Dean Carl Anderson 78, resided in Oviedo, Florida where he died on September 11, 2023 of complications from a mild case of Covid that turned into pneumonia.
He is survived by his spouse, Martie Anderson, his brother and sister-in law, Tom and Patti Clarke, his daughter, Gillian Marit White – her son Jackson Anderson White, two stepsons Carl Anthony Anderson – daughter Olivia Anderson and Andrew Bryan Smith – sons Silas, Milo, and Levertt Smith.
Dean was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin September 22, 1944, to Kenneth C. and Mary Anderson Clarke. After Kenneth was tragically killed on his way home from work one night, Mary moved with her infant son, Dean, back to her home in Alabama where she eventually met and married Fred Clarke.
Dean grew up in Tennessee, majored in economics, graduated from Tennessee Tech in Cookeville, Tennessee – 1966. After graduating from college, Dean went to work for Bell South where he spent the next twenty years of his career in different management positions. After 20 years, Dean took early retirement and left Bell South to pursue other interests. He went back to school to become a Registered Nurse. He graduated with his RN from Columbia State Community College in 1991 then worked at several Nashville hospitals including Baptist Hospital, and Vanderbilt. Dean loved nursing. He felt like he was really making a difference in people’s lives as a nurse.
Dean and Martie moved to Oviedo, Florida in 1999 where Dean began to spend much of his free time volunteering for nonprofit charities. He volunteered his nursing skills at Shepard’s Hope in Orlando, Florida – a clinic staffed by professionals from the medical community who volunteered their time once a week at a clinic that provided healthcare to underemployed, low income, and homeless people in need. Dean was a regular at Shepard’s Hope for five years and was surprised when he received a National Award from the “Points of Light Foundation” that recognizes individuals in the United States for their extraordinary example of service and dedication to their community.
Dean spent the rest of his time volunteering at local animal shelters, and pet rescue organizations. He was a tireless advocate for the welfare of animals and dedicated himself to help hundreds of homeless or abandoned pets find their “forever homes”.
Dean always knew how to make a person feel better when living through a crisis. Perhaps it was because he had volunteered at the Crisis Center in Nashville and the First Call for Help in Orlando for many years. Or perhaps it was just one his many innate talents that he used to connect with people. The strength and compassion he embodied were used for good, for helping others and for making the world a better place.