C. Dean Streator

Aged 88, passed away peacefully on Saturday, August 20, 2016.  He was the son of the late John Leet Dye and Dorthy Dean Streator. He was preceded in death  by his wife  of 38 years Lois Luebbe Streator.  He is survived by his two children J. Devin (Sandy) Streator of Boulder City, NV.  and Lynn Dunbar ( Huei Sheng Kao) of Mt. Lebanon, and grandson, Jonathan Streator.  Also surviving are his cousin, Peg Smith, and several nieces and nephews.

Dean served in the U.S. Navy and upon his discharge, matriculated at Carnegie Institute of Technology where he earned degrees in Percussion and Music Education.  Following graduation, he was drafted into the Army, serving stateside during the Korean War.  Dean married Lois, a fellow CIT music major whom he met at freshman orientation, and began his career teaching choral and instrumental music at Bellevue Junior-Senior High School, directing the church choir at Freemont Avenue Presbyterian Church and conducting the Muiscanters, a small community choir.

 In 1967, Dean became director of instrumental music at Bethel Park High School and taught about 400 students a year in marching band, concert and symphonic bands, orchestra and musicals.  Under Dean’s tenure, Bethel’s ensembles became recognized for excellence both at home and beyond, as a result of annual band trips. 

Following his retirement from Bethel Park in 1986, Dean was an adjunct professor of Music education at Duquesne and taught several classes at Carnegie Mellon University.  He adjudicated concert and marching bands, was booster coordinator for PMEA, directed the Syria Shrine band, and with Jim Bennett, Director of Upper St. Clair Bands, formed Community Band South 28 years ago.  Dean was co-Director of the band until May.  

A long-time trustee of the Bethel Park Community Foundation, Dean founded and organized the Borough’s summer concert series, featuring good amateur and semi-professional musical ensembles from the region.  The series was renamed the Dean Streator Tower Concert Series in 2014.

Dean received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association in 2013.

Friends are welcome at the Paul L. Henney Memorial Chapel on Tuesday from 2-4 and 6-8.where services will take  place on Wednesday  at 10:00 am.  Interment will follow at Bethel Cemetery.  A musical celebration in Dean’s memory is being planned for Sunday, August 28, at 2:00 PM in the St. Clair Room of Friendship Village. 

Contributions may be made to the Bethel Park Community Foundation for the Dean Streator Tower Concert Series at PO Box 811, Bethel Park, PA 15102.

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