Latest update April 18th, 2025 8:12 AM
Former Rifleshooter Charles ‘Swanka’ Dean laid to rest
The rifle shooting fraternity bid farewell to one of its dedicated members, the late Charles Dean who was laid to rest on Saturday last following a moving funeral service at the #4 Assembly of God Church, West Coast Berbice with Pastor Lena Daniels as the celebrant.
Dean, born on May 12, 1949, died on November 18 following a brief period of illness much to the shock of his wife Sharolyn Pestano, nine children, family, rifle shooting colleagues and friends.
The late Charles Dean at the Timehri Ranges in April this year.
The always neatly attired Dean was remembered by Captain of the fullbore section of the Guyana National Rifle Association (GNRA) Mahendra Persaud as a reliable individual who was loved by his colleagues during the six plus years of membership.
Dean, Persaud informed was always the first shooter to arrive at the Timehri Rifle Ranges located at Yarrowkabra on the Linden Soesdyke Highway.
“Swanka as we sometimes called him was one of our most dedicated shooters, since joining the association over six years ago he displayed the discipline necessary to become a top shooter. Had he not decided to go and shoot on the range above, he would have still been training to attain his goal and that was to beat national champion Ransford Goodluck.”
Persaud also said that Dean was known for undertaking intense research on shooting techniques and would always upgrade his equipment with a view to improving his scores on the range.
“Dean was so dedicated that he had a Vbull horse painted onto his truck. This has been very popular among visiting shooters from the Caribbean and Great Britain.”
Many of his Caribbean colleagues expressed shock and their condolences via the West Indies Fullbore Shooting website, recognising his friendly disposition and high level of sportsmanship.
Dean, who attended this year’s Caribbean Championships that were held in the Land of the Flying Fish, Barbados, where the Australia Match also took place, was also a regular shot with the Bermuda National team.
This was so since the Bermudians would not have had a full complement of shooters, the Guyanese marksman in the true spirit of Caribbean sportsmanship was always willing to lend his skills to the Bermudians whose captain expressed deep regret at his passing. He said the Bermudians regarded Dean as an Honorary Member of their team.
Apart from representing Guyana at the Caribbean level in May 2013 in Barbados, Dean also represented the Golden Arrowhead in Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados. He was already preparing himself for the championships in Jamaica next year.
Persaud said that the fraternity will certainly miss Dean’s sense of humour, dedication and presence.
He took the opportunity on behalf of GNRA President, Rear Admiral Gary Best, executive and members to express sincere condolences to Dean’s wife, Sharolyn Pestano, his children, Charles Jr., Holly, Leydon, Harvil, Jermin, Denique, Candacy, Narine and Chelsea and relatives.
“May God graciously comfort you and heal your hurt during this challenging time. God does not give us more than we can bear and I am sure that Dean is happy where he is. I am also confident that he has already found the range there, taken his sighting shots and is ready to commence competition.” (Franklin Wilson)
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