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Deerfield Academy Horace Mann School Hotchkiss School

LYALL DEAN Obituary

DEAN--Lyall. We mourn the loss of our friend and teacher, Mr. Dean. He led by example, and provided us with the tools and confidence to conquer any obstacles that life presents. Wesley and Evan LePatner, Ellyn, Larry and Jordan Mittman

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by New York Times on Jun. 24, 2012.

Memories and Condolences
for LYALL DEAN

Sponsored by An admiring student, Martin J. Bienenstock.

17 Entries

Peggy Hartmann

June 22, 2021

I have very fond memories of my colleague Lyle Dean , who I worked closely with on the faculty compensation and benefits committee. We researched and established the dental plan for the faculty.
He also was an excellent math teacher, although very strict and demanding taught the students exactly what they needed to know. My daughter benefited from his expertise. I have fond memories of and his wife Anne to this day. Rest In Peace.

Martin Bienenstock

August 10, 2016

I first met Lyall Dean in 1964 when he interviewed me for entry into 8th grade (second form) at Horace Mann. My mother was so impressed. Next, he taught me math in summer school and then in 8th grade. On one test I scored 55, even though my answers were correct. He subtracted points for every crooked parenthesis and bracket, and for every fraction line that was not positioned on a line exactly between and parallel to the equal sign. I complained to my mom, but she said that's the best thing he could have done. To this day I haven't made those mistakes again and heaven knows how many errors that has avoided. He put me in honors math because he had faith in my ability notwithstanding the grades he gave me. I enjoyed playing tennis with him and Mr. Glidden. After graduation, he told me to call him Lyall, and he became a life-long friend whom I proudly introduced to my wife. In later years when Lyall did occasional work for HM, he sent me a copy of my record that he found when archiving my class' files. When I was in college, he naturally visited me when Yale was playing Penn. I know Lyall is responsible for many of my best achievements because I wouldn't have tried had he not shown me anything is possible with hard work and focus. I'll always miss Lyall and thank his family for sharing him.

July 2, 2012

My condolences to his family.

I often think of Mr. Dean's patience and the extra help he took the time to give me. He's the reason I now do mathematics every day, and I like to think he'd be happy to know it doesn't look that different from what he taught me in 7th grade.

With love & appreciation,

Michael Reed (HM '83)

Lila Helu-Gingold HM'80

July 1, 2012

I practiced making perfect brackets, when I was 4th grade, in preparation of the day he would be my Math teacher. My eldest brother was in his class then, and I knew that one day I would be too (even though at that time Horace Mann had no intention of ever going co-ed!) When I attended HM, Mr. Dean transferred me into his class- and I was thrilled! I can still hear him saying, "I had your three older brothers, I want the pleasure of teaching you too, so I had you switched to my class.". WHenever I teach anyone math- whether in my classroom or tutoring, I hear him in my head. He taught me so much more than the love of math, and the importance of precision. He taught by his example- he was honorable, approachable, friendly, and caring. My husband also knew him- it turns out that they are in the same fraternity. Whenever we attended a Kappa Alpha Society event, I always sought out Mr. Dean. Ironically, many times I would walk into a room, and he would have just left-- and vice versa. We once spent an entire weekend just missing each other- until the final departure. It is really neat that my husband also knows one of my favorite and most respected teachers, and has such high regard for him too. I am truly saddened by his death and pray that he was not in any pain. My heartfelt condolences go out to his family and community. I hope that all these wonderful and meaningful words and memories about Lyall Dean bring the family comfort. God Bless.

Lionel Leventhal HM '83

July 1, 2012

One of the most incredible teachers I have ever had, in spite of the sometimes painful lessons. He taught discipline, clarity of expression, attention to detail and focus. I can still hear him saying things like: "that is absolutely INcorrect." my brothers and I would run into him at Amor Artis chamber chorus concerts at Grace Church or on the upper east side of Manattan throughout the years after our graduation and have quick catch-ups with him about our lives, so I feel lucky to have been able to keep in touch with him. I look forward to reading other people's memories and anecdotes about this amazing human being's life.

Our wedding reception, 1991 (L to R): My wife Carole, me, Mr. Thomas Reilly (my HM Russian teacher), and Mr. Dean.

John Gelinas

July 1, 2012

Mr. Dean taught me 7th and 8th grade math in the mid '70's. His influence on me then and over the years has been profound. I am a better man for his teaching, his modeling, and his friendship. He is unforgettable. I will miss him. Godspeed, Mr. Dean, and thank you Mrs. Dean for sharing him with us.

Jonathan Scherl

June 27, 2012

34 years later I can still hear Mr. Dean telling us 8th graders,"Each separate step on a separate line." Mr. Dean was a great teacher. He was the best of Horace Mann.

Jonathan Scherl, MD HM '83

Peggy Hartmann

June 26, 2012

Dear Anne,
I have fond memories of Lyall as my colleague, friend and teacher to my children. We had some fun tennis games with Harry,Ian and Berne.
He was a true gentleman.
My deepest sympathies.
Peggy

Dan Ripp

June 26, 2012

Lyall Dean was my math teacher at Horace Mann from 1978 to 1980. I enjoyed his sense of humor and appreciated his insistence on accuracy in English as well as math. Later on I became a college math major in part because of his influence. He was a very kind man and leaves a wonderful legacy.

Paul Levine

June 26, 2012

I had Mr. Dean for 8th grade math at HM in 1965. Originally fearful of math since I wasn't a 'math' student like others, he taught me to like math. He taught me how important math was to everyday life and how to be precise and exact in everything I did. He was a wonderful teacher but more importantly a wonderful man. He always considered it an honor to be our teacher. In this he had it wrong. It was our honor to be taught by him. He will be missed and always remembered.

Richard Robinowitz

June 26, 2012

Mr. Dean taught me -- and many others -- how to be precise & unequivocal...lessons that have served us well throughout our lives. He was neither flashy nor idiosyncratic, but always fair & consistent;
undoubtedly one of my most influential teachers, at any level.

I'm glad to see that he reached the ripe age of 92 (hopefully with as little pain as possible) & know that he'll be missed. In any case, his family should be very proud of his contributions to society & never forget that he had a tremendous impact on scores of students...and, as such, continues to live on.

Nancy Allison

June 25, 2012

Dear Anne and to all the Dean Family,
My sincere sympathy on the passing of Lyall. He was such a lovely man and always was so generous and kind to all of the Allison kids. We will miss him as much as we miss Dad but we all know that the two of them are now happily playing tennis up in heaven!

Bertrand Alexis

June 25, 2012

I was privileged to have Mr. Dean as a teacher at Horace Mann. My condolences to his family.

Bertrand Alexis HM '80

Jonathan Victor

June 25, 2012

I was a student of Lyall's at HM in the 60's. A wonderful man, a truly great teacher, and the source of some of my most vivid, fond, and lasting memories of high school. My sincere condolences to his family and friends.

June 24, 2012

It was an honor to have known Lyall and to have him as a member of our extended family
My love and thoughts are with Anne.
Barbara Roth

Gregory Mishkin

June 24, 2012

I was a student of Lyall's a Horace Mann in the 80's, and we are both alums of Union College. I have always considered myself lucky to have know Lyall and to call him a friend. I know that he touched countless other students besides me, and I hope that his family can take comfort in knowing that the world was definitely a better place because Lyall was in it. Thank you to his family for sharing him so much with his students.

Miranda Benefield

June 24, 2012

We have been thinking of you all this past week. Hope to see you in Hancock in a few weeks. Lyall was an incredible man, and I consider myself privileged to have known him.

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