Dean LaPole

[SS425HP]

My good friend, and long time racing partner, Dean LaPole, lost his battle with cancer at about 1:00 AM this morning. He was at the convention with me. We had started with the 409s in 63, sometimes as a team, and sometimes as adversaries. It was always a good time. Might not have thought that then, but later on we both realized we had something together. We had the funny car together. And after the convention, he got the craze for the 409 again. That's why we got together to build the headers. Not sure what I'm going to be able to do with that.
Dean talked a lot about the people he met at the convention. He had a good time with us. He was working on some very good stuff for the motors. He knew a lot about making anything run better. And he didn't mind working on them.
Dean knew a lot of people in racing. don't know of many that didn't like him, or respect him. He could be overbearing at times, but most of the time, he was right. He knew his cars.
Gonna miss him. I'll bet right now he is putting on a fire suit, and getting ready to make another pass.

Fred

[walkerheaders]

:( :( :( :cry :cry :cry

Fred, i dont have the right words to ease your grief in this passing of your best friend Dean. Heaven has called up a good man, and we are left sad and empty with his loss. I never met the man, but by your stories of him, I feel as though i knew him, and he would want us to celebrate his life rather than grieve over his passing. May the angels speed him to heaven, may you and his family grieve with the peace of knowing he is now in God's hands.

[CDNpontiac409guy]

I'll bet right now he is putting on a fire suit, and getting ready to make another pass.

Fred



And well he should be.
Fred, in our conversations you spoke much of him... and I gained tremendous respect just from listening to your stories.
The only concolation I can offer is, it would seem that despite his terrible illness, he was able to "get in there" till the end.

Very sorry to hear of this, Fred, and our thoughts are with you and yours :hug

Aubrey & Charlene

[jim_ss409]

I'm really sorry to hear about Dean. I was fortunate enough to meet him at the convention. He seemed like a good guy. I think he lived a big life.

[fatride]

I had the pleasure of meeting Dean at the convention in KC. I talked with him at breakfast a couple of times and at the show at the convention center. I would like to add , "any friend of Freds" and to elaborate that with what little contact I had with Dean left me wanting for more. I knew within the first five minutes that I wanted to hear more from this guy! I am sure that the people that were close to Dean will miss his being there. Hell I didn't know him well and I miss him! I feel fortunate to have met Dean and will remember him. I hope that he thought enough of me that we may have become good friends. :cheers Dean.

[JimKwiatkowski]

Fred,I'm sorry you lost your friend,but I heard you talk about Dean at Norwalk and he sounds like he was a Quality Guy.

[MK IISS]

Fred: I don't know what to say....I'm so sorry.

[gearhead409]

sorry to hear of your loss. you are fortunate to have shared a life and good memories with this type of friend. will be thinking of you.

[Tony Salins]

Fred, You and Dean's family will be in our thoughts and prayers.

Tony and Bonnie

[ww19581965]

I Am Very, Deeply Sorry To Hear About The Death Of Dean Lapole. I Met Him At The
KC Convention Last Year, And, Enjoyed Talking To Him. Very Knowledgeable-Great
Guy-He Will Be Missed Alot. My Prayers And Thoughts Are Truly With Both The
Lapole Family And Fred's(SS425's) Family, At This Time. Regards:"ww".

[oil4kids]

Just a note, during the convention former Dick Harrell Performance Center employee Dave Libby shown in photo shared some of his memories of Lapole and his 409. Im sorry to hear about Dean,

[bjburnout]

Fred
I'm very sorry to hear about your friend Dean.

Your memories of all the good times and stories will keep him alive in our hearts for a long time.

Take care Fred

bj

[JimKwiatkowski]

I just found this entry in our Guest Book

Chris LaPole


IP: Logged
My father Dean passed away 6/09/05, It is really nice to know that he had so many friends out there.

Chris

(posted: Sun Jun 12 20:11:45 2005) (remove)

[348NUT]

I'm so sorry to hear about Dean. I also had the priviledge of meeting him at the convention. My prayers will be with you Fred and with his family I'm sure he was an encouragment to you. I was glad to see you spending time together. I'm sure you have been an encouragement to him too. I haven't been here much lately but I'm always available if you need anything. Aaron

[Quickshift409]

Fred, Sorry to hear that your long time friend Dean passed away. He will live on in the racing stories that are told. The good time memories that he gave us will last forever.
I wish his family well.
Shan Dalley