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Memorial Keepers(3)
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K. Dean Santos
December 24th, 1946 - December 28th, 2020
December 24th, 1946 - December 28th, 2020
“I am with you always”
Kenneth “Dean” Santos, 74, of Henrietta, NY passed away on 12/28/2020. He is survived by his children Luke, Keri (Dave) and Krista (Michael), his grandchildren Nate, Kennedy, Kaelynn and Everett, siblings Juanita (George), Barbara, Patricia, Nancy, Steve (Mary Kay), Dave (Judy) and Brian (Meri) and many nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his loving wife Ruth, and his parents, Kenneth and Bess Santos of Minneapolis, MN.
Dean retired from RIT/NTID as a Professor, Administrator and Social Work Academic Advisor, and through the years was loved and revered by countless students and faculty members. Dean was passionate about music, and used his creativity as a songwriter, folk-singer and guitarist to enhance social work classes and events, for social justice causes, at church choir every Sunday, at the Golden Link Singing Society, at Tinker Park events, and simply for the joy of entertaining. Life events, simple or unique – Dean would write a song about it, culminating in a catalog of songs that brought light and meaning to his experiences.
Dean cherished his children and grandchildren, his extended family, and loved his friends and his students. He was a die-hard Minnesota Vikings fan (always hopeful for a better season—next year). In his spare time you could often find Dean on the hunt for new guitars and instruments, and musical opportunities (or whatever lost item was missing at the moment!).
Many thanks to all our AMAZING medical providers and Fresenius Dialysis Clinic staff for your medical care, the Church of the Transfiguration and many friends for your guidance, prayers and support. To our caregiving angels Eileen, Evelyn, Marissa, Czierra, Guelsys, Nancy and Chardae, we are forever grateful for your amazing homecare.
Funeral services will be held at a later date when the time is safe to celebrate Dean’s life.
Events
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Resting Place
White Haven Memorial Park
Nature Trail • 43.09534600000001, -77.48084399999999
Tributes
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Fred Seidl
Dean Santos was my musical partner, my best friend, my inspiration for nearly 30 years. His hard working, yet laid back personality made him a joy. He always had a song up his sleeve, always a song worth working up and performing. As Dean and I were social workers, Dean's music opened professional possibilities for us and his music is cited in social work academic texts. One of his songs "The Red Brick Mansion" has been included in The State of California's High School curriculum. A chance encounter on a train in England with a recent widow whose daughter had been taken into care and who was cognitively challenged led to a song "Letter From America," and an exchange of letters. She says "I'm going to school at night to help me learn to read and write." Dean was a family man, devoted to Ruthie, his wife of many years, his children, and his grandson. My wife and I felt like members of his family. We miss him. Dean was a very positive presence for many, many years.
Vern Lindberg
To be published in the Golden Link newsletter, Farewell Dean Santos —Vern Lindberg, Valerie Coushaine, & Nora Bradbury-Haehl Our friend and long-time Golden Link member Dean Santos died on December 28, 2020. We all have our memories of Dean, smiling, laughing, singing songs that he wrote as well as songs of others. Most of all Dean loved to get people of all ages involved in music. Dean began serving as Education Chair in 2007. Over the following decade, he offered 45 different workshops that resulted in over 70 actual sessions! One of his workshops was Not Ready for Prime Time; Valerie recalls that this was instrumental in overcoming her extreme fear of singing in front of people. She says that he was the perfect mentor for so many. Dean also led Harmony workshops, getting folks to venture into new musical territory. Golden Link was only a part of Dean’s musical life. He regularly played at Tinker Nature Center in Henrietta at Christmas and 4th of July celebrations, often drafting others like Vern to join him. Dean was a long-term member of his church choir, contributing his wonderful voice as well as his guitar, mandolin, banjo, and ukulele accompaniment. And Dean was a founding member of Hull House Revival, singing songs of social justice. Along the way he became good friends with Si Kahn. Si joined Dean and grandson Nate on a trip to Merlefest a few years back. In addition to singing songs of others (Shenendoah, Heart of the Appaloosa), Dean was a prolific songwriter. His songs ranged from serious songs like Whispering Besalisa, about his parents, and Send Me A Letter From America, about a chance meeting of a woman in England, to humorous songs such as The Birth about his passing of a kidney stone. Nora recalls driving with him to a Tunes by the Tracks concert and telling him about her work with interfaith teens. By the following week he'd written My Marvelous Dream, a counter melody to Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream. Dean spent many years teaching Social Work at NTID and is remembered as a great mentor.
Ralph Hunt
Lots of good memories of the times with Dean, a good friend and fine musician. I hope we can be there when it's finally safe to gather and cherish his memory. I look forward to pigging out on the lizzard appetizers at the buffet to ensure there are no leftovers.
Marshall Smith
Lori Reed, you, Dean, Fred, and I clicked as HHR. What a shame to have lost that, and now losing Dean. I miss him. GoldenLink is planning something on 4/11. I would love to reconnect with you and Fred to do something to honor Dean then.
Laurie Ornstein
I met Dean quite some years ago at Golden Link. Being a far-flung member living in Israel, I only got to see him occasionally when I was in Rochester. He always had a smile and warm words when we met and caught up with each other. He always had a wonderful song to share in our circle. The last time I saw Dean was at the Green House Fri. afternoon sing-around. He came in and joined us. Drained and tired but with a smile. When it was his turn, he he asked me to choose a song and he'd join me. We sang and played Wild Mt. Thyme. May Dean's song sing on in the circle of the sun. He'll be missed.
Barbara Fox
Dean and I were colleagues at NTID. Over the years he was such a good human being—thoughtful, humane, kind. Please let me know when services will be held.
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