Dean William Fair

AUGUSTA – Dean William Fair: Master of Laughs, Landscapes and Legendary Hugs.

Our beloved, big-hearted, and occasionally loud-mouthed legend Dean William Fair completed his 54th journey around the sun before peacefully transitioning back into the sacred universe. He passed June 23, 2025, at home, surrounded by his loving family.

Born April 5, 1971, in Bangor, raised in Dover-Foxcroft and Augusta, Dean had a fierce loyalty to his loved ones, and a natural magnetism that would shape the rest of his life. He was destined for adventure and joined the U.S. Navy right out of high school and spent four years aboard the USS Dubuque LPD-8, where he learned discipline, loyalty, and creative swearing.

After his service, Dean returned to Maine and built a life anchored in family, friendship, and hard work. Though he wore many hats his true calling came as a groundskeeper at the Togus VA for five years, he created peaceful, healing landscapes for fellow veterans—while also offering unsolicited life advice, stories, and maybe a few pranks.

Dean was an outdoorsman, handyman, chef, coach, dance-floor menace, and self-proclaimed cornhole king. He loved ice fishing, hunting, golfing, NASCAR weekends with his military brothers, and family camping trips to Bar Harbor. Sports were his spiritual practice, especially when yelling at the Dallas Cowboys or celebrating a Bruins goal like he’d scored it himself.

To know Dean was to laugh often, eat well, and feel like you mattered. He made strangers feel like family. He showed up—loudly—for everyone. His spirit will continue to ripple through every life he touched.

Dean is survived by his wife Shannon; son Justyn (Lyndsey), grandson Saige, son Camryn, and daughter Kearstyn; fur babies Peaches and Peanut, mother Irene; brothers Ty (Janice) and Mike (Julie), brother in-law Shawn Howard; and a massive crew of family, friends, and honorary cousins too numerous to list but forever in his heart.

He was predeceased by his father, Dean; stepfather “Bunky”; and grandparents Doris, Earl, Bill, and Glennice.

Special thanks to his cousin, Samara Joy, best friend and military brother, Keith Tibbetts; lifelong friend Michelle Goocher; Artelissa Bisson Proctor; and all the compassionate caregivers at the Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care and Togus VA Medical Center.

A Celebration of Life will be held July 12 at 4 p.m. at Reynolds Hill Cemetery in Sidney, followed by food, stories, music, dancing, and cornhole at the Augusta Civic Center—just how Dino would’ve wanted. And yes, he’d want you to bring a good story and your dancing shoes.

A livestream will be available for those who cannot attend the celebration on Dean Fair’s Facebook page.

In lieu of flowers,

donations can be made to:

The Maine Homeless Veterans Alliance