Turner Auctions + Appraisals is pleased to present strategy board games from the Estate of Peter Dean, Part 2, on Sunday, September 12, 2021. Offering more than 170 lots from a passionate collector for over 30 years, the sale features strategy board games of fantasy, sci-fi, history, wars, and battles. Most are unopened; many are collector’s or special editions.
Peter Dean (1974-2020) was, in the best sense of the word, a ‘geek’ – that is, an expert or enthusiast obsessed with a hobby or intellectual pursuit and with the newest, coolest, trendiest things that their subject has to offer. Born and raised in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, Peter was interested and skilled in computers from an early age, later graduating with honors from the University of Manitoba in computer science.
Opting for industry instead of additional schooling, Peter began his career working for several companies in Western Canada. After a time, however, he sought a larger pool of creative, like-minded people, and was drawn to Northern California’s Silicon Valley – the nexus and epicenter of high-tech innovation, excitement, and activity. After working briefly for several start-ups there, he joined Amazon as a software developer in areas devoted to Search. Amazon’s corporate culture was an ideal fit for Peter, and he spent most of his career there. Tragically, in 2020, his life was cut short by cancer.
Peter was an avid collector of strategy board games and fantasy miniatures (to come) for over 30 years. His interest began around age 12, beginning with Dungeons & Dragons, then moving to Axis & Allies. This was the first major strategy game he played, and it got him hooked. He became an early adopter of strategy games and extensions; with new games, he would study them and share information, often purchasing them from Kickstarter, a funding platform that helps creative projects come to life. Acquiring hundreds of games over three decades, Peter would play in game groups, his home, or at Amazon after work. These twin passions of collecting and playing board games were ones that continued unabated with zeal and pleasure throughout his life.
