Donald G. Dean
December 26, 1917 – August 16, 2011
Donald George Dean, age 93, of Fairfield, husband of the late Dorothy Walton Dean, passed away August 16, 2011. Born and raised in Nichols, NY, he was predeceased by his parents, the late Daniel and Anna Dean. Donald is survived by two sons, Jefferson Walton Dean and his wife, Heather, and their children, Maggie Dean, Christopher Heun, and Cullen Heun, all of Fairfield; and Gordon L. Dean, and his children, Ashley and Devin Dean, all of Middletown, NY. In addition, he is survived by two nieces, Dr. Lois Crane Williams and her husband, Dr. Peter Williams, their six children and numerous grandchildren; and Barbara Moser, her two children; one nephew, Donald Dean Crane and his wife, Roberta Crane. Donald grew up on a farm in upstate New York and never gave up his love or memories of farming. He was drafted into the US Army in 1941, and was stationed at Schofield Barracks in Hawaii during WWII, surviving the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. He attained the rank of Sergeant before being honorably discharged in 1945.
Don went to college at Cornell University then Ithaca College and became a physical education teacher. He obtained his graduate degree from NYU. After teaching in several schools in New York State he accepted a teaching position in Fairfield in 1952 at Stratfield School and the newly opened 1st McKinley Elementary School, and then later settled full-time at Fairfield Woods K-8 School. It was there that he met Dorothy, also a physical education teacher. They married in July 1955. He stayed at Fairfield Woods School until he retired in 1979, teaching in Fairfield a total of 27 years. His pleasure in teaching was paramount and even after retiring, continued to substitute teach for several years. He loved the great outdoors and taught his sons to appreciate camping and the world around them. In 1970, at Donald’s urging, and two years of planning, the family packed up and traveled across America on a ten week camping adventure. It was a trip of a lifetime. Afterward, Donald spent summers in Rangeley, Maine at his lakeside “camp” on Dodge Pond.
In his retirement years, he had a small business repairing golf clubs which kept him busy year round. He and Dot moved to Bennington, VT to enjoy the country life in their retirement, ultimately moving back to Connecticut many years later to be closer to their sons. His other big love was walking his dog, Mac, which he did several times a day no matter the weather.
Friends are invited to attend a Memorial Celebration of Donald’s life on Saturday, August 20, 2011 at 2:00 p.m. at Greenfield Hill Congregational Church, 1045 Old Academy Rd., Fairfield. Interment with Military Honors will be private.
I am saddened to learn of the passing of Mr. Dean. I was a student of his at Fairfield Woods Middle School. He was a very good and carrying teacher. I will never forget his dedication to his students and his cheerful personality. My sincerest condolences to his family.
Mr Dean was my PE teacher at Fairfield Woods in 1954/55. The first year the school opened. I have always appreciated the time & effort he provided in coaching me one to one after school in both basketball & track. My condolences to his family on his passing. He was a special person.
Bill Lang
I was so very sorry to learn o Don’s passing. He was my first teaching partner at Fairfield Woods Junior High in 1975 (toward the end of his career). I learned so much from him about teaching and about life. His influences on me helped me become a better teacher. I will always remember his kind and gently ways especially with the special needs population. My sincere sympathies to the family.
I’ll never forget the time spent at the camp in Maine where I learned to waterski and pulled both Don and Dot on skis behind the boat. Our sincere condolences to the family.
I am one of Don’s great nieces, so I can say I’ve known him for 50 years. What a great, great uncle he was for all of us. Always active. Always encouraging, during the summer visits our family made to Dodge Pond in Rangeley. He got us up on water skis. He got me doing pull-ups from the cabin’s rafters. He and Dot both made visits to Rangeley both fun and memorable during my teen-age years. Years later, I learned about Pearl Harbor and World War II through his stories from long-ago. Yes, they were the same stories we had heard on the previous visit, but boy, was he a proud and honorable soldier. Thank you for your service. Thank you for marrying Dot and raising two wonderful, community-minded sons. Thank you for being you, Great Uncle Don.
I have fond memories of Don and Dot taking me with them as they explored the hill on the family farm. We would hide under a tall fir tree to watch deer; pilliated woodpeckers; and other wildlife. They always brought binoculars and birds books so that we could see close up, the inhabitants of “the hill” in their natural environment. Their love of nature was shared with all the kids that entered their lives.