Louis D. Dion III

Louis D. Dion III LINCOLN — On April 5, 2021, Louis David Dion III died at age 71 in Birmingham, Alabama, after being diagnosed with a glioblastoma brain tumor in February 2021. He was born on April 7, 1949, in Claremont, New Hampshire. and was preceded in death by his parents, Louis David Dion II (2011) and Pauline Kendall Dion (2020). His grandparents (Louis and Laura) owned Dion Brothers Market in Claremont (circa 1938). His maternal grandparents (Eatons) owned the Doggie Motel in Plainfield, New Hampshire (circa 1960s). He and his sister grew up around both businesses and considered the Valley, home. David earned his PhD from the University of Florida and later performed microbiology research at the National Cancer Institute and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. At UAB, he supported research to develop adenoviruses as a gene therapy agent to treat lung cancer. Later in his career, he played a key role in producing a method that is being used today to better define the margins of brain tumors for surgical removal. Sadly, his tumor was not a candidate. David retired from UAB in 2017 and moved to the White Mountains of New Hampshire where he enjoyed teaching skiing at Loon Mountain, hiking and biking. He was an active member of the community as he volunteered at Squam Adaptive summers and served as a substitute teacher at the Lin-Wood Public School in Lincoln, New Hampshire. He is survived by his wife, Deborah Breland Dion; his daughters, Kristin Dion and Jeannie Dion Johnston (Chris); his three stepchildren, Jeremy Breland (Paige), Zachary Breland (Caroline) and Jenni Breland Johnson (Alex); his sister, Debra Dion Krischke (Ryan); and his niece, Alexandra Dion Pazzaglia (Nick). David leaves behind five grandchildren, Logan David and Lena Dion Johnston, Ann Whitney and Emily Catherine Breland, and Elizabeth Claire Johnson. A memorial service will be slated at a future date in 2021 in Lincoln, New Hampshire. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the UAB neuro-oncology research fund. https://everloved.com/life-of/louis-dion/donate/