Myrtle Marie (Sussenguth) Dean passed away peacefully at Avery Manor in Needham on Thursday January 3, 2008 after a short illness. She was 92 years young and lived in Needham for over 47 years. Myrtle was born in Holyoke, Massachusetts on July 4,1915, the daughter of the late Charles and Emily (Espelin) Sussenguth. She graduated from Holyoke High School and Bay Path Institute in Springfield (now Bay Path College) and worked many years as a bookkeeper at the former Tire Engineering Company in Holyoke. Tire Engineering was one of the first Processors of the newly invented retread tires in the nation, considered to be a true marvel in the thirties.
In the fifties, “Myrt” met her future husband Gardner who was stationed at the former Westover Air Force Base in Chicopee, MA. They were married in 1945 and lived in West Newton, Brighton, Back Bay, Roslindale and eventually Needham. Two of Myrt’s brothers and their families also soon moved to Needham, keeping a promise to their folks that they would always “Stick together.”
Myrt was a loving wife, mom, and housekeeper. She was also a volunteer librarian for the Mitchell School and a Cub Scout den mother. As her family matured, Myrt wanted to stay active. In her fifties she decided she wanted to return to work. She started as a part-time secretary for three independent businessman sharing small office in Needham Square. One of the companies, the former Bay State Structural Specialties started to expand and eventually moved to Avon, MA. Mom was invited to stay on as head bookkeeper and office manager. She bought her first “new” car and commuted to work until she was 76 years of age. She shunned calculators in favor of old-fashion written arithmetic and every accountant and auditor with whom she dealt was in awe of her accuracy.
At Bay State, she developed an interest in football and actually held season tickets for many seasons of the New England Patriots. She was an avid crossword puzzle enthusiast all her life, completing crosswords in both Boston Newspapers every morning in ink. She also enjoyed visiting and talking with family and friends, traveling to Maine and New Hampshire in season, reading mysteries and watching television programs.
Her husband, Colonel Gardner A. Dean, USAR, retired, passed away in 1992 and her brothers Charles Sussenguth Jr. and his wife Avis of Topsfield, Maine and Walter W. Sussenguth of Needham also predeceased her. She is also survived by her loving sons, Alan Gardner Dean and his wife Sharon of Greenfield, Massachusetts, Bruce Adams Dean of Needham, her brother Paul and his wife Marie Sussenguth of Needham, her sister- in- law Marilyn G. (Mrs. Walter W.) Sussenguth of Needham, two granddaughters, Marissa and Emily Dean of Greenfield and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services at the Eaton Funeral Home 1351 Highland Ave Needham on Monday January 7th at 10:00AM. Relatives and friends are kindly invited. Visiting hours will be held Monday morning from 9-10 AM prior to the service. Interment will take place at the Needham Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the United Way of Massachusetts 51 Sleeper St. Boston, MA 02210.