Thomas John Dean

SUNY Fredonia is mourning the loss of senior Thomas John Dean, who passed away unexpectedly Saturday morning in his dorm room. Thom was completing an English major with a Creative Writing minor. His family announced that A Celebration of Life will be held in his honor on Wednesday, Nov. 6 at the Cornell Cooperative Extension, 4487 Lake Ave., in Lockport, N.Y., at 5 p.m.  A memorial service on campus is also being planned by the English Department on Wednesday, Nov. 20 at 4 p.m. in the Williams Center’s Horizon Room.  Students and other campus community members are invited to come to the event, which will feature a variety of readings, poems and other works to remember Thom.

Thom served as a Student Ambassador with the International Education Office and was a member of the Korean International Student Society. He was also the Vice President of the Writer’s Ring student group and a regular contributor to “The Fredonia Follower,” a student-created, online satirical news blog. 

"Thom used his unique personality to become known by all at Fredonia," his obituary states. "He truly loved his Fredonia family and all of his experiences there." He was from Niagara Falls and Newfane, N.Y.

President Virginia Horvath said, "Our deepest sympathies are extended to the family and friends of Mr. Dean, and to all of his fellow students, faculty and staff who are filled with grief and shock."

In lieu of flowers, donations will gratefully be accepted to the Thomas Dean Memorial Fund in the Fredonia College Foundation.

His complete obituary is here >>