Eric Dey, who worked as a professor in the school of Education until October, died unexpectedly while traveling Nov. 5. He was 47.

Dey was born Jan. 13, 1962, in Pullman, Wash., and grew up in Wichita, Kansas. He graduated from the University of Wichita with a bachelor's degree and master's degree, then earned his doctorate at UCLA.

Dey was a faculty member in the School of Education; he became a full professor in September. He recently had relocated to Charlottesville, Va., after he was offered what he thought of as "the job of a lifetime" in the Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia, colleagues say.

Beyond his many academic accomplishments, colleagues remember him as kind, generous, brilliant, funny and compassionate.

Dey loved cycling and was an avid fan of Lance Armstrong; he proudly wore his "Livestrong" bracelet and gave bracelets away to everyone he knew, friends say. He enjoyed technology and shared any new gadget he acquired with everyone. He also loved bags and always found a reason to add a new one to his collection.

"As we mourn his loss, we also remember his goodness. He reached out to so many people — he gave of himself every day," says Casey White, Dey's partner, and assistant dean for medical education and professor of medical education at the Medical School. "He had so many friends; we are all heartbroken with this loss."

Dey is survived by White, his sister Ann, parents Glenn Dey and Marlene Jones, and his aunts, uncles and cousins.
A service to celebrate Dey's life will be held in January in Ann Arbor. Donations in his honor may be made to the Livestrong Foundation.


—Submitted by Casey White, Medical School