Dr. Alfred Dean: A Big Guy With A Bigger Heart. Newtown, PA
Dr. Alfred Dean – April 2007
Here is his story, a story that goes to show that asbestos does not respect the color of your collar, but will infiltrate and damage the lungs of anyone unfortunate enough to inhale it.
Dr. Dean was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1927. He graduated from Lafayette College and the prestigious Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston, Massachusetts.
After an honorable discharge from the United States Army in 1952, Dr. Dean returned to New Jersey and opened up his own private dental practice in Trenton. It was here that he and his wife Louise began their life together.
Soon after, they had two daughters, Carol and Susan. Dr. Dean was a doting father who cherished his little girls. His dental practice was well known and highly regarded in Trenton. He was in solo practice, and had a large group of loyal patients. He took an active and passionate interest in not only their mouths, but also their lives. Everyone in Trenton knew Dr. Dean.
When his daughters married and had children, he was an incredibly loving grandfather, just as he was a father. He was so proud of them and their accomplishments, and loved being an integral part of their lives.
Dr. Dean with his granddaughters Abbey and Julie on his 80th birthday
When Louise became ill, he cared for her continuously. After long days spent in the office, he would come home and always be available to help with his Louise. Louise suffered for several years with Dr. Dean always by her side. When she passed away several years ago, Dr. Dean was heartbroken.
After a while, he returned to his old, outgoing and charming self. He began to socialize more and spend even more time with his family. He also paid serious attention to his own health by exercising often, and losing over 80 pounds. He swam 40 laps daily at his local pool. He loved life and took advantage of all that if offered.
In early spring, 2007, his life began to change. He noticed that it was becoming progressively more difficult for him to complete his swims. He became unusually short of breath at what used to be simple movements. Chest x-rays revealed a pleural effusion. In March of 2007, his doctors performed a tissue biopsy and talc pleurodesis at St. Mary’s Hospital in Langhorne, Pennsylvania. The results of the biopsy returned a diagnosis of malignant pleural mesothelioma. Surgery was ruled out as a treatment option.
Dr. Dean then traveled to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and consulted with Dr. Daniel Sterman at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP) regarding inclusion in the Gene Therapy program. Unfortunately, because of the talc procedure, Dr. Dean was not eligible.
Dr. Dean and his family
In May 2007, Dr. Dean began chemotherapy with Alimta in combination with Carboplatin. He completed four cycles after which his doctors thought, optimistically, that perhaps the lung-surrounding meso tumor had stabilized.
In July 2008, the tumor suddenly exploded. His treatment options had narrowed. But he wanted to pursue an experimental clinical trial. He was a doctor, and he understood the public health benefits of clinical trials. And he held out hope. Dr. Dean participated in a double-blind study at HUP with the chemotherapy drug, Vorinistat. He bravely completed 8 weeks despite disabling side effects.
He suffered severe spinal pain, and it was discovered that the mesothelioma had metastisized to his spine, for which only palliative spinal radiation treatments were indicated.
In October, his condition quickly deteriorated, and he passed away in his home on November 15, 2008. His last few weeks were agonizing, and he suffered unimaginably.
Jonathan Chodroff
Dr. Dean enriched the lives of many people, including his family, patients and many friends. He was the best friend to his daughters. In her eulogy, Carol describes her father as “a big guy with and even bigger heart.” Big Al went out of his way to make other people feel comfortable and happy. He was blessed with a voracious zest for life, and truly epitomized the adage of ‘living life experientially’!! He never, ever stopped learning and questioning…questioning anyone who would listen.” More…
Susan recalls that “You know the saying, “You can’t pick your parents.” It doesn’t hold true for me. I would have picked him all over again, if I could have chosen from any father on the planet. Carol and I know how fortunate we were to have him as our father. It makes the loss that much more difficult. Our hearts are breaking. It is still worth it.” More…
We are privileged to represent the heirs of Dr. Dean. Susan Chodroff’s son, Jon Chodroff, is a professional cyclist on Team Ouch, which Roger G. Worthington, PC is pleased to co-sponsor. Jon, a recent graduate from Yale, is the 2008 US National Time Trial Champion.
"My grandfather was my biggest supporter. He wanted to know everything about my life. He was so proud of me and lived vicariously through me while I was at Yale and encouraged me as I pursued my professional cycling dream. I am thankful he lived long enough to see me sign with the OUCH team.
He wanted to know all the details. He'd ask, "What's it like riding 110 miles? How does it feel to climb five miles straight up at the end of a race? What's the team like? What's Floyd like? He also liked having deep philosophical discussions. What makes us happy? How are we going to give back? I'll be carrying my PopPop with me when I ride.
I remember the first time I met Roger Worthington and learned he was a mesothelioma attorney. The very next morning, I spoke to my mom who told me that Roger had created the support group that she had resourced to find therapies for my grandfather. My family believes my grandfather had a hand in all this. I'm so proud to be riding with OUCH cycling, not only because of the tremendous talent on the team, but because Roger's firm is a sponsor. I hope that the success I expect our team to achieve, along with Roger's sponsorship, will bring attention to the ravages of this disease and encourage support for a cure."
Dr. Dean would be proud to know that his grandson has inherited the family tradition of hard work, humanity, humility, passion, generosity and courage.
February 17, 2009