James B. Dean

DENVER, Colo. — James Bartow "Bart" Dean, 39, died Saturday, April 11, 2009, at the Denver Hospice Center in Denver.

The son of Jim and Dianne Dean of Berwick, Maine, Bart attended Berwick Academy. Upon graduation in 1988, he went to Roger Williams University in Bristol, R.I., where he majored in social work. During his four years there, Bart was a varsity soccer goalie and co-president of the Environmental Action Club. He was honored with the Social Work Award in 1992.

Bart met his wife, Lisa, when they were counselors at a camp for gifted and talented students. They were married in 1997. The greatest joy of his life was his son, James Oliver (Ollie), who was born in 2003.

In addition to his wife, son and parents, Bart leaves his sister, Penelope (Shima) Silber, Larry Silber and their daughter, Isabelle, of Seattle, Wash.

WE REMEMBER: Despite his love of the ocean and passion for surfing, he moved to Denver to pursue a graduate degree at the University of Denver. He graduated in 1994 and became a licensed clinical social worker, specializing in youth at-risk. Bart was a founding member of Therapeutic Alliance in which he was a family therapist. For the past five years he had been a counselor at Regis University where he posthumously received the "President's Award" for service to the school.

After being diagnosed with esophageal cancer in January 2007, he was determined to live as full and joy-filled a life as possible. He looked for every occasion to celebrate.

Athletics continued to impact Bart's life; even with cancer, he continued to ride his bike. In the summer of 2000, Lisa and he rode 1,700 miles on their tandem bike. The next year he trained for and completed the Great Floridian Iron Man, which he repeated in 2002.

He will be remembered for his compassion, his humor in the face of his incurable disease, his love of life, family and home, his amazingly honest and inspirational e-mail letters throughout his courageous battle, as well as his margaritas and guacamole.

SERVICES: A tribute and celebration will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 24, at Berwick Academy. Donations may be made to the "Bart Dean Memorial Scholarship," c/o Berwick Academy, 31 Academy St., South Berwick, ME 03908.