Eight Bells: Dean Cady

Boating enthusiast Dean Sanders Cady entered Eternal Life on July 28, 2025, at the age of 94 years, in Shorewood, Wisconsin. Born on October 29, 1930 in Saginaw, Michigan, Dean was a devoted family man, a passionate sailor, and a dedicated lawyer.

Dean began his lifelong passion for competitive sailing as a young boy on Lake Huron’s Saginaw Bay where his first outings involved rowing a small boat a good distance out into the Bay and then racing back to shore using a beach umbrella filled with wind and steering with an oar fastened as a tiller and rudder.

He became truly “hooked on sailing” while attending Michigan State University, graduating in 1952. Dean went on to serve in the U.S. Army, including eight months in the Korean War. Upon his return, he pursued a law degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he met his beloved wife, Lois. Dean and Lois were married after Dean’s graduation from law school and settled in Whitefish Bay, WI to raise their family.

With Lake Michigan just steps away, Dean was able to continue to pursue his passion for sailing, while also starting his legal career, eventually becoming a partner in the law firm of Weidner, Pagels & Cady, where he practiced law for over 55 years. Dean also served for many years as President of the Board of Directors of Norris, Inc., where he was able to share his love of sailing with at-risk youth by starting a sailing school and serving as the primary instructor.

Dean’s love for sailing led him and Lois to join the Milwaukee Yacht Club, where he was deeply involved in sailboat racing. Dean also became involved in judging and race management, working with the United States Sailing Association as a race judge for many national and international regattas.

He was also involved with the Lake Michigan Sail Racing Federation, which awards grants to young sailors. Dean received numerous accolades for his efforts throughout the years, most notably, his induction into the Lake Michigan Sailing Hall of Fame in March of 2023, coming a long way from his rowboat and umbrella days.

Dean lived a long, active and fulfilling life. He will be fondly remembered and dearly missed.

Dean was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Lois, all four of his siblings, Geraldine, Frederick, Donald, and David, son-in-law, James D. Smyth, and granddaughter, Alex Smyth.

He is survived by and was the beloved father to five children: Dana (Michael) C. Blumberg, Karen (Joseph) A. Balistreri, Sue Cady Smyth, Jeanne (Douglas) Cady-Brown, and Dean S. Cady, Jr.; and the proud granddad of 13 and six great-grandchildren. In addition to immediate family, Dean is survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and good friends.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Lake Michigan Sail Racing Federation, a non-profit charitable association that provides financial assistance to young sailors for their educational and competitive efforts.

Source: https://www.feerickfuneralhome.com/obituary/dean-cady