- By Lansing Funeral Home
- Obituaries
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Born July 5, 1925 in Albany, NY, Gene was the son of the late Louis and Helen (Wagner) Dean. A 1943 graduate of Ithaca (NY) High School, he entered the United States Army in August 1943, serving in Europe as a reconnaissance squad leader during World War II and a supply officer following the armistice, achieving the rank of staff sergeant. He received his discharge from the Army in November 1945, earning a Good Conduct Medal and Purple Heart for his service.
Upon his return to Ithaca, Gene attended Cornell University for two years, joining the Phi Delta Theta fraternity, where he was the house manager. After his marriage and the birth of his first son, Gene began his career at the Ithaca Gun Company, where he worked his way to production manager. While working full-time and raising his family, he resumed his collegiate education, traveling 120 miles round- trip twice a week to Syracuse University in the evenings for six years (before Interstate 81), earning a Bachelor of Science degree in business management, cum laude, in 1956. His career later included positions at Rothschild's Department Store, Cornell University and more than 20 years at the United States Postal Service.
For more than 30 years, Gene was the scout master for Troop 19 of the Louis Agassiz Fuertes Council of the Boy Scouts of America, located at Belle Sherman School in Ithaca. His troop camped once a month year-round, including canoe trips in the Adirondack Mountains and extended summer sessions at Camp Barton on Frontenac Point in Trumansburg, NY. In 1969, Gene led a troop from the Louis Agassiz Fuertes Council to the National Boy Scout Jamboree at Farragut State Park, Boise, ID. He later received the Silver Beaver distinguished service award from the Boy Scouts of America for his many years of hard work, self-sacrifice, dedication and positive impact on the youths he led, some of whom remained in contact with him throughout his life.
Gene and Janet raised their family and lived for more than 40 years on Valentine Place in Ithaca, where he participated in civic activities, despite working long hours. Gene took great pride in the maintenance and appearance of their home and yard. Leaving their family home and moving to Lansing proved to be a difficult transition for Gene.
During his last two years of life, in addition to his wife, Gene received loving care from his daughter-in-law Terri Dean, who especially appreciated his sense of humor, which remained strong even as he entered the hospital in the hours before his death. His wife and children are deeply grateful for the love, comfort and companionship Terri provided during Gene's final months.
Gene is survived by his sister, Marie (Dean) Talbot of Anchorage, AK; his wife of 64 years, Janet Irene (Morse) Dean of Lansing, NY; three sons, Lawrence Ashley and his wife Velma of Greenfield, MA, Stuart Lindsey and his wife Terri of Lansing, NY, and Jeffrey Lee and his longtime companion Sandra Owens of Bruceton, TN; a daughter, Janice Eilene (Dean) Hayward and her husband Samuel Hayward of Bowdoinham, ME; 12 grandchildren, Emily (Dean) Lawrence and her husband Michael of Derry, NH, Hutson Hayward and his fiancée Tracy Krueger of Bowdoinham, ME, Ian Hayward of Portland, ME, Caitlin Hayward of Bowdoinham, ME, James Stockton and his wife Dawn of Groton, NY, Laurie Stockton of Chapel Hill, NC, Jesse Miller and his wife Shawna of Charlotte, NC, Kimberly Dean and her fiancé Sean Titone of Brooklyn, NY, Lindsey (Dean) Felling and her husband Jack of Larchmont, NY, Ashley Dean and her partner Arnold Lopez of Washington, DC, Tara (Hockenberry) Sessa and her husband Joseph of Delray Beach, FL, and Aaron Dean of Wellington, FL; and 11 great-grandchildren.
In addition to his parents, Gene was preceded in death by a daughter Nancy Anne, who died shortly after birth.
Those wishing to remember Gene in the form of a contribution may send their gifts to the Baden Powell Council, Boy Scouts of America, 2150 NYS Route 12, Binghamton, NY 13901 and designate them for Camp Barton.
In keeping with Gene's wishes, no public services are scheduled. Interment at North Meadows Cemetery, Greenfield, MA, will take place at a later date.