Dennis Habecker (affectionately known as "Hobbs" by family and friends) was born and grew up in Hillandale, Maryland. He entered the US Peace Corps in 1982, where he worked as a math, science and English teacher in a small African village in Lesotho. Dennis moved to Johannesburg in 1990, where he met his future wife Selma, married her and became an instant father of 5. They now live in Doha, Qatar in the Middle East.