http://www.shawnchapmanfh.com/notices/Dean-Levin/

Rest in Peace

Dean should always be remembered on this forum for his posts in which he was critical of museums that did not protect exhibits...allowing the weather, vandals or amateur restorations to ruin otherwise rare and valuable assets.

We'll see you on the main line big fellow!

T7

That's horribly awful news. While we never met in person, Dean was a hoot to correspond with via email, discussing various things, such as Pullman lounge car furniture, his hi-rail truck, etc.

48 is far too young. I'm very sad for his family.

What a loss. I always looked forward to his posts. He shed light on lots of obscure equipment that had been long forgotten. Prayers for his family.

Mike Stillwell
Buena Vista, VA.

Very sad day. I started corresponding with Dean originally here through RyPN, and later via e-mail. Always enjoyed his comments. The San Marino was his pride and joy and his restoration of New York Central diner #448 was beautifully done. The wife and I even managed a short trip with him from Chicago out to South Bend on the San Marino one day. My condolences to his wife, family and friends. You will be missed my friend!


Les

I never knew the man but I have seen his car on the high iron a couple of times.
http://www.trainweb.com/cgi-bin/photos/showpic1.cgi?/mvc/year2000/07/2000g27a/mvc-751f.jpg

48... yeah, that's way too young (especially since he only had a couple of years on me)!

Very sorry to hear about Dean. We spoke a few years ago about NYC 448 and the restoration of the car. The community lost a great resource and preservationist.

The last photos of a piece of equipment that Dean shared with me are these of the Harbor Springs. A rare and interesting bedroom-lounge car that had been designed for the Broadway Limited. It has been allowed to dissolve unprotected in the weather and is now basically junk. He was appalled. He had remembered that at one time the car was intact and complete...now it is falling apart. He shared these August 11...and he was stricken August 14th.

Rainwater now pours into the Lowey designed interior. The car has missing windows...holes in the roof. Maybe 25 years ago the car was moved into the museum on it's own wheels?

Sad news, indeed. An unfortunate loss in preservation of passenger cars. I had just started conversing with Dean about 3 or so years ago via email and phone calls. He came down to Moultrie to see the Georgia Northern business car "Moultrie" but my schedule would not allow me to break away and meet him there. Sure wish I had!

Like a number of members, Dean and I had an email correspondence for about a year and a half. Never met the gentleman. We had a tentative meeting scheduled on board the San Marino toward the end of September 2014, but alas that was not to be. Dean and I had a fairly unique connection, in that his PV and a PV I owned, many years ago (CNJ 97 - et al), were ordered from Pullman in the same month. They were probably constructed in close proximity, and by many of the same builders and craftsmen. The neglect and damage CNJ 97 suffered while in South Florida was a REALLY sore point with Dean. I am going to miss both his emails, as well as his frequent and informative posting to the forum. Bob Havens

I am sad to hear of Dean's passing. Thoughts and prayers for his family and friends. I noticed last Summer that Dean had stopped posting, and I wondered if something had happened.

Although Dean was a private car owner (San Marino) and restorer of passenger equipment, he also photographed many sites and posted the shots here on RyPN. A recent example popped up on the old thread about preserved Livestock cars. I always appreciated Dean taking the time to do this.

Les

Now that is commitment!!!