George W. Dean ‘60 died on September 16, 2026, in Grass Valley, California.
George Walter Dean
(The following was provided by The Union on October 24, 2026:)
George Walter Dean passed away at home in the early hours of September 26, 2026. He was predeceased by his parents Harvey Shields Dean and Jean Crawford (Hasbrouck) Dean and his younger brother, Harvey Stephen Dean. He is survived by his wife, Barbara Whitfield Dean; his daughters Elizabeth Anderson and Andrea Davis; his stepchildren David Lynn, Jon Lynn, and Pamela Willover; and his sister, Janice Anne Collins. He was Grandpa and Great-Grandpa to fourteen grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
George was born in Freeport, NY, on July 23, 1938. He grew up in New York, where he developed his love of learning, music, and humor (mostly clever and somewhat awful puns). He earned his bachelor’s degree cum laude at Bowdoin College and his Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Columbia University. He then served in the U.S. Army as a lieutenant stationed in Arlington, VA, during the years just prior to full troop deployment to Vietnam.
George moved back to Brunswick, ME, with his family, where he built a log cabin in 1966. He worked for New York Telephone and Radio Corporation of America before joining Fairchild Semiconductor, one of the founding companies of what would soon be known as Silicon Valley. It was Fairchild that moved him out to San Jose.
In 1974 George moved to Nevada City, leaving the corporate world (and the wearing of ties) behind. He bought a pottery shop in the Old Post Office, and on weekends brought his guitar to the Crazy Horse Saloon to sing folk songs. George’s love for music also found a special place in the hearts of children as, guitar in hand and smiling, he brought song to classrooms at Nevada City Elementary every Friday morning. He continued this in classrooms at Seven Hills and Chicago Park schools for over thirty years.
Transitioning back to electronics, he began working at Automata, a small GV design company that participated in a U.N. project to develop a flood warning system in Pakistan. George traveled to Pakistan annually over four years, training engineers and troubleshooting the equipment he helped create.
During this time, his younger daughter came to live with him, and he joined the Nevada City United Methodist Church, which he attended for over forty-five years. This is where he met and married Barbara, his wife and partner, who brought grace and balance to his life. She complemented and challenged him both. The blending of their families has been a blessing to every one of us.
George will be greatly missed by all those whose lives he touched. He loved his wife and children deeply. He rarely missed the Celtic and Bluegrass festivals, where he and Barbara could always be found by the main stage for the weekend. He laughed at his own puns, and every groan only added fuel to the fire. He would talk to anyone in a crowded room, but loved even more to drink hot tea and people-watch. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered by all who knew him.