Assistant Chief, Fire Station 3B
Deceased:
May 27, 2018
Appointed:
10/17/1970
Pensioned:
10/20/2004 – FS 3B
Details about the memorial service
Please make any donations to:
Stanford University Development Services
P.O. Box 20466
Stanford, CA 94309-0466
Include Dean’s name in the check’s memo.
makeagift.stanford.edu
Bill Morsch says
Rest in peace my friend
"Ed" Sandell says
I never worked with Dean…but I have a strong and clear memory of when we first met. I played him at FS92 in the 1970’s in the fire dept handball tournament. I remember being very impressed with the guy. He was a competitor…albeit a very honorable one. After the match, the four of us (wives) spent quite a bit of time afterward talking and getting acquainted. My condolences to the family. I am sure it is a great loss. Ed Sandell
Tony Hidalgo says
A great loss. I had the pleasure of working for Dean in Battalion One for a few years. Dean was a great leader and a pretty good golfer. That being said, what set him apart was the fact that he was just a “great guy”.
Rest in peace my friend. You will surely me missed
Kevin Kearns says
I drove Chief Cathy the first day he made Chief in Batt. 13
The phone rang at 0700 and the Chief received a call from Chief Manning. Chief Cathy then turned to me and said “Hire for me I am detailed downtown until further notice”.
That’s what happens when you have that much talent.
Chief Cathy was a pleasure to be around, highly intelligent, and a born leader. It was an honor to know him.
RIP Chief
Ed Sandell says
Kevin, great memory!
Bubba Willis says
I can’t begin to tell you how much respect I have for that man. I first met him as a 15 year old fire explorer at FS 66. He was a Captain II there. Dean was a huge part with me successfully getting hired. He mentored me and made sure I was doing all the right things to be successful. Throughout my career we would cross paths in one way or another and he was always the same. Always making sure I was doing good. He’d joke and always called me son and I’d call him Dad.
I could write all day about how I felt about this man. Although my heart hurts right now I am also remembering some really great times.
RIP Chief
Bill Simpson says
Do you know if he had a son Mark Army SF?
I was stationed with Dean in Air Force George AFB CA 11/67-5/69 loss touch when we departed for Nam. He was a fireman our helicopter squadron Air Rescue! Great young man knew he would be a very successful leader. Friendly and we were pretty tight. Thanks
Bill Simpson says
Do you know if he had a son Mark In military?
Duane Warth says
I am real sorry to learn of your passing. We worked together at old F.S. 66. I was on one of the other shifts, but your present was still there in the station on all the shifts. You were such as a pleasure to be around. You were the role model for what a good chief should be. You will be missed. Rest in peace my friend as your work is done.
MIKE HILLIGER says
I met Dean at my first house on probation FS34. Dean had about two years on and was very impressive in his work ethic and the way he carried himself. He was extremely helpful to this raw rookie and I will always respect him for that. Dean was talented in every way that you would want a firefighter to be.
We crossed paths many time over the years and his professionalism shown through in all the ranks he held. Truly, one of the “good guys”!!!
I trust that the good Lord will care and comfort the Cathey family.
Rest in peace my friend,
Mike Hilliger
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Mike Bowers says
I worked around Dean several times. Always a smile and always smooth.
Sorry you left so soon.
John Ware says
Worked with him, golfed with him, skied with him, traveled with him, partied with him, and I miss him. All round great guy, and one of the LAFD’s finest.
Sheldon McKowan says
I first met Dean when he came to FS 4 as our Capt. II. What a great guy to work with. As mentioned by a few others, what a talented guy, so he didn’t stay there too long before he was snatched up for one of his many Special Duty stints. A number of years later, I was honored to be his Staff Assistant in Division I. We had a great 18 months until the powers that be got rid of the Division S/A’s. Dean was an excellent leader, great fire ground officer, and just a fun guy to be around. The best to Dean’s family. RIP my old friend, you will be missed.
Bob DeFeo says
One of LAFD’s best. Smart,a hard worker, good friend, a bon vivant I will always remember all the good times we had with our friends and pals. Roger Gillis and I visited him a couple of months ago. It was obvious he was very sick, but the courage he displayed to us was uplifting. God Bless and Rest In Peace
Alan R. Cowen says
It saddened me to hear of the untimely death of Dean Cathey whom I have known since the mid 1970’s. Our paths crossed many times during our careers, particularly when Dean was assigned to Training. He was easy to talk with and had a certain type of humor that was displayed occasionally. We had many talks when we both were on Special Duty and I surely will miss him. REQUIESCAT IN PACE
Vince Anderson says
Chief Cathey was a tremendous mentor and helped me form a steadfast career foundation. I was connected with him by Chief Hawkes; we met multiple times to outline my dreams and goals in the fire service. At the time, the only credibility to my name was having been an OCFA explorer: A true testament to his humble professionalism.
I can’t say thank you enough for all the guidance and wisdom. It’s a humbling opportunity and unparalleled motivation to carry on his contributions to the profession as the youngest full fledged fire marshal in California.
Rich Guess, MD says
Good guy. We were high school classmates. The tree is getting thinner.
Paul Kelly says
Just found out , as I was trying to find Dean’s e-mail , that he passed away. We served together in Vietnam ( 68-69 ) . Great friend . I also became a Firefighter for Portland,Oregon in 1973 – 1998.
Bill Simpson says
I was stationed with Dean at George AFB Victorville CA, 11/67-5/69! With Det 12 Air Rescue, a great very nice fun guy! Recalled he was very smart and a very hard worker! Loss touch with him when I left for Nam 5/12/69! Did he have a son who recently died was in Army Intelligence with Special Forces buried in CO? I just read that and inquired on his page if anyone knew if his father was Dean?