WESTBROOK – Perley M. Dean, 75, formerly of Presque Isle, passed away Monday, March 26, 2007, at Maine Medical Center, of kidney cancer. Perley was born July 19, 1931, in Littleton, the son of Murray and Shirley (Hammond) Dean. He attended Easton schools and graduated from the University of Maine – Orono in 1954. In 1954, he married the former Marilyn Winslow of Presque Isle. He taught and coached basketball at Hodgdon High School and Central Aroostook High School. In 1965, he received a master’s degree in education from the University of Maine – Orono. He was a counselor at Houlton High School for one year and in 1966 became a counselor at Presque Isle High School, until he retired as guidance director in 1989. During his retirement from 1991 to 1998, he was general manager of the Northern Maine Fair, Presque Isle, and continued to serve as a trustee until 2002. He was a member of SAD No. 1 Teachers Association, Maine Association of Counseling and Development, National Education Association, Maine Teachers Association, and Maine State Retired Teachers Association. He was the proud administrator of the Kiwanis Franklin S. Cunningham Scholarship Fund, for graduating seniors at Presque Isle High School; a member and past president of Probus; member of the Presque Isle Historical Society; and a longtime member of the Presque Isle Kiwanis Club, where he served as past president and past distinguished lieutenant governor for District No. 30. Mr. Dean was a longtime member of Grant Memorial United Methodist Church, where he served 12 years on the Pastor-Staff-Parish Relations Committee; was co-superintendent of the church school; lay leader and past president of the Men’s Club. He also served three terms on the board of directors of SAD No. 1 from 1990 to 1998. He was a member of the Presque Isle City Council from 2000 to 2004; a member of the executive committee of Northern Maine Development Commission; an avid member of the Republican Party; a member and first president of advisory board for Museum of Science at the University of Maine – Presque Isle; a member of the Turner Foundation Board and a member of the M Club at the University of Maine since 1954. He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Marilyn W. Dean; one daughter, Debbie Coito of Yarmouth; two sons and daughters-in-law, William and Ann Dean of Scarborough, and John and Lauri Dean of Gorham; five beloved grandchildren, Brian of Bellingham, Mass., Kimberly of Scarborough, Lindsay of Brighton, Mass., Andrew of Gorham and Melissa Coito of Yarmouth; one brother and sister-in-law, Glen and Nancy Dean of Madison, Conn.; one sister-in-law, Dorothy Drew of Burlington, Vt.; four nieces, one nephew and several cousins. Calling hours will be held 7-9 p.m. Friday, March 30, at Duncan-Graves Funeral Home, Presque Isle. A celebration of his life will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, March 31, at Grant Memorial Methodist Church, Presque Isle. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to Franklin S. Cunningham Scholarship Fund, care of Presque Isle Kiwanis Club or to Presque Isle Historical Society, P.O. Box 285, Presque Isle, ME 04769. The family extends their sincere thank you and appreciation to the wonderful nurses and doctors at the Maine Medical Center. Their extraordinary care and compassion was certainly a comfort for Perley and his family during this very difficult time. Condolences may be expressed at www.duncan-graves.com
PERLEY M. DEAN
