Dennis C. Bernstein of Towson, formally a long term resident of Highland, Maryland, and founding owner of CES Security, Inc. died peacefully at home, in the company of family, of Parkinson's disease complications, on December 18, 2024.

Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, near Memorial Stadium, and was an enthusiastic Orioles fan from an early age.  He was the valedictorian of the 1969 graduating class of Mergenthaler High School before matriculating to the University of Maryland Baltimore County. There he earned a bachelor's degree in political science in 1973.  At UMBC, Dennis was active in student government and student activities, starting the first on campus box office and bringing both popular and classical music performances to campus.

In 1975, he founded CES Security, providing crowd control for events throughout Maryland, including the former Baltimore Civic Center, the former Baltimore City Fair, the Preakness, and the opening of Harbor Place.  He led the company to its current state, providing security services to retail spaces and industrial sites, as well as conventions and special events in the Baltimore-Washington area.

Dennis met his wife, Nancy Bond, through a mutual friend at UMBC.  They married in 1977 and after a brief residence in Reisterstown, moved to Howard County, where they raised their two children.  Dennis was an avid reader of science fiction and a dedicated Star Trek fan. He was interested in both classical and popular music with favorites ranging from Dvorak to Bruce Springsteen.  He remained an Orioles fan and loved baseball in general, coaching his son and others in Howard County teams.  Later in life he took up golf and was a member at Turf Valley Country Club.  Along with his wife Nancy, he enjoyed live theater, both locally as a long time subscriber at The Kennedy Center and through frequent trips to New York.  He enjoyed domestic and international travel, his favorites being our national parks and Disney World.

Dennis is preceded in death by his parents, Hugo C. Bernstein and Mary Lee (Starnes) Bernstein, and half-brothers Calman Bernstein and Ray Miller.  He is survived by his wife Nancy J. Bond, daughter Laurel Bernstein and husband Skylar Loeb, of Oakland, California, and son Logan Bernstein and wife Kresina Bernstein of Cockeysville, Maryland. He is also survived by his five beautiful grandchildren whom he adored, and his half-brother, Thomas Bernstein and husband Vincent Hogh, of Sarasota, Florida.

A celebration of life will be held in Dennis' honor later in January.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation or BARC (Baltimore Area Rescue and Care Shelter).