Dean Debnam

Carey Dean Debnam, known as Dean, 70, passed away peacefully in his home in the late afternoon of September 12, 2024, in Raleigh, North Carolina where he resided most of his life. He was born May 22, 1954, in Louisburg, NC. He had been living with ALS for many years.

Dean lived an extraordinary life, touching and helping thousands, even without their knowledge. This past May Governor Cooper awarded him the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, given for extraordinary service to North Carolina. Among a variety of business and community involvements, Dean was most recently former CEO and owner of Workplace Options, an international human services employee assistance company with locations in 195 countries, founder and president of Public Policy Polling, and founder and president of Debnam Commercial Real Estate.

Dean was a man of immense drive and will. He was unafraid to take risks personally or professionally. A creative, generative thinker, he launched hundreds of projects and empowered people around him to carry them forward. He was a catalyst, giving people the fuel, the responsibilities, or the opportunities to go further and do more than they had imagined for themselves.

Dean’s commitment to the people of his city and state was deeply felt and drove his decades-long involvement in progressive causes and Democratic politics. He hated the misers, the bullies, and the small-minded oppressors of the world. He was passionate about doing the right thing, not the easy thing.

But Dean wasn’t a joyless crusader and businessman. He had a vivid (and often profane) sense of humor. He loved the many pleasures life had to offer, keenly aware that each lifetime is finite and wasting one is a sin. He loved art, his home, his many orchids, and things of beauty. A soft fabric, a vibrant color, a clever lyric. He loved travel, a beautiful meal, a beautiful wine, and good company. Most of all, he loved to see the joy in others when he treated them. The joy of others may have been his favorite luxury of all. He truly basked in it.

Dean believed that to share more is to create more. He bridged the gaps he saw around him, small and large. A generous man, he opened his home to countless people, whether they were blood-relatives or not, and welcomed them into the family all the same. Dean would protect and uplift his people any way he could.

The only stingy thing about Dean was his patience. He moved as fast as he could and expected folks to keep up, whether walking down a street or running down an idea. He was knowledgeable, and he loved long thought-provoking conversations (or debates, depending on the subject matter). Dean had an incredible knack for diving into the depths of people’s mind and motivations. He instilled that love of discussion in many of his kids. The people whose lives he touched will continue to find motivation in his example.

He is predeceased by his brother, Ritchie Debnam and his mother, Rachel Debnam Fleming, and his father, Walter “Bud” Debnam.

Dean is survived by his fiercely devoted wife, Sesha French Debnam, and his children, mostly residing in Raleigh; Jamaica Fanjul Pfister, Erin Debnam and husband, Christopher Zuiderhof, Carey Lang Reeve and husband, Michael Reeve, Elena Fanjul-Debnam and husband, Paul Lemaistre (Singapore), Maya Fanjul-Debnam and wife, Shayn Diaz, Rachael Gaston, Paul Gaston II (Santa Barbara, CA), Sydney Alexander and husband, Stone Alexander. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Cameron Pfister, Lilly Pfister, Trey Reeve, Toby Debnam Zuiderhof, Avery Pfister, Charlie Debnam Zuiderhof, Lucy Lang, and Gabrielle Gaston. He is also survived by his siblings, Jack Debnam and wife, Gail, Michael Debnam and wife, April, Vickie Debnam, Candy Debnam and partner, Buddy Marr, Kim Debnam Roche and husband, Tim. Also surviving and beloved by Dean, many nieces, nephews, and their children.

The family would like to express gratitude to his team of caregivers, past and current, many who spent years alongside Dean and Sesha. Without their help, Dean would not have had the quality of life he did, and we would not have had his company as long as we could. We are glad to have shared him with you.

A celebration of life is planned for October 13, 2024. at 1:00pm at the AJ Fletcher Opera Theater in the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts, 2 E. South Street, Raleigh, North Carolina, 27601.

In memory of Dean Debnam the family asks that gifts be directed to The Debnam Family ALS Fund. Checks should be made payable to “UNC Health Foundation” and mailed to: UNC Health Foundation, 123 West Franklin Street, Suite 510, Chapel Hill, NC 27516. Please note Debnam Family ALS Fund on the check memo line, or by using the link below, under 'Donations'.

For online donations, use the following: http://www.unchf.org/careydebnam