Arthur Alwin Dean, 79, of Meredith passed away at Golden View Health Care Center on August 25, 2014. Art was born in Tilton on June 23, 1935, to Gladys (Merrill) and Charles Dean. He grew up in Tilton, graduating from Tilton-Northfield High School.

Art attended Plymouth State Teachers College, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in education and played basketball and baseball. He served in the Army Reserves and later earned a Master’s Degree in physical education from Boston University.

Art began raising his family with former wife Jeraldine P. Dean in 1958, settling in Laconia in 1966. During his 37-year teaching career, he taught physical education and driver’s education and coached a number of boys’ and girls’ sports. Before coming to Laconia, he taught and coached in Lincoln, Bristol, and Franklin, where he was Athletic Director.

For many years, Art was a physical education teacher at the former Memorial Junior High School in Laconia. He served as varsity boy’s basketball coach at Laconia High School from 1969 to 1975. After retiring from coaching, Art was an NHIAA-certified soccer official. Art strongly believed in the value of education and participation in athletics in preparing young people for life. He established summer basketball leagues for different age groups in Laconia, organized the annual Lakes Region Basketball Clinic, and was also on the coaching staff of basketball camps run by former Boston Celtic players Larry Siegfried and Dave Cowens.

Art enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening, exercising, and attending his grandchildren’s activities. He also loved watching ballgames on TV and spending time with family and friends at his camp near Mount Kearsarge in Andover.

Family members include his son Timothy S. Dean and his wife Michelle of Laconia; his daughter Cheryl A. Angus of Gilmanton; his son James M. Dean and Nancy DePasquale of Beverly, Massachusetts; his son John K. Dean and his wife Karen of Gilmanton; grandchildren Hayley Angus of Campton, Evan Dean and his adopted sister Saray of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Olivia, Aidan, and Victoria Dean of Laconia, and Lauren and Caroline Dean of Gilmanton; and great-grandchildren Maxx and Juno Angus of Campton.

Calling hours were held on September 5 at Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home and Cremation Services in Laconia. Burial will be at a later date in Franklin Cemetery, Franklin.

Donations in Art’s memory may be made to the Arthur Dean Student-Athlete Scholarship Fund, c/o Lakes Region Scholarship Foundation, PO Box 7312, Gilford 03247-7312. For more information and to view an online memorial, visit  WilkinsonBeane.com.