Deborah Ingwersen Dear

Deborah Ingwersen Dear (Debby)
June 18, 1934 - January 3, 2026
Deborah Ingwersen Dear, known to all as Debby, passed away peacefully on January 3, 2026, at the age of 91. She was born on June 18, 1934, in Middletown, Ohio, the sixth and youngest child of John Arthur Ingwersen and Marianne Bradt Ingwersen.
Debby was the beloved wife of the late Edward Philip Hamilton Dear, with whom she shared a 65-year marriage rooted in love, partnership, and mutual respect. She is survived by her four children: Catherine Dear Ganung (Robert) of Watertown, Connecticut, Charles Dear (Pamela) of Guilford, Connecticut, David Dear (Victoria) of Westport, Connecticut, and John Andrew Dear (Ruth) of Newburyport, Massachusetts.
She was a proud and loving grandmother to eight grandchildren: Elisabeth Ganung Mendez (Andres), Ted Ganung (Danielle), Philip Dear, Adam Dear (Anne), Megan Dear, Christina Dear, Leigha Dear, and Sydney Dear; and a delighted great-grandmother to four great-granddaughters: Amara Ganung, Cordelia Ganung, Ixchel Mendez, and Ximena Mendez.
Debby earned her master's degree in ceramics from Alfred University in New York. She was a remarkable potter with extraordinary technical skill, able to throw virtually anything on the wheel. Her ceramic pieces were recognized in galleries and art shows for their craftsmanship, precision, and beauty. Though always humble, Debby's work received national and international recognition. Ed was her steadfast supporter, helping her establish studios in their homes and building kilns so she could continue her work, which she did daily until just a few years ago.
Debby lived her values with quiet strength. A peace-loving member of the Religious Society of Friends, she attended Quaker meetings in Stamford, Connecticut, and Westerly, Rhode Island. She stood firmly for her beliefs, attending anti-nuclear demonstrations, marching for peace, and singing with the Raging Grannies, to advocate for peace, social justice, and environmental causes.
The legacy Debby leaves behind is one of love, expressed through her family, her art, and her unwavering kindness. Her life was defined by gentle peace, strong principles, and a profound appreciation for beauty in the world around her. She was a beautiful woman with a generous heart and an artist's eye, and she will be deeply and dearly missed.