Alan Louis Dean, BA, M. Ed.

4/10/47 – 1/26/21

Alan Louis Dean passed away peacefully from COVID-19 on January 26, 2021 at the age of 73 in Johnson City, TX.  Alan was a consummate teacher, cook, musician, mentor and friend.  His thirst for knowledge was endless and his ability to motivate others and pay his expertise forward was remarkable.  If you knew Alan, you learned something from Alan. Once a teacher always a teacher!

Born in Aberdeen, Maryland to Faye and William Dean, Alan was one of two children.  After graduating from Aberdeen High School in 1965, he pursued his love of music (and the trumpet) at The Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, Maryland graduating with a bachelor's degree in education. He eventually received his master's in education from Towson University in Towson, Maryland.

After graduating from Peabody, he and his trumpet toured throughout the United States with various Motown bands in the 1970's including The Drifters and The Otis Redding Band.

After touring he settled back in Maryland and taught music for Harford County Public Schools and notably, after 35 years of teaching, retired from North Harford Middle School.   He continued to play the trumpet as a hobby and mentored countless trumpet players throughout his life.  Fun fact, he taught Cal Ripken, Jr. to play the drums.

In addition to teaching music, he organized numerous road races in Maryland and coached cross country and track in Harford County Public Schools and Harford Community College.  He worked with world class athletes and his coaching took him all over the world including New Zealand and Japan.

He was a Real Estate Agent with Grempler Realty and Long & Foster Real Estate Company in Harford County for 20 years where he and Susan worked as a team.   It was at a get together with some real estate friends that his now, world class Pure Texan Chili was discovered.  He was persuaded to enter a chili cook-off and the rest is history.

Alan and Susan's chili became a sensation taking them all over the country and internationally to compete.  For 8 years, Alan served as Executive Director for CASI (Chili Appreciation Society International) and was Great Pepper for The Mason Dixon Pod in Maryland and organized many cook-offs on the East Coast.

Additionally, he was a member of The Musicians Association of Baltimore, President of the Johnson City Library Executive Board and a Member of The Johnson City Chamber of Commerce and Great Pepper of The Pod on the Pedernales.

Alan loved everything about wine so much that he and Susan worked in the tasting room for Becker Vineyards in The Texas Hill Country.  You would usually see him sipping on a nice glass of red, but he had a vast knowledge of all varieties.

He is survived by his wife of 45 years, Susan Glenn Dean of Johnson City, TX, his brother Brian Dean (Shirley) of Jacksonville, FL, his stepchildren, Amy Smith Hardesty (Tom) of Centennial, CO and Brian W. Smith of Three Forks, MT, his grandchildren: Michael, Caroline, Eric, Justin, Luke and Danielle, great granddaughter Cassidy and his beloved chili dog, Molly.

He is preceded in death by his mother, Faye Dean and his father William Dean.

Witty, jovial and kind.  Alan touched all that knew him, and he was always available for his sage advice, unending support and to lend a hand, even to a stranger.  So, Alan here is a toast to You!  We love you.

Due to the pandemic, Alan's celebration of life ceremony will be in the fall.

If lieu of flowers, please make contributions to the CASI Scholarship Fund

https://www.casichili.net/donate-in-memory-of-a-loved-one.html