Larry Dean

Family-Placed Death Notice

LARRY CRAIG DEAN Larry Dean's father, a professional musician at the turn of the last century, never liked what he called "canned music," by which he meant music on the radio or phonograph. At that time such music was still uncommon, but live music abounded. There were marching bands, concert bands and dance bands. Circuses, of course, had bands as did military and fraternal organizations. Bands were sponsored by schools and churches, by municipalities and businesses-railroads, factories, textile mills and foundries. Dean's father was Band Master for many such groups in the early 1900's, often composing and arranging the music they played. When Dean was a boy growing up during the Depression his father often told him: "Music is a pleasure; enjoy it. But don't try to make a living at it: learn a trade." Dean took this advice. Larry Craig Dean was born in Macon, Georgia on June 26, 1925. As a child he moved to Atlanta with his family and attended the public schools, graduating from Boys High School in 1943. At Boys High he was a member of the Zenax Fraternity which remains active today. Dean served as its Permanent and Perennial Parliamentarian until his death. Immediately after high school he volunteered for the Army Air Corps and served until the end of World War II. He later joined the Corp. of Engineers Reserves, retiring as a Captain. After active service in the War he entered Georgia Tech where he was a member of the Chi Phi fraternity and received a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Architecture degrees in 1950. During his career Dean designed institutional buildings throughout the state including many for the Board of Regents. Among these are Creswell, Brumby, Russell and McWhorter Residence Halls at the University of Georgia, the first homes away from home for thousands of Georgia students for over forty years. In the early sixties Dean became increasingly involved in the specifications aspect of architecture and, at the urging of several older architect friends, he joined the Construction Specifications Instutute. He became active in the Atlanta Chapter and served as the Southeast Director of the National Institute. In 1970 he was made a Fellow of the Institute and in 1975 and 1976 he served two terms as National President. For many years he was a Master of Ceremonies at the Presidents' Banquet of the National Convention. In 1997 he received the Institute's highest award when he was made an Honorary Member. Dean enjoyed many hobbies during his life. He made decorative objects from coins and medals suspended in acrylic. He made costume jewelry from stones he tumbled himself. He made leaded stained glass windows and ornaments. But his principle hobby was always music, particularly that of the Big Band era. As a child he learned to play the trumpet and was official bugler at Bert Adams Boy Scout Camp for a number of years. In high school and college he played with the Emory Aces, a dance band of the times. In 1960 he was a Charter member of the Seventeen, a still extant dance band composed of professional and business men who play various engagements and contribute the fees to charity. Dean died on March 10, 2007 at DeKalb Medical Center from complications of surgery. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, the former Barbara Thompson of Washington, GA; by daughters Laura Dean and Carolyn Dean, son Craig Dean all of Atlanta; by granddaughter, Mary Carolyn Dean of Atlanta, Craig Dean Jr. and Lauren Harrison of Conyers and great grandson, Jackson Harrison, and a brother, Hal L. Dean of Fairfax, VA. The body was cremated. A memorial service will be held on Friday, March 16th at 11:00 A.M. at St. Bedes Episcopal Church at 2601 Henderson Mill Road, Atlanta, with a reception following in the Church Commons. Memorial gifts may be made to the Music Fund at St. Bedes. Arrangements by the Bill Head Funeral Homes and Crematory, Lilburn/Tucker Chapel, 770-564-2726.