Obituary of Dean A. Johnston

Long-time Geneseo resident Dean A. Johnston passed away peacefully in his home on March 14, 2017. He was predeceased by his loving wife, Connie (Constance Mahoney) with whom he shared fifty years of marriage. He leaves behind five children: Debra (Michael Siddons) Cobb, James Johnston, Nancy (Robert) Daugherty, Judy (Toby Learn) Pastusec, Donald Johnston; twelve grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Leah Short; three sisters-in-law, Dawn Johnston, Helen Johnston, and Sharon Moore; and several nieces and nephews. Dean was born in 1926 in Clearfield, Pennsylvania, to Datus and Hazel Bell Johnston. He graduated from high school in Gouverneur, NY, and served in the US Army Airforce. In 1949 he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering from Syracuse University. Beginning his career at the Watkins Glen Refinery of US Salt, Dean went on to work for the Callery Chemical Company in Pennsylvania, and was general manager of the company’s Muskogee, Oklahoma operations manufacturing rocket fuel for NASA’s early space program. He spent four years heading up an environmental team at Corning Glass in Corning, New York, before joining CPAC in Leicester, New York in 1969. He retired from CPAC as vice-president in 1991. Post-retirement Dean and Connie enjoyed international travel and spending the winter months in Sarasota, Florida. Dean’s many civic activities benefitted the entire Geneseo community. At various times, he served as president of the SUNY Geneseo Foundation, president of the Geneseo Central School Board, president of the Geneseo Rotary Club, and president of the Livingston County Chamber of Commerce. He was on the board of directors of the local chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association and the Wyoming County Bank. He was a deacon, an elder and co-chair of the finance committee at Central Presbyterian Church, and enjoyed working at the Geneseo Festival every summer. In honor of Dean’s significant contribution to SUNY Geneseo Foundation and to the success of CPAC Inc., the company established an endowment for the funding of an annual Student Research Award to assist faculty with paid student research for their scholarly projects. In addition, Dean established the Connie Johnston Memorial Endowed Scholarship for a music major in piano performance, in memory of his late wife. An avid gardener, birder, and golfer, Dean enjoyed hunting, fishing and the natural world. His eco-travels took him to Kodiak Island in search of the bears; on safari in Kenya and Tanzania; and to Canopy Tower in Panama to view the birdlife. Calling hours were held Sunday, March 19, 2017 from 1-4 PM at the Rector-Hicks Funeral Home, 111 Main St. in Geneseo. His Funeral Service was held on Monday, March 20, 2017 at 11 AM at the Central Presbyterian Church, 31 Center St. in Geneseo with Rev. Dr. Nancy Lowmaster officiating. Burial, Temple Hill Cemetery in Geneseo. Dean supported a wide range of charities, including the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, PO Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014 or the Geneseo Rotary Club, PO Box 216, Geneseo, NY 14454. Donations in his memory may be made to the above.