Dean Ross Radford

FORT WASHINGTON, Penn. - Dean passed away suddenly in Pennsylvania after a brief illness. He was born in Salem, Ore., the son of Don and Shirley (Dunham) Radford. He attended Grand Prairie Grade School and Calapooia Junior High School. He graduated from South Albany High School in 1982 where he was student body president in 1980-81, student advisor to the Oregon Board of Education in 1980-81, Governor of Boys' State in 1981, and Linn County Junior First Citizen in 1981. He played varsity football for 3 years and played in the Shrine All-Star Football Game in Portland in 1982, having been an All-League player. He graduated Summa Cum Laude from Willamette University in 1986 where he was active in student government and his fraternity, Kappa Sigma. Dean married Mari Wildt on May 17, 1986 in Salem, Ore. Dean coached football at Stayton High School for one year. He was an avid Washington Redskins fan. He joined the Central Intelligence Agency, where he lived and served for 13 years in Tanzania, Kenya, Georgia and various points in the U.S. He was one of the youngest officers to be promoted year after year. He received numerous awards during his years of clandestine work and testified before a congressional subcommittee. Dean then joined Booz, Allen and Hamilton as a highly successful corporate recruiter. In 2003 he and his family moved to the Philadelphia region, where he became Vice President of Global and Business Security for S.O.S. International. He was responsible for the rapid maturation of the security business and was admired and respected by both his clients and associates. He appeared frequently in TV and radio interviews representing the company and he traveled around the world giving security-related seminars and visiting his regionally-based teams. Just one week shy of his 41st birthday, Dean was taken too early and too fast. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him and loved him. He is survived by his wife of 19 years, Mari Wildt; sons, Ross and Reed of Fort Washington, Penn.; and parents, Don and Shirley Radford of Albany. Visitation will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., Thurs., Aug. 11, 2005 and services will be held at 10 a.m., Fri., Aug. 12, both at Fisher Funeral Home, Albany. Contributions may be made to a scholarship fund established for Dean's Children, Ross and Reed, c/o Fisher Funeral Home, 306 S.W. Washington St., Albany, OR 97321.