Obituary of Lawrence D. Dean

A private farewell ceremony is planned for Larry Dean who passed away at his Corralitos home this past Tuesday following a lengthy illness. He was 81 years old. Born in Durango, Mexico, to Audrey Newport and Manuel Avelar. He left Mexico at age 4 and he and his sister were raised in Los Angeles by a feisty single mother and grandmother. Complements of the U.S. Army, this California boy was sent to Fairbanks, Alaska during the Korean war. Using the G.I. bill to get his education, he enlisted in the engineering program at San Jose State. A serious back injury delayed his education, but allowed him the time to travel all over Europe on a Vespa. He returned to finish his degree at San Francisco State. After a short stint of teaching in Marysville, he returned to San Jose to raise his family and began working as an engineer for Lockheed. His aerospace career spanned 20 years, including time at Teledyne McCormick Selph in Hollister. He also worked as a Sheet Metal worker from San Jose Local 104. A lover of the great outdoors, he introduced his second wife, Madeline, to camping in the Sierras, backpacking in the Tetons, hiking in Yosemite, river-running, and skiing. Always one to take the road less traveled, he drove his truck down every rutted path until one day a sign warned "Do not proceed or we will shoot." During their 36 year marriage they ran the Grand Canyon in a raft, skippered a sailboat in the Caribbean, traveled to New Zealand, Spain and Portugal, Italy, Paris,and throughout the Pacific Northwest. He was a talented craftsman, perfecting their Corralitos home for 26 years with hillside steps, patios, and decks. There was nothing he couldn't fix.To many of his friends he was fondly known as "Garage Man." Larry was the inveterate host, generous and witty, creating many fond memories for family and friends on that deck. He was a loving father to his three children, a thoughtful, sweet, engaging husband, and in many ways a gentle giant. Every new kitten that came into the house curled into Larry's beard as he slept on the couch. One night that included a baby rabbit that he saved from a marauding cat. Larry kept the bunny calm and quiet until daylight, when he hid the rabbit safely in the ivy, hoping its mother would find him there. He is survived by his wife Madeline Hnatowich-Dean of Corralitos, his son Erik (Elizabeth)Dean of San Francisco, son Henrik Ingvardsen (Jackie) of San Jose, and his daughter and son-in-law Nichelle and John Caramanoff of Elk Grove, his sister Barbara Moore of Redding, and three loving grandchildren : Alex and Nikolas Ingvardsen, and Kallista Caramanoff. Any kind acts of charity can be made in his memory to Hospice of Santa Cruz or the County Animal Shelter. If you would like to light a candle on-line and share your thoughts and reflections please visit www.pacificgardenschapel.com.