Dwayne Osgood Family
Donation protected
Dwayne Osgood was a loving father, supportive husband, reliable confidant to family and friends, and true American Hero who courageously lost his 21-month long battle with glioblastoma on December 19, 2020. He leaves behind his wife, Liz, and their three children, Olivia, Eleanor, and Paxton.
Dwayne was raised in Penn Yan, New York in a family of six. He was recruited to play lacrosse at the United States Naval Academy (USNA), and was admitted by way of the Naval Academy Preparatory School. Dwayne excelled at lacrosse, and his lacrosse coach, John Tillman, became Dwayne’s mentor and supporter in the years to come.
While at the USNA he met his future wife, Elizabeth Marie Bennett, who later became a P-3C Naval Flight Officer. Dwayne graduated and earned a commission in the United States Marine Corps in May 2005. Upon graduation, Dwayne completed The Basic School (TBS) in Quantico, Virginia. He ultimately became a Marine Corps Military Police Officer. In this role he served as a Military Working Dog Platoon Commander, Executive Officer, and Company Commander. He deployed twice to the Al Anbar Province of Iraq where he led an organization of 109 personnel across 14 different Military Occupational Specialties to safely complete more than 150 combat missions and 60 customs missions.
Dwayne separated from Active Duty with the Marine Corps in May 2010. A year later he completed a Master of Business Administration at the University of Florida. He and Liz then relocated to Annapolis, Maryland where they welcomed two daughters, Olivia and Eleanor.
In December 2014, Dwayne and Elizabeth moved to Charlotte, North Carolina after Elizabeth separated from Active Duty with the Navy. Dwayne took a role as a financial analyst with Sonic Automotive. A few years later in June 2018, they welcomed their third child and first son, Paxton.
In March 2019, Dwayne was admitted to the Emergency Room for severe headaches. Upon examination he was ultimately diagnosed with glioblastoma, the most malignant form of brain cancer. He completed the standard care of treatment until his tumor returned in November 2019. He then proceeded with alternate forms of treatment and a second surgery through a clinical trial at Duke University’s Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center. Dwayne chose to stop treatment in September 2020 after an unbelievably spirited fight.
Dwayne completed hospice care at his home in Charlotte until his passing on December 19, 2020. In mid-September 2020, a few of his fellow University of Florida MBA classmates had a chance to meet with Dwayne as he was in hospice care. When asked about his feelings of being in the military and being deployed in Iraq as a Company Commander, he responded by saying it was the best time of his life and that he would do anything to return if he could. He loved it.
During his battle with glioblastoma, Dwayne remained the leader he had always been. Dwayne credited his wife Liz as being his rock that refused to let him have any down days, and between the two of them, they were able to live by the motto that instead of looking for blessings to come into their lives, they were looking to be a blessing in others’ lives. Dwayne spoke about this mindset in a journal and explained that by taking this stance in life, it changes the way you see each person, and that it is great! This was just another example of Dwayne’s character; finding ways to serve others even during the toughest of times. Other examples of Dwayne’s character include raising funds for Play4theCure, and running the 2019 Marine Corps Marathon, while still undergoing chemo. During his battle, he also rallied his Sonic Automotive teammates to financially pledge against every mile he ran over a 48-hour period in March 2020 to benefit their SAFE fund, which supports Sonic family members during times of emergency.
When asked about his greatest fear, Dwayne broke down because he felt like he would not be there for his children. He felt as if he was abandoning them. As we remember these selfless thoughts and comments, we can’t help but think of the family he leaves behind and how we may be able to provide support for them.
On behalf of Dwayne’s grieving family and friends, his Military and other Professional families, and his fellow Florida MBA classmates, we feel obliged to keep the memory of Dwayne alive as well as support Dwayne’s wife and their three children, Olivia, Eleanor, and Paxton.
Proceeds from this campaign will be used to support his family's most pressing financial needs, to include college planning and support for the children, and financial support for Liz in the years to come.
Dwayne was raised in Penn Yan, New York in a family of six. He was recruited to play lacrosse at the United States Naval Academy (USNA), and was admitted by way of the Naval Academy Preparatory School. Dwayne excelled at lacrosse, and his lacrosse coach, John Tillman, became Dwayne’s mentor and supporter in the years to come.
While at the USNA he met his future wife, Elizabeth Marie Bennett, who later became a P-3C Naval Flight Officer. Dwayne graduated and earned a commission in the United States Marine Corps in May 2005. Upon graduation, Dwayne completed The Basic School (TBS) in Quantico, Virginia. He ultimately became a Marine Corps Military Police Officer. In this role he served as a Military Working Dog Platoon Commander, Executive Officer, and Company Commander. He deployed twice to the Al Anbar Province of Iraq where he led an organization of 109 personnel across 14 different Military Occupational Specialties to safely complete more than 150 combat missions and 60 customs missions.
Dwayne separated from Active Duty with the Marine Corps in May 2010. A year later he completed a Master of Business Administration at the University of Florida. He and Liz then relocated to Annapolis, Maryland where they welcomed two daughters, Olivia and Eleanor.
In December 2014, Dwayne and Elizabeth moved to Charlotte, North Carolina after Elizabeth separated from Active Duty with the Navy. Dwayne took a role as a financial analyst with Sonic Automotive. A few years later in June 2018, they welcomed their third child and first son, Paxton.
In March 2019, Dwayne was admitted to the Emergency Room for severe headaches. Upon examination he was ultimately diagnosed with glioblastoma, the most malignant form of brain cancer. He completed the standard care of treatment until his tumor returned in November 2019. He then proceeded with alternate forms of treatment and a second surgery through a clinical trial at Duke University’s Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center. Dwayne chose to stop treatment in September 2020 after an unbelievably spirited fight.
Dwayne completed hospice care at his home in Charlotte until his passing on December 19, 2020. In mid-September 2020, a few of his fellow University of Florida MBA classmates had a chance to meet with Dwayne as he was in hospice care. When asked about his feelings of being in the military and being deployed in Iraq as a Company Commander, he responded by saying it was the best time of his life and that he would do anything to return if he could. He loved it.
During his battle with glioblastoma, Dwayne remained the leader he had always been. Dwayne credited his wife Liz as being his rock that refused to let him have any down days, and between the two of them, they were able to live by the motto that instead of looking for blessings to come into their lives, they were looking to be a blessing in others’ lives. Dwayne spoke about this mindset in a journal and explained that by taking this stance in life, it changes the way you see each person, and that it is great! This was just another example of Dwayne’s character; finding ways to serve others even during the toughest of times. Other examples of Dwayne’s character include raising funds for Play4theCure, and running the 2019 Marine Corps Marathon, while still undergoing chemo. During his battle, he also rallied his Sonic Automotive teammates to financially pledge against every mile he ran over a 48-hour period in March 2020 to benefit their SAFE fund, which supports Sonic family members during times of emergency.
When asked about his greatest fear, Dwayne broke down because he felt like he would not be there for his children. He felt as if he was abandoning them. As we remember these selfless thoughts and comments, we can’t help but think of the family he leaves behind and how we may be able to provide support for them.
On behalf of Dwayne’s grieving family and friends, his Military and other Professional families, and his fellow Florida MBA classmates, we feel obliged to keep the memory of Dwayne alive as well as support Dwayne’s wife and their three children, Olivia, Eleanor, and Paxton.
Proceeds from this campaign will be used to support his family's most pressing financial needs, to include college planning and support for the children, and financial support for Liz in the years to come.
Co-organizers (3)
Dwaynes UF MBA Family
Organizer
Wilbraham, MA
Maxim Dolinsky
Co-organizer
Kenneth Hamby
Co-organizer