The MMD has lost a good friend.  Dean Randall passed away at his home
in Tacoma, Washington, on Sunday.  Dean had been ill for some time yet
he tried to carry on as usual as much as possible, keeping up with
e-mail correspondence and receiving visitors.

I first became acquainted with Dean through the MMD.  We started
corresponding with each other years ago after he sent me a message
about an article I had written.  It was always a treat to receive an
e-mail from Dean.  He was an excellent writer.  His spelling and
grammar were always correct, he had a huge vocabulary, and he expressed
himself well.

He was full of wit and humor, and quite often, sarcasm, and I make that
last statement with the utmost admiration and respect.  Dean had the
rare ability to zero in on the gist of an issue and come up with just
the right words to make you understand his point.  He always said what
was on his mind and didn't mince words.  But people admired him for it.
Dean was able to elevate cantankerousness to the level of an art form.

I finally got to meet Dean a couple of years ago at the AMICA
convention in Sacramento.  We hit it off right away.  Dean was just
as funny in person as he was in his e-mails and we had a great time
together.

The following year, I had the opportunity to visit a friend in Seattle
and made plans to visit Dean and Ron Babb in nearby Tacoma too.  I had
wonderful visit at their home, listened to the Ampico, and chatted
about many things.  It was a short visit, way too short.  I didn't know
at the time, but this would be the last time I would see Dean.

Dean had a vast knowledge of mechanical music, the depth and breadth of
which was astounding.  His writings in the MMD Archives testify to this
knowledge and we are grateful that he shared it with us.

Dean was not a big man physically but he was huge in terms of his
impact on this world.  He had many, many friends who loved and admired
him and who enjoyed just being around him.  He will be dearly missed.

Joyce Brite