In Celebration of
W. Dennis Moss
Died peacefully on March 16, 2026 at 80 years of age, after a short but brutal battle with cancer. Dennis was born in St. Catharines Ontario to Maxine & William (Bill) Moss. Named after his father, he was always known as ‘Dennis’, so there wouldn’t be Bills in the house. He is pre-deceased by his parents, and his younger sister Linda. Dennis’ older brother Tom will be turning 90 this summer. He is the proud father of Aimee and Jillian (Shannon), and Granddad of Olivia, Charlotte, William & Maeve. He will be deeply missed by his wife Barb.
Dennis left St. Catharines to attend university, and graduated with honours in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Waterloo in 1969. Dennis graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1972, and was called to the Bar of Ontario with honours in 1974. In 1975 he was awarded the J. Edward Maybee Memorial Prize for the highest standing in the Canadian Patent Agents’ qualifying examinations.
From 1971 to 1978 he was employed by the law firm of Rogers, Bereskin & Parr of Toronto, specializing in Patent and Trade Mark Law. Dennis was a founder of the law firm then known as Moss, Barrigar & Oyen in Mississauga and Barrigar & Oyen in Toronto, Ottawa and Vancouver. The firm was subsequently taken over by Smart & Biggar.
Dennis was a registered patent agent and a registered trade mark agent in both Canada and the United States. He is a former Fellow of the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada; and was a member of The International Association for the Protection of Industrial Property; American Intellectual Property Law Association; Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario (Past Chapter Chairman); United States Trademark Association; and the Canadian Bar Association.
Spending time on or near water was always important in Dennis’ life. Dennis got his start in sailing while in university, when his brother Tom bought a sailboat. He commuted to St. Catharines weekly to crew for Wednesday night races. He joined the Port Credit Yacht Club in 1977, bought his first sailboat in 1978, and started serving on the PCYC Board of Directors as Secretary in 1981. Dennis met Barb at the annual PCYC Open Regatta in 1982. They competed in Club racing events (she could see the marks on the race course), and cruised every summer on their sailboats named “Patent Pending” - a CS30 followed by a C& C34+. Dennis started his term as Commodore of the Port Credit Yacht Club in 1988 and put his lawyer skills to work negotiating leases with the federal, provincial and municipal governments for the Yacht Club’s move to its current location in Lakefront Promenade Park. After years of single-handed racing and Club racing, Dennis & Barb ‘went to the dark side’ and bought a Mainship trawler (also named Patent Pending) which they continue to enjoy at PCYC. Dennis was awarded the George Cousins Trophy in 1990 (this trophy is awarded annually to the boat or member bringing the highest honour to PCYC) and the Commodore’s Award in 2014 along with Barb. Dennis would have received recognition for 50 years of membership at PCYC in 2027.
Although he started his career in downtown Toronto, Dennis decided to start his own law practice in Mississauga, and joined the Rotary Club of Mississauga in 1978. He served as the Club President in 1985, founded the Rotary Club of Mississauga Foundation in 1998 and has been on the Board of Directors of the Foundation ever since. Dennis is a 5 time Paul Harris Fellow recipient.
Dennis started his travelling adventures in 1970 when he took a break from Osgoode Hall Law School, and spent the summer touring Europe on a motorcycle. He only had 3 accidents, and 1 short hospital stay to worry his mother. Keeping up with Intellectual Property rules in other countries led to attending conferences around the world, with Barb as a travel companion. After retiring at the end of 2006, Dennis & Barb started spending part of their winters in Florida, where they learned to play petanque. (A game like bocce, but played with metal boules.) They continued travelling and cruising on large ships, and have visited 74 countries, 31 islands and 41 US states and provinces.
Dennis didn’t slow down after retiring. Many relaxing summers were spent on the boat, cruising to the Thousand Islands and travelling the Rideau, Trent- Severn & Erie Canals. He helmed the Committee Boat for PCYC Wednesday night racing for many years, and volunteered and served on the Organizing Committee for the Rotary Club of Mississauga’s Annual Ribfest. Dennis and Barb joined the PROBUS Club of Mississauga Centre and expanded their social activities.
