Dennis John "DJ" Loughran

Age 62, of Mount Lebanon, Pennsylvania, passed away on July 19, 2025, after a hard-fought battle with cancer. He left this world peacefully, with his family by his side — just the way he always wanted to be by ours.

Son of Dennis (Becky) Loughran; beloved husband of Kelly; loving father of Sean and Matthew — his sons, who carry his values, his calm presence, and his quiet, steady sense of humor with us every day; dear brother of Aaron (Janet), Barkley (Kim), Gretchen (Rick), Monica, Bridget (Bill), Thomas (Christy), and Greg (Brandy).

DJ was born at Dewitt Army Hospital in Fort Belvoir, Virginia, in 1962, and grew up in Dormont, Pennsylvania, surrounded by his big, loving, and loyal family. He graduated from Keystone Oaks High School in 1981 and went on to St. Francis University, where he earned his degree in accounting in 1985. DJ spent his career as a CPA — most recently with Louis Plung & Company — helping clients navigate their finances with a steady hand and a sincere heart, but there was so much more to him than his work. He was one of the initial investors in Club Café on Pittsburgh’s South Side — a sign of his entrepreneurial spirit and his love for the local community. He was a trusted advisor to many and a true friend to even more.

What really made DJ special, though, was how much he cared about people. He had a kind, steady heart and a quiet way of looking out for others — his family, his friends, his clients, and sometimes even total strangers. The ushers at ballparks and stadiums knew him by name because he always treated them like old friends.

DJ lived his life by the words of Maya Angelou: “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel”, and he made people feel safe, seen, and cared for. That’s something we will carry with us forever — trying, every day, to make others feel the way he made us feel.

As an avid sports fan, DJ especially loved watching his sons play while growing up. He was the dad who never missed a game. He never once yelled from the stands… even though there absolutely were times he was screaming under his breath. He was passionate and wanted to see his sons succeed — so really, we can’t blame him.

DJ was also a fiercely loyal and supportive friend. He was always there for his buddies, and it wasn’t unusual to see him on the sidelines of their kids’ games, cheering them on like they were his own. When he wasn’t at his sons games or supporting his friends at theirs, he was a regular at Pitt basketball and football, Pirates games, and Steelers Sundays. One of his favorite things in the world was “stealing one” — his term for sneaking out of work to catch a midweek afternoon Pirates game at PNC Park.

He loved getting out on the golf course, though he never bothered with a real scorecard. Instead, it was just happy faces for the good holes and sad faces for the bad ones… but if you ever played with him, you know there weren’t many sad faces. His favorite part of every round? An orange Gatorade and a hot dog at the turn. Simple joys, done right.

In DJ’s later years, his new favorite teammate became Harley, the family dog. The two of them walked around his old school, KO, and the neighborhood like they owned the place, and honestly, they kind of did.

Above all, he loved his beloved wife — Kelly — who he always said was the best wife he could have ever asked for, and the perfect woman to raise a family with. He was so proud of the life they built together and of being a dad to Sean and Matthew. He was also proud to be the oldest sibling — the one who felt a deep responsibility for looking out for the rest of the crew.

His mother, the late Marian Loughran, surely welcomed him with a big hug, a kiss, and the $5 bill she gave him every year for his birthday — which he never spent, and kept tucked away, every single one of them. It’s been eight years since he got his last one, so here’s to hoping she’s been setting them aside for him all this time — and maybe they’ve even been collecting a little interest over the years. I’d bet anything, he’s hoping the rates are better up there than they are down here.

If you knew DJ, you knew kindness. You knew calm. You knew his sense of humor — never flashy or loud, but always there in the small moments: quoting movies at just the right time, making quiet jokes, or showing up when it mattered most. He didn’t need to be the center of attention — he just showed up, every single time. And that made all the difference.

We’ll miss him more than words can ever say. We love you, Dad — and we’ll keep walking forward the way you taught us.

Family and friends are welcome on Thursday, July 24, 2025, from 2-4 & 6-8 p.m., at Laughlin Cremation and Funeral Tributes, 222 Washington Road, Mount Lebanon, PA 15216. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, 10:00 a.m., where everyone will meet at St. Michael the Archangel Parish – St. Bernard Church, Mount Lebanon.  Interment is private for the family.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Michael the Archangel Parish – St. Bernard Church, www.smapgh.org

www.laughlinfuneralhome.com

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