SPRINGFIELD – Eugene G. “Gene” “Tinker” Dean, 82, of the East Springfield section of Springfield, was Called Safely Home on Thursday, October 22, 2015. He passed into Eternal Life at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield surrounded by the care and comfort of his loving family. He was born in Holyoke on March 28, 1933, a beloved son of the late Eugene J. and Nora (Fitzgerald) Dean. He was raised in the Churchill section of Holyoke, graduated from the former Sacred Heart High School in Holyoke and lived in the city for many years before moving to Bristol Street in Springfield in 1957. He served his country in the United States Army during the Korean War and attained the rank of Specialist Third Class. Following his military service, he came to Springfield in 1957 where he lived for the remainder of his life. He was employed for 35 years for the United States Postal Service and was a former Postmaster at the Indian Orchard Post Office. He later was a Station Manager at the Belmont Avenue Post Office and retired in 1992. Gene was an avid golfer and enjoyed playing pitch. He was a life member of the John Boyle O’Reilly Club in Springfield and the co-founder of their Wednesday Night Pitch League. He was the “CEO” of the Gene Dean Sr. Friday Night Golf League. During his leisure time, he enjoyed working on crossword puzzles. Most of all, he was a quiet man who adored his family and showered them with his love and affection which was returned to him a thousand fold. Active in his Catholic faith, he was a longtime communicant of Sacred Heart Church in Springfield. He leaves his beloved wife and best friend, Ella (Stewart) Dean. They were married on September 19, 1959 at the Cathedral of Saint Michael the Archangel in Springfield and were blessed with over 56 years of happiness together. He also leaves his two loving children, Eugene J. Dean and his wife, Karen, of Longmeadow and Kathleen M. “Katie” Foley and her husband, Peter, of Springfield; his cherished granddaughter whom he adored, Amanda of Longmeadow; his loving sisters and brothers, Patricia Young of Holyoke, James Dean and his wife, Kathy, of Easthampton, Nancy Konis of Holyoke and John Dean and his wife, Diane, Maureen House and Michael Dean, all of Springfield; and his many dear nephews, nieces, cousins, friends, and extended members of the Dean and Stewart families. Besides his parents, he was also predeceased by his loving sister, Barbara Dean. His funeral will be held on Wednesday morning, October 28, 2015 beginning at the St. Pierre – Phaneuf Springfield Chapels, (413-737-1177), 7 Chapin Terrace, Springfield, MA 01107, (the funeral home will open at 8 a.m.), followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. in Sacred Heart Church, 395 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA 01107. His Committal Service with United States Army Military Honors will follow the Mass at 11 a.m. in the Chapel at the Massachusetts Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery, 1390 Main Street, Agawam, MA 01001. His family will receive friends at the funeral home on Tuesday, October 27, 2015 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. His family has requested that memorial donations be made in his memory to the Sacred Heart Church Renovation Fund, 395 Chestnut Street, Springfield, MA 01104. For more details, please visit: www.stpierrephaneuf.com