DAVID DEAN

DEAN, David H., died on August 11, 2013. He confronted a very difficult year of illness with characteristic humor, courage and strength. Dr. Dean was an Associate Professor of Economics in the Robins School of Business at the University of Richmond. Although he built a national reputation for his research in the economics of disability, Professor Dean will be most remembered as an extraordinary teacher. He was a two-time recipient of the University Distinguished Educator Award and three-time recipient of the Robins School's Outstanding Teaching Award. Professor Dean's classes were characterized by an artful blend of rigor, organization and humor. The phrase "my favorite professor," was a routine reference to Dr. Dean. Outside of academe, David was a lover of music and a participant in a wide range of sports. He was an accomplished tennis player, stalwart on the basketball court and softball field, unorthodox on the bowling lane, and a later-in-life golf enthusiast. Across this spectrum of athletic pursuits, David will be remembered as a highly spirited yet delightfully affable competitor. More broadly, David was simply someone everyone enjoyed being around. To his students, colleagues, friends and family, he leaves a legacy of hard work, personal integrity, laughter and a love for everything that his life offered. David was preceded in death by Leslie, his wife of 29 years and mother of Brian and Sean. His father, Donald E. Dean, also preceded his death. He is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Holly; sons, Brian and Sean; his mother, Jean; and his siblings, Richard, Robert and Cathy. A funeral service will be held on Friday, August 16, at 3 p.m. in the Robins Pavilion, located in the Jepson Alumni Center at the University of Richmond. A reception will follow in the same location. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to the Jimmy V Foundation at www.jimmyv.org.

This obituary was originally published in the Richmond Times-Dispatch.