J. Dean Brubaker, 68, of Tucson, Ariz., and formerly of Lancaster, Pa., died Nov. 5, 2022, of glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer. He was born Jan. 15, 1954, to Aaron O. and Esther (Oberholtzer) Brubaker of Lancaster County, Pa. He was the loving husband of Nancy (Benner) for 44 years.
He graduated from Eastern Mennonite College in 1975 and Millersville University in 2000. Most of his life he taught high school mathematics, at Lancaster Mennonite High School and abroad in service assignments in Rhamu, Kenya, and Mussoorie, India. He also coordinated technology at Lancaster Mennonite.
He loved his family and especially delighted in babies and children. Experiences living abroad affected him deeply, and he enjoyed telling stories of his adventures. He planted scores of trees at his home in Lancaster County and then began planting more trees in Tucson after he and Nancy moved there for her health in 2019. A mathematician at heart, he liked statistics and fractals and had a most interesting way of seeing the world in numbers. He was a generous and selfless person who enjoyed helping others whenever he could.
Survivors include his wife, Nancy; four children, David (Melissa Rautenbach) of Philadelphia, Daniel (Amanda Walker) of Stamford, Conn., Nathan of Arlington, Va., and Jasmine (Cache Hamm) of Denver, Colo.; nine siblings, J. Mark (Beryl), Glen R. (Ellin), Fred E. (Carol), E. Lynn (Debra), Jere C. (Barbara), A. Omer (Charmayne), Alta L. (Wayne Teel), Debra L. (Jude) Gingerich and Deana L. (Tim) Erdman; and six grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a brother, J. Loye Brubaker.
He donated his body to medical research. Memorial gatherings will be held in the Lancaster area around the New Year of 2023.J