Alice Elaine Dean-Daniel

Dean-Daniel—Alice Elaine Dean-Daniel, 77, on December 22, 2018, at home surrounded by loved ones in Kona, Hawaii. Alice was born on November 11, 1941, in Portland, Ore., to Walter Judson Dean and Erma Crawford Dean. She grew up in the small coastal town of Neotsu, Ore., where her father was postmaster and ran a general store on U.S. Highway 101. Alice graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Oregon, majoring in history, with a minor in German. In 1965, Alice moved to Hawaii, where she taught history and became head of the social studies department at Star of the Sea School in Honolulu. She volunteered as a lobbyist for Zero Population Growth.

Alice was an aide at the Hawaii State Legislature in 1978 when she met Tom Daniel, a recently convinced Friend, at a New Year’s Eve party. Alice and Tom married on the island of Oahu the following New Year’s Eve. Their family included Sara, Tom’s daughter from a previous marriage, who was born in Honolulu in 1970. Following the wedding, the family moved to Santa Clara, Calif. Alice was employed by the San Jose Medical Clinic and the University of Southern California Art Department, while Tom worked at Lockheed Martin. They attended Palo Alto (Calif.) Meeting and San Jose (Calif.) Meeting.

Alice and Tom moved to Kona, Hawaii, in June 1982. Their son, Michael, was born that October. Alice was a founding member and active participant in Big Island Meeting in Kona.

Alice served for several years on the Board of Family Support Services of West Hawaii. She founded the Mother’s Hui in 1984 with several other mothers of young children. Alice and Tom joined the Kona Community Chorus (now Kona Choral Society or KCS) at its inception in 1990. She served as an early president and was a longtime member of the board. Alice was instrumental in founding the Kona Children’s Chorus, now KCS Youth Chorus. She served as executive director of the Friends of the Children’s Justice Center of West Hawaii in 2002–2010.

Alice is survived by her husband, Tom Daniel; one child, Michael Daniel (Gina Reynolds); one step-child, Sara Daniel; and one grandchild. She was preceded in death by her beloved older brother, Robert Dean.Alice taught private piano lessons in Kona up until her death. A memorial fund has been established to support young people’s access to piano and music. More info: caringbridge.org/visit/alicedean-daniel/journal.

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