Dean was my best friend in high school. Dean, Steve Painter and Ernie Dantini and I spent many hours driving around the Seattle area searching for girls on a Friday night. Dean picked me up each morning on his Vespa motor scooter. We'd pull into a wooded area before school and smoke a couple of cigarettes, then take a swig of "English Leather" cologne to hid the smoke (who did we think we were fooling?) We laughed alot, dreamed alot and stood by each other in both good and bad (difficult) times. Sadly our ways separated and we didn't stay in touch. Dean died in 1987 of melanoma skin cancer. He was so young. We should not take life for granted. God has been so good to let me know how it is that I can be with Him forever. Hope you know what I'm talking about.
Dean and I were in Red Eickhoff's band and dance band together. Dean played the sax quite well and was musically talented, unlike me. Red used to get after him sometimes for being late for rehearsals or other lapses in discipline, but Red ran a tight ship and demanded responsible behavior. Dean was pretty loose about toeing the party line, so he was on Red's poop list a lot. Red liked him inspite of himself and when Dean would pull something that would get the rest of us kicked out of band, Red would chew him out but then cut him some slack.
Dean was a great guy and we had some good laughs over some of his antics. Eickhoff would just cast a jaundiced eye in his direction which had little effect on Dean once the moment displeasure was cast in another direction. Dean was not the kind of guy that naturally knuckled under to authority, and that's putting it lightly. I'm sorry to learn of his tragic passing from skin cancer. Funny. In an ironic way. I always figured if any of us guys died young, it would be at the hands of a jealous husband, but certainly not from skin cancer! I hope that Dean is up there behind the Pearly Gates, still wailing on that alto sax.
I didn't get out and about much in those days for various reasons. As a result I didn't get to know Dean outside of school.
But I do remember that he was a real character. He used to make me laugh whenever I was around him. Come to think of it, I chuckled a little just looking at his picture here in the forum..
Dean's picture brings back happy memories. That's a pretty fair legacy to leave - even if I don't get to see him on the other side of this life. Hopefully I will.
Jay Spaulding
Dean was my best friend in high school. Dean, Steve Painter and Ernie Dantini and I spent many hours driving around the Seattle area searching for girls on a Friday night. Dean picked me up each morning on his Vespa motor scooter. We'd pull into a wooded area before school and smoke a couple of cigarettes, then take a swig of "English Leather" cologne to hid the smoke (who did we think we were fooling?) We laughed alot, dreamed alot and stood by each other in both good and bad (difficult) times. Sadly our ways separated and we didn't stay in touch. Dean died in 1987 of melanoma skin cancer. He was so young. We should not take life for granted. God has been so good to let me know how it is that I can be with Him forever. Hope you know what I'm talking about.
Jerry Owen (Owen)
Dean and I were in Red Eickhoff's band and dance band together. Dean played the sax quite well and was musically talented, unlike me. Red used to get after him sometimes for being late for rehearsals or other lapses in discipline, but Red ran a tight ship and demanded responsible behavior. Dean was pretty loose about toeing the party line, so he was on Red's poop list a lot. Red liked him inspite of himself and when Dean would pull something that would get the rest of us kicked out of band, Red would chew him out but then cut him some slack.
Dean was a great guy and we had some good laughs over some of his antics. Eickhoff would just cast a jaundiced eye in his direction which had little effect on Dean once the moment displeasure was cast in another direction. Dean was not the kind of guy that naturally knuckled under to authority, and that's putting it lightly. I'm sorry to learn of his tragic passing from skin cancer. Funny. In an ironic way. I always figured if any of us guys died young, it would be at the hands of a jealous husband, but certainly not from skin cancer! I hope that Dean is up there behind the Pearly Gates, still wailing on that alto sax.
Marvin Knox
I didn't get out and about much in those days for various reasons. As a result I didn't get to know Dean outside of school.
But I do remember that he was a real character. He used to make me laugh whenever I was around him. Come to think of it, I chuckled a little just looking at his picture here in the forum..
Dean's picture brings back happy memories. That's a pretty fair legacy to leave - even if I don't get to see him on the other side of this life. Hopefully I will.
Steve Painter
Gerry and I were with Dean when he died at Overlake Hospital. Dean was a wonderful friend and he remains in my thoughts.
I have many fond memories of Dean; skiing, working at Sylvan, riding with Jay on the back of Dean or Gerry's Vespas.
He is and will forever be missed.