SANTA FE – Rob Dean, a former editor who led the
The paper announced that Dean died Sunday unexpectedly at his Santa Fe home. He was 65.
The cause of death has not been determined.
Born and raised in Harlowton, Montana, served as metro editor at the News Tribune in Tacoma, Washington, and taught journalism at Pacific Lutheran University before coming to Santa Fe.
He took over the New Mexican after former owner Robert McKinney won a court decision returning control of the newspaper to him from conglomerate Gannett.
“Rob brought a lot of stability to the New Mexican after changes in ownership and the great many editors the newspaper went through,” said Robin Martin, owner of the New Mexican and daughter of McKinney. “He really cared about his employees and people in the community who wouldn’t otherwise have had a voice in the newspaper.”
Dean retired in 2013. A few years later, he was chosen to lead Searchlight New Mexico, an investigative journalism project co-founded by former New Mexican editor Ray Rivera.
“He was simply a nonpareil human being and that flowed through his work as a journalist and a leader,” said Phill Casaus, editor of the New Mexican. “That influence isn’t just at The New Mexican or at Searchlight New Mexico. It’s in New Mexico itself.”
Dean is survived by his wife and two sons, Ryan and Peter Dean. The family will soon plan and announce a memorial service.
