Dean Khym, of Chesterfield, Missouri, passed away on August 20, 2023, after an extended illness. He was 62 years old.

Born in Rochester, New York, Dean grew up in Bay Village, Ohio, and earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in aerospace engineering at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Before his retirement, he enjoyed a long career as an engineer at McDonnell Douglas, later Boeing, near St. Louis, Missouri.

Focused and meticulous in all areas of his life, Dean pursued challenging hobbies and developed technical expertise in a range of demanding skills. A talented photographer from a young age, he was just a teenager when he set up a home darkroom, where he developed his own film and learned to produce fine black-and-white prints. He also excelled in tae kwon do and was still in high school when he earned his black belt. Outdoors, Dean thrived as a dedicated road cyclist and rode in numerous long-distance events. His lifelong passion for all things aviation motivated him to earn his pilot’s license, as well.

Dean cared deeply for his cat, Chester, a former stray whom he rescued in the early 2000s. Chester, who passed away earlier this year, was Dean’s loyal friend and enjoyed a long and contented life in Dean’s home.

Dean leaves two sisters, Robin (Arizona) and Linda (California), as well as four cousins (Vermont).

Services will be private. If you wish to honor Dean, please consider making a donation to the University of Michigan (https://umich.edu/giving/) or to Open Door Animal Sanctuary, House Springs, Missouri (https://odas.org).

“Grief is the price we pay for love.” —Queen Elizabeth II