Alan S. Dean

Alan Stearns Dean, 51, of Worcester died suddenly and peacefully on Saturday, March 15 after a courageous and tenacious battle with diabetes. He was predeceased by his parents, David L. and Elizabeth "Liz" (Ott) Dean and his sister Elizabeth "Betsy" Dean, all of Worcester. He will be greatly missed by his surviving aunts and uncles, Susan and Gordon Rasmussen of Seattle, David Olin of Knife River, MN and Anne R. (Lyall) Dean of North Branford, CT. Alan's adult life revolved around helping people both professionally and personally. He started his professional life as a paramedic for a private ambulance service for 25 years. Later he worked as General Manager for American Medical Response in North Dartmouth. After 9/11 he became Director of Emergency Management Systems for the town of Auburn, a position he held for 7 years. He was a lifetime member of the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA). Alan was a long‐time member of All Saints Church where he served as an usher, youth leader and member of the Vestry. He loved to give back to his community and generously supported numerous local charities in Worcester and Auburn. He sat on the Board of Directors and held offices for various organizations in Worcester including Worcester Area Mental Health, the Mohican Council of Boy Scouts, Troop 19 and the Kiwanis Club of Worcester (Past President). Throughout his life, Alan was totally family‐oriented. He made it a point to treasure his family and friends. Within his extended family he was known as "the chauffeur" for his eagerness to drive the elder generations to and from family reunions so that everyone could attend. At the 2003 Ott Family Reunion in Deluth, Minnesota, all of the children gravitated toward Alan to share in his kindness and sense of humor. He was instrumental in seeing to the continuance of the Dean family's heartwarming annual reunion at the Tatnuck Country Club, a tradition that originated in Marblehead, MA in 1964. When traveling, he especially enjoyed his jaunts to Aruba to stay with his dear friends Peter and Carol Audette, and summertime trips to Hancock Point, Maine to visit his family there. A caring soul with an infectious personality and a beautiful spirit through and through, Alan touched countless lives throughout his journey. His radiant smile truly lit up the lives of everyone around him. He is survived by hosts of dear friends and extended family members on both the Dean and Ott sides of the family who will always remember him with huge love and gratitude for his kind and gentle nature; especially Amanda, Kate, Tom, Lisa, Nick, Allie, Maddie, Peter and Baylie who all had a soft spot for their "Uncle Alan". In celebration of Alan's life and accomplishments, a memorial service will be held on Friday, April 4th at 11:00 a.m. in All Saint's Church located at the corner of Pleasant and Irving Streets in Worcester. A reception will follow at the church immediately following the service at which time everyone is invited to share their thoughts and condolences with the family. Please feel free to bring photographs. Alan's inurnment will follow in the All Saints Columbarium next to his beloved parents and sister. In lieu of flowers and donations, the family asks that you remember to perform a daily act of kindness in homage to this kind, generous and brave man. To share your thoughts and memories of Alan, please visit his personal guestbook at: