Obituary
Dennis Mitchell, affectionately known as Bruno, passed away from pancreatic cancer on March 10, 2024.
Dennis was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on December 31, 1956, to Nicholas C. and Grace (Homer) Mitchell. He graduated from North Allegheny High School in 1974 where he was on the swim team. He attended Westminster College in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania where he received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity, and met his wife, Amy (Clarke) Mitchell. They were married in 1981 and moved the following year to Orlando, Florida where they would raise their family.
Dennis was an extremely gifted artist and designer. He began his career in home design, and then worked in retail design for Walt Disney World and Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museums. He later concepted and designed the WonderWorks amusement park. That evolved into opening his own design and production business where he incorporated industrial materials into retail fixtures and displays, selling them to various department stores and museums, including the Smithsonian in Washington, DC. He also opened a chain of year-round Christmas stores, which he lovingly named St. Nick and Noel’s in honor of his children. Recently, he’s been enjoying his retirement in New Smyrna Beach.
Dennis loved his family fiercely, as anyone who knew him can attest. He is survived by his wife of forty-two years, Amy, a son Nicholas C. Mitchell, a daughter Alexandra Noel Otto (Nathaniel), and two granddaughters who were the lights of his life, McKinley Mitchell and Skylar Otto. He is also survived by two brothers, Max Mitchell (Jennifer) of Weston, Connecticut, Nicholas Mitchell (Tatyana) of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and a sister, Grace Mitchell of West Virginia, and many beloved cousins, nieces and nephews, and friends from around the world. He was preceded in death by his parents, as well as a brother, George Mitchell (Janet) of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
A funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m. on April 15, 2024, at All Saints Episcopal Church, 338 E. Lyman Avenue, Winter Park, Florida 32789.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network at pancanbruno.com/mitchell.
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