Miss Grace Dean

Grace Dean is pictured above in a picture taken for her 1893 graduation from Sandusky High School. Her long tresses are tied in back a ribbon, and she is holding a fan while wearing fingerless gloves. The photograph was taken by W. A. Bishop, a longtime Sandusky photographer.

Born in 1876, Grace was the daughter of John and Susan Dean. Miss Dean taught elementary school for the Sandusky City Schools for many years, retiring in 1938. Throughout her life, Grace was a very active member of Calvary Episcopal Church, participating in the Women’s Guild, Women’s Auxiliary, and the choir An article in the August 5, 1933 issue of the Sandusky Register reported that Grace Dean and Edith Slackford had recently left for Chicago to attend the Century of Progress International Exposition, more commonly known as the Chicago World’s Fair. During the summer of 1936, Grace Dean toured the country of England. Her friend Olive Voight gave her a going away party before she left for Europe. After retiring from teaching, Grace was a key member of the Erie County Chapter of the Ohio Retired Teachers Association.

In her later years, Grace Dean resided at the Twin Maples Nursing Home in Norwalk. She passed away on August 19, 1963. An obituary for Miss Grace Dean appeared in the August 20, 1963 issue of the Sandusky Register. The funeral services for Miss Dean were officiated by the Rev. Paul Savanack, who was a cousin to Grace Dean. Burial was in Oakland Cemetery. Though she never married or had children, Grace Dean lived an interesting life, full of friendships, travel, and service to her community.