammar School and graduated from St. Ignatius High School in 1975. He then went on to obtain a Bachelors of Arts from USF College, and proceeded to attend USF Law School. He received his Juris Doctorate from USF Law School in 1983.

Denis devoted his life to public service, first as a San Francisco Police officer, where he worked for eight years including as an undercover vice officer, then as a district attorney in Marin and San Francisco counties.

After spending over 20 years protecting the public as a district attorney, he retired and opened a private practice defending the accused. He was known universally as a fair, compassionate attorney, who really understood people and what justice truly meant. Denis won the respect of his fellow district attorneys, the defense bar, the bench and the civil attorneys alike.

Denis was also passionate about keeping himself informed, and kept abreast of current events. He spent hours listening to political talk shows, with no particular slant, wanting to hear both sides on any issue before taking a position.

Due in part to his interest in politics, and in part to his thirst for justice, Denis became involved in the association for county attorneys. He was a tireless union advocate and spent hours in negotiations, fighting to, and succeeding in, gaining better wages and benefits for his fellow prosecutors.

Denis had a razor sharp mind, and was known for his incredible grasp of trivia. Rarely was he stumped by any trivia questions, and won many a Trivial Pursuit game, a beloved pastime. He also was a fierce bocce ball player, and played competitively for years. He even installed a bocce ball court at his home in Lake County.

Denis was preceded in death by his parents, Rita Ross Cashman and Michael Denis Cashman.

Denis is survived by his devoted and devastated wife of 31 years, Dara Cashman, and his equally devoted and devastated son Ross Tyler Cashman. He is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law Kevin and Melissa Cashman, his sister and brother-in-law Mary and Patrick Daniels, and his nieces and nephews Allie Cashman, Katie Cashman, Dylan Cashman, Gabrielle Daniels, Joey Daniels, and Jilly Daniels. He is also survived by his in-laws, Bill and Lorna Lawver, who were his partners in so many ventures and adventures.

A funeral service will be held at Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary on Friday, Jan. 6, at 11 a.m. with interment to follow at Upper Lake Cemetery.

Denis had a special fondness for the work that the Guide Dogs For the Blind Foundation do, so donations to that foundation in his name would be appreciated. In addition, cancer has devastated Denis’ family, so donations in his name to the American Cancer Society would also be welcomed.