Dean Rivett

Dean Rivett was a man of the woods, a creator of art, and a pillar of strength for those who loved him. He passed away on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, leaving behind a legacy defined by his observant nature, his hardworking hands, and a life lived deeply in tune with the natural world.

Dean's journey began with a natural curiosity that often led him the long way home from school. Those detours shaped him into an exceptional cook, a skill his wife Judy would come to cherish. From his mother he inherited a delicate artistic touch, and from his father he learned the grit and ingenuity of a true craftsman. These skills allowed him to fix a remote camp generator when no one else could, and they later enabled him to master the craft of traditional rope making, founding Classic Rope Fenders.

A graduate of Sir Sandford Fleming in Forestry and Anderson Collegiate, Dean dedicated 25 years to protecting the Canadian wilderness as a Conservation Officer and Firefighter, an achievement honoured by the Ontario Civil Service Quarter Century Club. He was never truly alone in the bush, accompanied by his loyal hunting partners Jocko, his Golden Retriever, and Odie, his Beagle. In later years he took great joy in being “dog-grandpa” to Dominic the Dachshund, his favourite taste tester and fellow lover of good food.

Dean played hard, whether on the wrestling mat in high school, in the penalty box for the Lindsay Lunkers, or in the quiet of a hunting blind, on a ski trail, or at a fishing hole. His interests ranged from herbal medicine and Indigenous history to wildlife photography and baking. His greatest adventure began on May 23, 1997, at the Bracebridge Legion, where he met Judy Semple. After a workplace injury left him in a cast, Judy cared for him, and they remained together ever since. Dean’s heart grew even larger when he became father to Stacy, who officially adopted him as her dad.

He was a beloved brother to Ted (Karen), Marvyn (Verla), Vern (Val), and his “beautiful baby sister” Nancy (Vern), and now joins his brother Keith. He was a proud uncle to Laura, Jackie, Hannah, Sarah, Andrew, Julie, James, and Michelle. In January 2019, Dean began a courageous battle with Alzheimer’s. Even as the illness progressed, the essence of the man who loved the smell of pine and the taste of a home-cooked meal remained.