It is with great regret that we announce the passing of longtime SEMARA member David G. Dean, K1JGV of Dartmouth. Dave passed away on the morning of Tuesday, May 17, 2016. He was 77 years old. Dave was a kind gentleman and an all around nice guy who had a strong passion for the things he did. At SEMARA, he will always be remembered as one of our most dedicated buildings and grounds members.
Please share your thoughts and memories of Dave using the “Comments” link at the top of this story. We send our sympathy to Amy and his family for their loss. May he rest in peace.
Born in Falmouth, he was the son of the late Samuel and Edith (Hughes) Dean. David was a member of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, New Bedford where he served as a lay reader for many years. He was also a former Scoutmaster of Troop 3 Boy Scouts while at St. Andrew’s.
A 1958 graduate of New Bedford High School, he then went on to receive his degree in electrical engineering from Roger Williams College, Bristol, RI. He served over six years in the U.S. Coast Guard which included active duty as First Class Radio Seaman Dispatcher on the US Coast Guard Cutter Yakutat one of the key ships deployed during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis. He was extremely proud of his country and had a great deal of respect for the American Flag and what it stood for.
Mr. Dean retired from Raytheon in Portsmouth, RI where he was employed as an electronics technician. He was a caring man who more than once came to the aid of a stranger in peril. He loved the ocean and the outdoors. One of his fondest memories was going out on fishing trips with his Dad on the boat they built. David enjoyed working and puttering in his yard. His hobbies included model trains and ham radio. He was also a science and history buff and enjoyed watching Jeopardy with his wife. He liked watching FOX News and oftentimes referred to the Sunday comics as the “headlines.” Most of all, he always looked forward to getting together with family and friends. That said, nothing gave him more pleasure than playing his harmonica during Christmas festivities at the home of John and Judith Lima of Dartmouth.
David was a member of SEMARA, Southeastern Massachusetts Amateur Radio Association of Dartmouth. He was also a former member of the Dartmouth School Music Association during which time he proudly watched his daughter perform as part of the Dartmouth High School Marching Band Color Guard at numerous band competitions.
David’s family wish to thank his longtime friends Ray Arruda of Acushnet, Art Marshall of Tallahassee, FL and Marty Jordan of Dartmouth for their ongoing support. They also extend special thanks to all his doctors, especially Drs. Elliott Anderson, Charles Heller and Slawomir Pajak, St. Luke’s Crapo Ward and PCU Team I and II as well as the Community Nurses of Fairhaven for their excellent care and compassion.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by a daughter, Laurie Ann Lima and her husband Joseph L. Lima of Dartmouth; cousins, Dorothy Gammans and Pamela Perron of Fairhaven and Thomas Carr of Acushnet and Jack Dean of Mattapoisett. He was the cousin of the late Ronald Denham of Leicester, MA.
His Funeral will be held on Saturday, May 21, 2016 at 9am from the Waring-Sullivan Home of Memorial Tribute at Dartmouth, 230 Russells Mills Rd., Dartmouth with a Funeral Service at 10am in St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, 169 Belleville Rd., New Bedford. Burial will follow in Pine Grove Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday from 4-8pm. Flowers welcome or donations may be made to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, 383 Main Ave., 5th Floor, Norwalk, CT 06851. For online tributes please visit: www.waring-sullivan.com