Dennis Ray Appleyard

Dr. Dennis Ray Appleyard, 85, of Chapel Hill, North Carolina (NC), passed away on March 13, 2025. Dennis was a devoted husband, loving father, inspiring professor, and service-oriented leader. He was a pillar of his varied communities, bringing joy and inspiration to all who knew him.

Dennis was born in 1939 in South Haven, Michigan, to Edwin and Hortense Appleyard. Alongside his twin brother and lifelong friend Dr. David Appleyard, Dennis grew up in South Haven surrounded by his parents and grandparents, as well as many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. Dennis completed his undergraduate studies at Ohio Wesleyan University, where he played tennis, edited the yearbook, and joined the Delta Tau Delta fraternity. He went on to earn his Masters and Ph.D. in Economics at the University of Michigan. While there, in 1963, he married Gwen Greenfield, his college sweetheart. Upon graduation, they moved to Chapel Hill, NC, where they raised three children: Douglas, Amy, and Karen.

Dennis was a professor of Economics at the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill from 1966 to 1989, where he received numerous accolades, including the university-wide Tanner Award for “Excellence in Inspirational Teaching of Undergraduate Students” in 1983. In 1990, he and Gwen moved to Davidson, NC, where he served as the James B. Duke Professor of International Studies and Professor of Economics at Davidson College from 1990 to his retirement in 2010, after which he retained Emeritus status and continued his work and research. While at Davidson, Dennis served as Chair of the Department of Economics as well as Director of the college’s Semester-in-India Program. In 2004, he received the Thomas Jefferson Award for his influence in teaching and service given “generously and well beyond the call of duty.” Dennis’s scholarly work has appeared in American Economic Review, Economic Development and Cultural Change, History of Political Economy, Indian Economic Journal, International Economic Review, among others. In collaboration with his dear friend and colleague Alfred J. Field, Professor Emeritus of Economics at UNC-Chapel Hill, Dennis co-authored the textbook International Economics, which was first published in 1992 with eight subsequent editions. In addition to teaching and publishing, Dennis also consulted for the World Bank, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (in Islamabad, Pakistan).

Dennis was a dedicated, intelligent, and compassionate man with a witty sense of humor and broad interests. His memberships in multiple book clubs epitomized his insatiable curiosity and fueled friendships that spanned decades. Dennis was a lifelong fan of music. He played piano and clarinet and sang in barbershop quartets, musical productions, and the choirs at both University Presbyterian Church in Chapel Hill, and Davidson College Presbyterian Church. He loved teaching, often saying that it kept him young in spirit. An active community member, he served in leadership roles within his church, UNC-Chapel Hill, Davidson College, and Carolina Meadows Retirement Community. Dennis was an avid sports fan and could recount copious statistics for baseball (major and minor league), college basketball, and the Carolina Panthers. Most of all, he loved and was devoted to Gwen and to his family. He looked forward to annual family beach trips where he spent time with his children and grandchildren, doing puzzles, going for bike rides, swimming in the ocean, fixing martinis, and sharing lively conversation and competitive card and board games well into the night.

Dennis is survived by his brother David, son Douglas and wife Jennifer Appleyard, daughter Amy and husband Matt Basiliere, and daughter Karen and husband Chris Carmody. He is also survived by six grandchildren: William Appleyard and wife Brittany Diamond; Sarah Appleyard; Lola Basiliere, Bianca Basiliere, and Raquel Basiliere; and Ayla Carmody. He is preceded in death by his wife Gwen (2003), daughter-in-law Taylor Yeargin Appleyard (2012), and sister-in-law Joey Appleyard (2024).

The family extends gratitude to UNC Hospitals Hillsborough Campus and Transitions LifeCare in Raleigh, NC, for the exceptional care provided to Dennis and family during this difficult time.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to University Presbyterian Church (Chapel Hill, NC), Davidson College Presbyterian Church (Davidson, NC), the Arthritis Foundation, or Transitions LifeCare (Raleigh, NC).

A celebration of Dennis’s life will be held on Wednesday, March 19, at 2 p.m. at University Presbyterian Church in Chapel Hill with a reception afterwards, followed by a private committal service.