Often times, you do not understand the full meaning of something you are a part of until after you leave it. That certainly was the case for Brother Steve Dean.
“I did not fully appreciate the true meaning of Kappa Sigma until well after graduation,” he says.
Brother Dean was initiated in the Spring of 1984.
“More than anything, I liked the guys that were in the house at the time,” he says. “It was all about making new friends. When you’re an undergrad, everything is fun at the time and you don’t realize the friends you make then are going to last longer into your life.”
During his time on campus, Brother Dean made the Dean’s List and was a volunteer for ASUA, the student government. At Gamma-Rho, he was assistant house manager, head pit cook and FUBAR pool engineer.
After graduating in 1988 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Economics, he obtained his Master’s Degree in Economics at the University of Washington in 1994.
Th e real meaning of Kappa Sigma began to hit home when he started getting more and more involved as an alum. He became Director of the Gamma-Rho Chapter Housing Corporation and, in continuation of his duties as head pit cook, he helped coordinate the installation and opening of the main kitchen at the new house, managing the final construction.
Today he is the Finance Manager for Bourn Partners, LLC, a commercial real estate development group in Tucson. Previously, he was a commercial real estate manager and First Vice-President of Bank One from 1994-2004.
He volunteers in the Metropolitan Pima Alliance, is the Direc tor of Pima County Real Estate Research Council and President of the Tucson Regional Water Council.
“I didn’t realize that there were a lot more friends that you’d make when you’re an alum,”he says. “You always continue to make friends.”
“Most of my adult friendships were made while I was in school and all of them were due to Kappa Sigma. Without the fraternity, I would probably not have met my wonderful wife, Patty. My professional life has also benefited directly from the alumni network.”
He and Patricia Dean were married in 1987 and today have three children – James, 11, Melissa, 9, and Allison, 4.