Dean M. Laux 1932-2024

Dean M. Laux, 91, accomplished Army intelligence officer, publisher, editor, and community volunteer, died Tuesday, March 26, 2024. Born Oct. 26, 1932 in Evanston, IL, Dean spent his early years in Dalton, MA, later graduating from Amherst College with a degree in psychology. Drafted soon after college in 1954, Dean went through basic training at Fort Dix in NJ and was selected for counterintelligence training at Fort Holabird in Baltimore. He went through the agent school, was sent to Monterey, CA for German language training, and then went to Germany in 1956. He worked at the American Embassy in Bonn with a special group that advised the U.S. ambassador on intelligence matters, working closely with other U.S. intel operations and with the German equivalent of the FBI. 

After his military service, Dean returned to Amherst College for graduate work in geology and later earned a graduate degree in education at Montclair State College in NJ. Dean’s career in education saw him rise to positions of leadership, including state supervisor of science and math for New Jersey. Eventually, Science Research Associates (SRA), a subsidiary of IBM that was known for its innovative teaching materials, recruited Dean to be its science editor in their Chicago office. In time, Dean became SRA’s editor-in-chief.

Dean eventually returned to MA to become president of D.C. Heath & Company, a Raytheon educational subsidiary and publisher of textbooks for schools and colleges. He left D.C. Heath to co-found Publishing Sciences Group, which acquired numerous medical journals and newsletters. He later founded The Laux Company, Inc., becoming a pioneer in publications for the travel and meetings industry. Among his many projects was Celtics Monthly, the official publication of the Boston Celtics. Dean remained a fan of the Celtics and the New England Patriots his whole life. He sold The Laux Company in 1999 and relocated to Southwest Florida, where he lived for the last 23 years.

Dean’s retirement years were marked by dedication to community service. He volunteered extensively at Venice Regional Bayfront Health, where he served in various capacities, including as volunteer chairman of communications and vice president for ancillary services, and where he produced the monthly newsletter for volunteers. In addition, Dean provided consulting to area small-business owners. 

More recently, Dean served as copy editor for The Boca Beacon and Gasparilla Gazette, and wrote a column, Remembrances, about history and culture. His byline also appeared on the Notable Neighbors column in The Englewood Review. “Writing and editing were his life to the very end,” said his wife, Micki.

Dean is survived by his beloved wife of 36 years, Miryam “Micki” Laux, seven children, and eleven grandchildren. Survivors from his first marriage to the late Ruth H. Laux include son Dennis Laux and wife, Janice, of Aurora, CO; daughter Dianne Laux of River Forest, IL; and daughter Debra Laux Muraiti and husband, Vitaliy, of River Forest, IL. Dean is also survived by son Nicholas Laux of Silverado, CA, from his second marriage to the late Nancy Nichols, as well as by three step-daughters, Rebecca MacDonald and husband, Norman, of Bolton, MA; Karen Waxman and husband, Roger, of Townsend, MA; and Patricia Murray and husband, Sean, of Acton, MA.

Surviving grandchildren include Emily Laux Marcheschi, Alyson Laux Sandwick, Victoria Muraiti, Alexandra Muraiti, Elizabeth Muraiti, Carly Roderick, Lauren Roderick, Norm MacDonald, Andrew MacDonald, Alexandra Waxman, and Koda Waxman.

Surviving great-grandchildren include Ezra Marcheschi, Cora Marcheschi, Cameron Sandwick and Sloane Sandwick.

Dean is survived by his brother Michael Laux of Osprey, FL. He was preceded in death by his brothers, David Laux and Jerrold Laux, and by his sister, Joan Laux Hogan. 

A memorial service will be held for family and friends at a future date.