Deceased Alum: Dean McKnight
Date Of Birth:
Date Deceased: 01-26-2011
Age at Death: 42
Cause of Death: Heart Attack
Alum City: Los Angeles
Alum State: CA
Alum Country: USA
Survived By:

On January 26, 2011 Dean died from a heart attack in Los Angeles, CA. Dean, son of the late Dr. Dean McKnight, is survived by his mother Shirley McKnight, and brother Bill McKnight both of Alexandria, VA. Dean was a graduate of Alexandria's West Potomac High School where he lettered in both varsity baseball and football while being elected vice president of his senior class.

After high school, Dean was invited to try out as a catcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team and Dean was offered an athletic scholarship to play football for Boston University. Dean attended the University of Florida, Gainesville where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.

Dean worked first as a mortgage banker and then as a licensed stockbroker for Paine Webber in Sarasota, Florida. After several years of working in financial markets, Dean found his passion by transitioning into a successful career working in television news. Dean began his career as a news reporter for WJHG TV in Panama City Florida, worked his way up to reporting for WMAJ TV in Macon, Georgia, and finally a morning anchor for WJTV in Jackson, Mississippi.

Dean McKnight will be most remembered for his quick wit, endearing smile, and love for his family and friends. Dean was remembered in a memorial mass at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Alexandria, VA. Dean McKnight will be interred in Saint Pius X Cemetery in Rochester, New York.

Donations in Dean's memory may be made to the American Heart Association or St. Joseph Catholic Church in Alexandria, VA.

Published in The Washington Post on Feb. 11, 2011 REF: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/washingtonpost/obituary.aspx?n=dean-mcknight&pid=148510176

- Submitted by Eric Gurtner (FHHS '86) on November 4, 2014