Dean Curtiss

Dean Curtiss passed away on Jan. 27 in his Langley home after a short illness with his daughter by his side.

Dean was born in Seattle on Aug. 30, 1920 to Ula and Elmer F. Curtiss. Dean and his brother Donald lived with their parents in a houseboat on Lake Union and later moved to the Montlake area where Dean’s father built a house at 2428 Miller Street for the family.

Dean’s lifelong love was music. He started out playing the piano and quickly moved on to the woodwind instruments, primarily the clarinet. His band, The Gentlemen of Note, played in dance halls and for events in the Seattle area during the 1930s while Dean was still attending Garfield High School.

After high school, during the war years, Dean made his way to Chicago to study music at the Chicago Conservatory of Music. He made music by day and worked for Rand McNally at night developing aerial maps for the troops. While in Chicago, Dean auditioned and went on tour with the Jack Teagarden Band. He continued touring with other bands playing in the then popular dance halls.

He met his wife, Betty at one such dance in Stanley, N.D.

The couple married and lived in North Dakota for several years while Dean continued to tour with the Win Schue Band. In 1949 they moved back to the Seattle area where their daughter Nadean was born. Dean attended the University of Washington and earned a degree in Music and Music education in 1953. He continued to play in bands around the Seattle area, most notably The Jackie Souders Worlds Fair Band, among others.

In 1968 Dean moved to Southern California to work for the Boosey and Hawkes Musical Instrument Company and lived for many years in the Los Angeles area. In 1982 he headed north to Portland, Ore. where he enjoyed many years of musical adventures playing in various groups including: A Clarinet Quartet and The Gresham Symphony Orchestra.

Finally, in 1999 he joined his daughter on Whidbey Island where his friends and neighbors will attest to the fact that he continued to play and love his music.

Dean will be remembered for his kindness, humor, and easy going swing. He is survived by his daughter Nadean, son-in-law Jeff Day, grandson Max and friends who will all miss him very much.

There will be a memorial celebration for Dean at Brookhaven Community Hall from 1 to 3 p.m.