He was educated in the Oklahoma City public school system for most of his formative years. He was self-taught for all things that interested him which was widely diverse. His research was conducted through reading self-help magazines such as Popular Mechanics and other reference magazines that would allow him to fix and/or build whenever needed. He was always looking for an inventive way of correcting a problem. He was also in partnership with several investment ventures, regretting not buying into Steve Job’s venture of Apple when they met in a small meeting room in Albuquerque New Mexico.
He had a very giving and kind heart that allowed him to help others in need. His personality was eclectic to say the least and he could amaze others with his opinion on trivia or religious matters in a conversation.
He lived in New York during some of his teenage years, exposing him to a culture outside the Midwest. But most of his life was spent working with his father in the restaurant business in Grants, New Mexico and later with his brother-in-law Pete Chandis and wife Helen, Dean’s sister. Later he obtained employment with Kerr-McGee working with their exploration of uranium in the mines outside of Grants. He related a story about a collapse in where he was able to save the lives of several of his mining friends and received recognition for that heroism.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his sisters-Sophia, Helen and Christine and one niece, Catherine Day. Survived by his nephews, Andy Dantes (Connie) and David Goumenis, niece Angelica Leeper (Michael), great nephews, nieces and many friends that had been developed through the years.
His love for the Lord Jesus Christ and growing up with the disability of dyslexia, Dean had a heart for those who he met along the way and one of his requests was that upon his passing, donations be made to the Down Syndrome Association of Central Oklahoma or St. George Greek Orthodox Church in lieu of flowers.
A Trisagion will be held at Hahn-Cook/Street & Draper, 6600 Broadway Extension, Oklahoma City, OK 73116, on November 15, 2026, at 6:00 pm.
A Funeral Service will be held at St George Greek Orthodox Church, 2101 NW 145th St, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73134, on November 16, 2026, at 10:30 am.
A Committal Service will be held at Rose Hill Burial Park, 6001 Northwest Grand Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK 73118 following the funeral service.
