Dean will be remembered for his vibrant personality, generous spirit and unforgettable sense of humor, which brought joy to all and connected us in friendship. With his keen intellect, extraordinary wit and deep kindness, he made new friends instantly, leaving behind a legacy of countless joyous and mirthful moments with others that stretched back to childhood. His words and world view helped us feel better about ourselves and see the light side of life, even in dark times. Born to Vernon and Elizabeth Petersen in San Francisco in 1956, Dean grew up in Modesto, California and graduated from Thomas Downey High School, where he was active in sports and student government. After earning a bachelor’s degree in political science at the University of California, Berkeley in 1978, Dean went on to study law and receive his Juris Doctor (JD) degree from the McGeorge School of Law at the University of the Pacific. It was there that he met his soulmate and future wife, Melanie Johnson, who was by his side when he passed from this world. Dean and Melanie were married in 1982 and followed their careers together, eventually arriving in San Diego in 1986, where he worked as a civil litigation attorney and she specialized in education law. Dean later left law practice, embarking on a variety of other professional endeavors that he jokingly referred to as his “50 jobs before the age of 50” period. In 2004 he made the momentous decision to return to graduate school, earning a master’s degree from the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago. He then embarked on a second career as a consultant in disaster-recovery management, deploying to cities such as New Orleans, New York and St. Petersburg, Florida. His colleagues at Hagerty Consulting will miss his presence and guidance, particularly younger team members who benefited from his mentorship. Dean’s greatest passion beyond his professional work was his love of sports, which began in childhood and never abated. A longtime fan of Bay Area teams, he was known to mutter “the season’s over” after just a few games, but always enthusiastically returned for opening day, with his hopes renewed. Dean’s generosity, love for his fellow man, and steadfast devotion to Melanie, who he cherished, is inspiration for us all. Together we say: Thank you, Dean, for every moment of hilarity and love and for leaving behind a happy trail of devoted friends, tolerant co-workers, charmed strangers and amused bartenders. You will be eternally missed and the world will never be the same without you! Dean is survived by his wife Melanie, sister Dayna (Tony) Leggio, uncle Marty, sisters- and brothers in-law Marvis Frenkel, Michelle and Tom Carscaden, and Michael Johnson; and nieces and nephews Ryan, Jeff, Kara and Kyle …. A celebration of Dean’s remarkable life will be held in early 2023 and more details will be announced in the near future.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.merkleymitchell.com for the Petersen family.
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