A celebration of life will take place during the boating season.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Rotary Club of Mississauga Foundation or the Canadian Cancer Society.
Dennis left St. Catharines to attend university, and graduated with honours in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Waterloo in 1969. Dennis graduated from Osgoode Hall Law School in 1972, and was called to the Bar of Ontario with honours in 1974. In 1975 he was awarded the J. Edward Maybee Memorial Prize for the highest standing in the Canadian Patent Agents’ qualifying examinations.
From 1971 to 1978 he was employed by the law firm of Rogers, Bereskin & Parr of Toronto, specializing in Patent and Trade Mark Law. Dennis was a founder of the law firm then known as Moss, Barrigar & Oyen in Mississauga and Barrigar & Oyen in Toronto, Ottawa and Vancouver. The firm was subsequently taken over by Smart & Biggar.
Dennis was a registered patent agent and a registered trade mark agent in both Canada and the United States. He is a former Fellow of the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada; and was a member of The International Association for the Protection of Industrial Property; American Intellectual Property Law Association; Association of Professional Engineers of Ontario (Past Chapter Chairman); United States Trademark Association; and the Canadian Bar Association.
Spending time on or near water was always important in Dennis’ life. Dennis got his start in sailing while in university, when his brother Tom bought a sailboat. He commuted to St. Catharines weekly to crew for Wednesday night races. He joined the Port Credit Yacht Club in 1977, bought his first sailboat in 1978, and started serving on the PCYC Board of Directors as Secretary in 1981. Dennis met Barb at the annual PCYC Open Regatta in 1982. They competed in Club racing events (she could see the marks on the race course), and cruised every summer on their sailboats named “Patent Pending” - a CS30 followed by a C& C34+. Dennis started his term as Commodore of the Port Credit Yacht Club in 1988 and put his lawyer skills to work negotiating leases with the federal, provincial and municipal governments for the Yacht Club’s move to its current location in Lakefront Promenade Park. After years of single-handed racing and Club racing, Dennis & Barb ‘went to the dark side’ and bought a Mainship trawler (also named Patent Pending) which they continue to enjoy at PCYC. Dennis was awarded the George Cousins Trophy in 1990 (this trophy is awarded annually to the boat or member bringing the highest honour to PCYC) and the Commodore’s Award in 2014 along with Barb. Dennis would have received recognition for 50 years of membership at PCYC in 2027.
Although he started his career in downtown Toronto, Dennis decided to start his own law practice in Mississauga, and joined the Rotary Club of Mississauga in 1978. He served as the Club President in 1985, founded the Rotary Club of Mississauga Foundation in 1998 and has been on the Board of Directors of the Foundation ever since. Dennis is a 5 time Paul Harris Fellow recipient.
Dennis started his travelling adventures in 1970 when he took a break from Osgoode Hall Law School, and spent the summer touring Europe on a motorcycle. He only had 3 accidents, and 1 short hospital stay to worry his mother. Keeping up with Intellectual Property rules in other countries led to attending conferences around the world, with Barb as a travel companion. After retiring at the end of 2006, Dennis & Barb started spending part of their winters in Florida, where they learned to play petanque. (A game like bocce, but played with metal boules.) They continued travelling and cruising on large ships, and have visited 74 countries, 31 islands and 41 US states and provinces.
Dennis didn’t slow down after retiring. Many relaxing summers were spent on the boat, cruising to the Thousand Islands and travelling the Rideau, Trent- Severn & Erie Canals. He helmed the Committee Boat for PCYC Wednesday night racing for many years, and volunteered and served on the Organizing Committee for the Rotary Club of Mississauga’s Annual Ribfest. Dennis and Barb joined the PROBUS Club of Mississauga Centre and expanded their social activities.
A celebration of life will take place during the boating season.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Rotary Club of Mississauga Foundation or the Canadian Cancer Society.