Dean Lee Goss, son of Quincy Wheeler and Alice Wakeman Goss, passed away peacefully in his home on December 21, 2022. Born in Floral Park, New York, on July 10, 1926, he grew up in New Canaan. Following high school, Dean attended UCONN and University of Delaware, earning degrees in civil engineering.
After graduating UCONN, Dean went to Maracaibo, Venezuela, with SOCONY Vacuum, where he and his new bride, Ruth Eleanor Yanosik, had many adventures. Given his almost insatiable curiosity about the world around him, Dean loved to travel, and early in his career worked in many locations across the country. As their young family of four children (Wendy, Judith, Dean, Martha) grew, they settled in Greenwich. Dean worked with several architectural firms in the area. He also discovered a love of teaching at the Architecture Department of the New York Institute of Technology.
One regret Dean often expressed was not maintaining ties with more people from his past. Thus, he started attending New Canaan Old Timers reunions. He also became involved with the UCONN alumni association. Through this, he renewed contact with his college fraternity. With SigmaChi, he found a meaningful place and purpose. The teacher in him enjoyed mingling with and hoped to inspire the younger brothers. Everyone benefited from the historical perspective he brought to their gatherings and his tales of UCONN past. He then attended almost every initiation, installation, meeting, dinner in the area, with his brothers feting him for his 95th birthday.
An avid gardener, he was often found working in his extensive backyard garden from earliest spring thaw through autumn frost, with family and neighbors enjoying the bounty of vegetables and berries that his garden yielded. Card games, especially cribbage and bridge, were treasured pastimes. Dean even earned college spending money playing in bridge tournaments, and enjoyed participating in town bridge groups. Sundays were often spent completing the NYTimes crossword puzzle or Sudokus—in ink!
Dean’s roots were in northern Vermont, where participation in the community is an expected duty. Dean brought that sense of responsibility to Greenwich. He was a life-long member of the First Presbyterian Church, serving as Deacon and Elder. And, he involved himself in town politics. He was one of the longest serving members of the RTM; his career spanning intermittently over a 50+ year period. He gave special attention to encouraging others to run. His most meaningful work for the town was on the school building committees—serving on the very first one, and on a majority since. Notably, he chaired work on rebuilding Cos Cob School after the fire. Most recently, he was on the New Lebanon School committee.
In the end, the town that he gave so much to, supported him. Marcus Mayus and his staff are the best. The staff at Greenwich Hospital were always attentive, even to his endless questions about every piece of equipment in the room. GPD and GEMS answered many calls for assistance, always treating Dean with care, compassion, and dignity. Juliet Grant, who aided him in his final years, is proof that there are angels on Earth. The family is forever thankful to everyone.
A memorial service is being planned for a later date. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, please donate to a cause of your choice; or consider a gift of time—run for the RTM.