George Alden Dean ’52

George died of complications from aggressive lung cancer Jan. 10, 2003. His memorial service was held at Trinity Church, in Southport, where a parishioner noted that "it had not been so full in living memory." In addition to tributes from female politicians George had encouraged, son Jay '79 and classmate Bruce Berckmans gave eulogies. Other classmates attending included Berlind, Bolster, Carrigan, Clutz, Collins, Cowles, Ellis, Gowen, Handelman, Ted Kennedy, Kreitler, Loper, McLean, Newlin, Parrish, Pivirotto, Thomas, Wilmerding, and Winton.

George's life mirrored his favorite quotation from Susan B. Anthony: "Failure is impossible." President of his class and school at Lawrenceville, he served our class as president, vice president, and reunion chairman. After separation from the Army with service in Korea, he earned an MBA from Harvard, and began a 33-year career with Dancer, Fitzgerald, and Sample, retiring as executive vice president. In 1988 he founded the organization 50/50 by 2020, which works to achieve gender parity in elected office, especially at the state and federal level. His commitment produced 400 letters to the editor, 265 speaking engagements, and countless meetings. For his work, George received the Eleanor Roosevelt Award from the Connecticut chapter of NOW, and the Good Guy Award from the National Women's Political Caucus. His final letter to the NY Times, dated Jan. 5, 2003, noted a story on the all-male Republican leadership in the new Congress.

George is survived by his beloved Jane, children George Jr. '79 and Diane, sister Georganna Dickson w'49, brother Jim, stepchildren Jeffrey Pratt and Susan Pratt, and seven grandchildren.

The Class of 1952