Dean Orville Kessler

Dean Orville Kessler, 84 of Carlsbad, California, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family on Saturday, April 27, 2024 at Pacifica House in Carlsbad. Dean was born in York, Pennsylvania on October 20, 1939.

Dean is preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Gertie Kessler of York, Pennsylvania.  

Dean is survived by his wife of 58 years, Jo Marie (Shearer) Kessler; son Mike Kessler and wife Jocelyn; daughter, Michele Burdette and husband Dax; sister Dolores Lease of York, Pennsylvania; sister Judy Feeser of York, Pennsylvania; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Dean graduated from West York High School in 1957 and Lehigh University in 1962 with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. Upon graduation, Dean worked for AAI Corporation in Cockeysville, Maryland.  In 1979, Dean and his family relocated to southern California where Dean worked for Cubic Corporation.  Dean’s engineering work focused on the development of governmental defense systems for the US government and its allies.

Dean had a gentle spirit, a man of few words with a ready smile.  Everyone who knew Dean couldn’t help but like him.  A devoted family man, Dean’s best friend was his lovely wife Jo.  Together they were partners for countless games of bridge and rounds of golf.  They both enjoyed traveling and together saw much of Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Australia and South America.  In his free time, Dean was a voracious reader and enjoyed playing number games, like Sudoku and Free Cell.  Dean thought Jo made the best Philly Cheesesteak and in recent years enjoyed his daughter Michele’s lasagna, but his true culinary love affair was with ice cream.  Dean’s quiet demeanor, ease with math and numbers, and wry sense of humor were inherited by his son Mike, while his kindness, generosity, and love of family live on in his daughter Michele.

Following cremation, a private celebration of life will be held by the family at a date to be determined.  Donations can be made in Dean’s memory to the American Society for the Prevention of the Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) or a charity of one’s choice.