(Lt. Col. USAFR retired) DOVER - Donald Eugene Dean of Dover, DE died on Feb. 8, 2014 of leukemia at home with his wife and son by his side. Don was born on June 21, 1937 in Chicago, IL and was raised in SO Hadley Falls, MA. He graduated from so Hadley High School in 1955 where he played varsity basketball, baseball and served as class president for 4 years. In 1959 he graduated from the College Of The Holy Cross In Worcester, MA with a degree in economics. In 1960 he entered the USAF and attended Officer Training School at Lackland AFB in San Antonio, Texas. In a career that spanned 32 years, Don flew as a navigator in transport aircraft ranging from t-29, c-47, c-119, c-13s, c-141, c-130a and c-5a. He amassed more than 85oo flight hours. He was an Air Reserve Technician with the 512 Maw, Dover AFB for most of his career. He retired as a Lt. Colonel. He was promoted to Colonel twice but declined to remain stationed in Dover. After his retirement in 1992, he spent 6 years working for The Kent County Bookmobile. He volunteered with Meals on Wheels, Adopt-A-Wetland, Adopt-A-Highway, as a little league coach, as an adult literacy teacher, as president of the friends of BombaHook, as chairman of The Envirmental Appeals Board for the State Of Delaware. Don and Claudette chaired and received a house of representatives tribute for a massive cleanup of the st. jones river in 1993. Don was an ardent Boston Red Sox Fan and converted Claudette to becoming a fancal Red Sox fan as well. His great joy was seeing Ted Williams hit a home run at Fenway Park. He read avidly and was a fan of classical music, particularly Mozart and Beethoven. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Claudette, of Dover, De; son, Jeffrey and grandson, William of Salisbury, MD; sisters, Dorothy Gauthier of SO Hadley Falls, MA and Mary Mccabe of Alabama and 10 nieces and nephews. Interment will be at VA cemetery in Millsboro, DE. A reunion of Don's aviator friends and close community friends and their families will be held on April 6, 2014 from 11 am to 3 pm with a special remembrance at 1 pm at The Air Mobility Command Museum near Dover AFB. casual dress. In lieu of flowers, it was Don's wish that an academic fund be established for his grandson, William, administered by Claudette Dean. Cards and donations may be sent to: P.O. Box 1698, Dover, DE 19903. Online condolences may be sent to: paramedic600@gmail.com