Ronald Dean

Ronald Meredith Dean, of Enfield, passed away peacefully, at the age of 86, on Sunday (October 9, 2011), in the comfort of his home. He was the beloved husband of 34 years to Nancy King Dean, and the son of the late William and Nellie (Meredith) Dean. He was born on Sept. 8, 1925 in Peterboro, England, and lived in Grays, Essex until he joined the Royal British Navy at the age of 15. Mr. Dean proudly served as telegrapher during his military service to Her Majesty, the Queen of England. He served during WWII and the Korean War. During WWII, the vessels he was stationed on were sunk twice, and he was imprisoned in a Japanese Prisoner of War camp. After WWII, he completed his education in London, receiving his Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering, at Westminster College of Engineering. He married and had four children. This marriage later ended, and in 1969, he immigrated to Canada where he worked as a consulting engineer on several major projects in Ontario, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island. He was then offered a position in Gowanda, New York, as a plant engineer in a leather tannery, and proudly served his community as a volunteer firefighter. He then joined an engineering group in Williamsville, NY, where he met his wife Nancy in 1976. The Deans were married in 1977, and moved to Norfolk, CT in 1978, to be near Nancy’s family. In 1980 they moved to Enfield, where he was employed with Industronics, Inc. in South Windsor. He finished his career as a project supervisor with the Town of Vernon, retiring in 1995. Ronald was a history buff, animal-lover and amateur chef. In his leisure time he enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, reading, gardening and doing crossword puzzles. Besides his loving wife Nancy, he is survived by his children John, Lucy and Jane Dean of the United Kingdom, Deirdre and her husband Wayne, and Nancy Curran of Enfield; his three beloved grandchildren Frederick Dean, Tom Duke and Madeleine Duke, and many cherished nieces, nephews and cousins. Along with his parents, he was also predeceased by twin sisters, tragically killed in the London Blitz (during WWII), a brother George, killed in the Battle of Arnhem, and his beloved son, Jimmy. There are no calling hours. A private memorial service will be held at the convenience of his family. In lieu of flowers memorial donations in his memory may be made to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, 359 Spring Hill Rd. Monroe, CT 06468. Browne Memorial Funeral Chapels 43 Shaker Rd. Enfield is assisting the family with arrangements.