Denis Pierre Renuart

Denis Pierre Renuart

September 25, 1951 – August 22, 2025

Denis Pierre Renuart, born September 25, 1951, in Miami, Florida, lived a life full of adventure, creativity, and entrepreneurial spirit. As the eldest child of Albert and Mary Jane Renuart of Coral Gables, Denis embraced leadership early, setting an example for his siblings: Raymond (married to Mary Ellen), Stephen (married to Ana), Susan (married to Edmund Thornton), and Kenneth, the youngest. He was preceded in death by his parents and brother Kenneth. Denis was a beloved uncle to three nieces and seven nephews and a proud great-uncle to two grandnephews and two grandnieces.

To Denis, his family, including immediate, relatives and friends were one of his greatest priorities. He went far out of his way to nurture and encourage his nephews and nieces, as well as the children of his close friends. He was Godfather to many children from both family and friends.

Growing up in South Miami, Denis enjoyed annual family camping trips across Florida and took sailing lessons at the Coconut Grove Sailing Club during the summers of middle school. He developed lifelong friendships, including bandmates from his 7th and 8th-grade band—friends who remained close throughout his life. The band even played aboard a cruise ship, backing up the regular performers, an early sign of Denis’s adventurous nature.

He graduated from Christopher Columbus High School in 1969, earned his AA from Miami Dade Community College in 1971, and completed his BS in Business at the University of Florida in 1975. After a brief stint as a property appraiser at Coral Gables Federal, Denis realized his adventurous spirit needed more freedom.

In 1977, Denis returned to Gainesville to work with an Oriental import company, selling furniture and rugs. Two years later, he bought his first major sailing vessel—the China Doll, a 1964 Cheoy Lee Robb sloop rig sailboat. Sailing became a passion, and Denis spent countless days exploring St. Augustine, Biscayne Bay, the Keys, and the Bahamas with family and friends.

His career evolved into technology sales in Atlanta and Washington, D.C., before he launched his first seafood venture in Annapolis in 1985: Claws, Tails, and Scales. Denis combined his love for the sea with his entrepreneurial drive, eventually moving his business back to Florida in 1989. His seafood ventures spanned decades and continents—from starting a seafood plant in British Guyana in 1995 to founding Neptune’s Gold in 2003, landing contracts with Costco, and major distributors. His final venture, Big Little Shrimp, brought healthy shrimp burgers to all 1,200 Publix stores, and the US Military PX"s — a testament to his commitment to quality and innovation in food.

Denis’s life was a tapestry of bold moves and unforgettable adventures. He lived aboard boats, sailed thousands of miles, and dedicated his last years to creating healthy seafood products while living on a friend’s power catamaran on the New River in Fort Lauderdale. It was there, on the water he loved, that Denis passed peacefully in his sleep on August 22, 2025.

A celebration of life will be held on December 7, 2025, at the Coconut Grove Sailing Club at 5:30 PM. Space is limited; please RSVP to Ray at 954-529-0990 by December 1. In lieu of flowers please make a donation to the Guy Harvey Foundation or the University of Miami Ocean Research School.

Throughout his life Denis was a very positive and joyous person, ready to proclaim that “This is going to be Great!” (usually while holding a glass of champagne). Denis will be remembered for his warmth, his fearless pursuit of adventure, and his unwavering belief that life is meant to be lived freely, lovingly and in the most positive way possible.