HJR 286

Celebrating the life of Robert Dean Clary.
Agreed to by the House of Delegates, March 10, 2026
Agreed to by the Senate, March 12, 2026
WHEREAS, Robert Dean Clary, a deeply dedicated firefighter and a beloved son, husband, father, grandfather, and friend, died on March 2, 2026; and
WHEREAS, Dean Clary was born in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, to Marvin and Louise Clary; and
WHEREAS, after attending college for a few years, Dean Clary ultimately decided to pursue a career in public safety, working for various departments as a firefighter and paramedic; and
WHEREAS, in 1984, Dean Clary joined the Gasburg Volunteer Fire Department, and in 1985, he joined the Central Rescue Squad, then subsequently served as president of the squad; and
WHEREAS, over the course of his career, Dean Clary answered countless calls for service in a variety of emergency situations and was a trusted mentor to other firefighters; he served for 20 years as an adjunct fire instructor and earned many awards and accolades for his commitment to safeguarding members of the public and excellence in fire safety education; and
WHEREAS, Dean Clary retired from Chesterfield County Fire and Emergency Medical Services as a lieutenant in 2024, concluding more than 28 years of distinguished service; and
WHEREAS, outside of his career, Dean Clary was a well-known history and trivia buff, an avid NASCAR fan, and a supporter of the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League; and
WHEREAS, predeceased by his father, Marvin, Dean Clary will be fondly remembered and greatly missed by his loving wife, Sandra; his children, Adam, Stephanie, Brittany, and Timothy, and their families; his mother, Louise; and numerous other family members, friends, and fellow firefighters; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby note with great sadness the loss of Robert Dean Clary; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the family of Robert Dean Clary as an expression of the General Assembly's respect for his memory.