Remembering Dean
Dean (Dino) Vassilimis
1962-2001

Your photos remind me that you are gone
That you will never pick up my guitar when you visit me
And say ‘Hey listen to my new song’
That you will never ring me again and say ‘come over for a jam’
And we’ll laugh, and play and have those magic moments musicians have where were feel transported and transformed
It feels like happiness.
I’ve got your favourite guitar, the Maton
The one you played the most
It feels alive on my lap as the sound emanates out
I feel you when I play it
The strings resonate as I strum the chords and it radiates the space around me.
Last night I dreamt you came over 
You took your guitar out of its case and played for me
I heard the music and I heard the song.
You sang to me beautifully
But now I only remember these words
 “there’s no reason, no reason, no reason, no reason, tender,
 let it out and operate your senses”. 
Thank you for all the times you come to me in my dreams.
I miss you DV.
Love never dies.
Anna Vassilimis, 2001
I was very sad to have learned of Dean's passing. I met him on several occasions in the late 1990's on our traditional South Coast Golf trip. As one of the youngsters in the group, Dean was very kind with a great sense of humour and made me feel part of the gang. I remember Dean was a late call-up one year with him leaving Sydney late on a Sunday evening after getting someone to take care of work (I think he was running a bakery at the time) and driving through the night, he made it to Tura Beach Golf Club in time for our 6:00am tee-off. Dean was such wonderful company in the time I spent with him as we enjoyed some great games of golf with an afternoon BBQ and beers that followed. Sorely missed. James Dunne.
I have so many memories of Dino . All positive, he was infectious. A true friend , a loyal friend . I still have a watch he gifted me for my 21st which he had engraved . I think about him often even these days as I am now a grandfather but I still haven’t forgotten the friendship we had .
John 
I did not know Dean. I met Anna, his only sibling, in 2002, a few months after my own only sister died suddenly at the age of 33. We met at a siblings chapter of Compassionate Friends. After a few meetings we attended together, we kept in touch, in spite of distance, circumstance and grief, we remained in touch. Anna was (is) always my lifeline. She was someone I knew in this world who had experienced a similar loss - and somehow, when I was in my most terrible, most quiet, deepest slump - I felt just a bit better knowing she was alive, living, trying to survive, and would understand without words, what I was going through. Here's what I think Dean would have been like in real life, through knowing Anna: I think he would have been spontaneous and impulsive - like a big kid. I know he loved music, and how we are transcended by it. I think he really loved his sister, and would wish he had spent more time with her earlier. I think he would have been funny, loving, smart. I think he lives on through Anna, who has made a life with David and Finlay and Sabrina: as a tribute to Dean, and her own marvellous powerful yet vulnerable life force. I think his sons are very blessed that he is their father. I thank God I met Anna, that she lives and thrives, that she still misses Dean, as much as I miss Eileen, my only sister. It's never easy, and it never goes away - but we heal slowly, and we are always grateful for each other. I personally do not think that death is the end. It cannot be, because the ones we lose live on in us, so there is an afterwards. Beautiful work Anna! He would be so proud. xSue
I remember your gorgeous smile and contagious laughter, there was never a dull moment around you. I remember the bbq's and party's at your parents house. I would be watching you play snooker in the billiard room, being one of the youngest children,we were not allowed to play, but you would sneak me in the billiard room to have a go when no one was watching. That is the person I remember, always thinking of everyone's feelings, a heart of gold. My brother told me a few stories from when you were neighbours, playing darts, between them they were lazy to walk back to the dart board to pull out the darts, so they came up with a bright plan to tie a string on the dart and pull it when they finished throwing them, lol we all know how great that would have turned lol. Despina. Xx
Having the same name as Dean and being the first cousin I did always have a close association with him. Ive always known my cousin as being a happy go lucky person, always looking for a positive spin in what ever situation he found himself in. I myself have yet to master this, yet he always found time to console anyone around him. I have missed his smiling face which is forever etched in my memory. I still remember a football match where he took an intercept and raced 90 metres and beat more experienced players to score a try. You always have a close relationship with me.  Dino.
I remember all the times we went camping and sitting around the fire and singing along to you playing the guitar. I miss all the times we used to hang out together because even though we are cousins we were all best friends as well. We used to make up little dances when we were younger and we used to walk to your house and hang out in the back yard. I miss you every day but as all good things, you are always in my heart I love and miss you xxx
Tina Vitelli
My fondest memories of my cousin is when we used to go away to the river for skiing and at night all the cousins and close friends would sit around the fire and with Dino and Romeo leading would sing, My favorite song was Stairway to Heaven, even though I was the youngest that image never leaves my mind and Dean you are always in my heart. Taken way too early.
Joanne Andronicou
Beautifully written Anna. My fondest memory of Dean (Dino) was when we were all going to school together and him and John Legato and his other friends kidnapped me and we all went to the beach. Loved that day and miss him with all my heart. It made me cry reading what you had written. God bless him and I am sure he is looking down on us with my dad along side him. Love Anne xxxx
I went ten pin bowling today, 11th August 2002, in Dubbo where I teach kindergarten. I remembered the way DV used to approach the line and bowl, with sheer power and speed, and the pin action (basically smashing them) and I smiled and felt good. 
Dean's Sister, Anna