Add a Memory
Make a Donation
Dean Pace Obituary
A life that would take him across the world began in Phoenix, Arizona, where he was born Sept. 20, 1954. As a young man, he was strong-willed, passionate, and intensely curious. He left high school early, choosing instead to move to Guatemala. He went on to graduate Phi Beta Kappa from UC Berkeley with a degree in economics. He then went on to a master's degree from Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs.
Arriving in New York only a few years removed from camping and hitchhiking the mountains of Arizona, he started his career in banking and finance. In 1987, he moved to Pakistan with his first wife Mary Townswick and their infant son Jordan, falling in love with the country and its mountains, to which he would return - as if a pilgrim - all his life.
In 1997, he established a home in Los Angeles, a stone's throw from his beloved Pacific Ocean. He met his wife, Barbara, and they settled in Venice, building a home of life, merriment, and warmth on Superba Avenue, where they had his second son, Wyatt.
A man of faith, he served as a board member of St. Bede's Episcopal Church, and close friends and family looked to him for counsel and comfort, respecting his voice for its honesty, compassion, and hard-earned wisdom.
It was no mistake that having spent his life exploring the ends of the world, he was drawn back to the snow-capped White Mountains, Kaibab forest, and high Sonoran Desert he had first wandered as a boy.
In addition to Barbara, Dean is survived by his sons Jordan (Teresa) and Wyatt Pace, a granddaughter Leila Pace, his parents, Ralph and Naomi Pace, his sister Lynn Blake (Peter) and several nephews and nieces. He is predeceased by his younger brother Dennis Pace.
He touched many people with his generosity and love, and pursued their friendships as part of a larger quest to understand and enjoy the diversity of the people he met. We love and miss him dearly. We hope he is at peace, on one of his long hikes deep in the mountains, marching to the inimitable beat of his own drum, howling at the moon.
A memorial service will be held 3:00 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 28 at St. Bede's Episcopal Church, 3590 Grandview Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90066.
How you can show support
0 Entries
Be the first to post a memory or condolences.
Make a Donation
in Dean Pace's name
How to support Dean's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreResources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read more
The Five Stages of Grief
They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.
Read moreWays to honor Dean Pace's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more