WWW.WHIDBEYWATERFILTERS.COM - Key Persons

Dean Petrich is a positive, high-energy, creative person with a constant sense of humor and a highly inquisitive mind. While he lives in the present, he thinks globally about the future. His favorite definition of "happiness" is "making progress towards one's goals." Because Dean is incessantly making progress towards achieving his endless list of goals, he is always happy.

Ted Dragoo was Dean's mentor and role model. He was the most positive and creative person Dean had ever met. By himself Mr. Dragoo developed an entire elementary school orchestra, and taught every instrument to each of the members. In addition, he created an annual musical summer camp, complete with music theory classes, instrument instruction, and putting it all together into a full orchestra. For years, Mr. Dragoo would come to Dean's house to teach private violin lessons. Dean would tape record every lesson, and would play each part of a duet so Dean could practice by playing the other part along with the tape. One day Mr. Dragoo brought an audio tape of a string quartet; he had dubbed himself playing each part, so the result was four violins playing perfect harmony. Another day, as Mr. Dragoo came to the door he bent over and smelled the flowers, saying "Take time to smell the roses, for they may never smell sweeter." Mr. Dragoo's positive attitude, creativity, drive, dedication, and love of music was a powerful influence in Dean's life.