Master Bertram Vere Dean, 1¾, was born in London on 21 May 1910; the son of Bertram Frank Dean and Eva Georgette Light. He was the elder brother to Millvina Dean.

In 1912 his parents decided to emigrate to Wichita, Kansas where they hoped to open a tobacconist shop. They boarded the Titanic at Southampton as third class passengers.

Bert, his mother and sister survived the sinking. They reached New York and were quartered in hospital for a time before returning to England aboard the Adriatic.

In his later years Bertram was educated at King Edward's school in Southampton, paid for by compensation from the various Titanic relief funds. He went on to work at Husband's Shipyard in Southampton where he met George Beauchamp who, he learned, may have been in the same lifeboat as he. The two became good friends.

Bert Dean was married to Dorothy Sinclair, who had her own Titanic-credentials: her father had purchased the music shop in Southampton previously owned by Titanic victim Henry Price Hodges. Bert was very fervent about Titanic-related activities: he granted many interviews guested at several conventions, was a frequent visitor to the Southampton City Heritage's offices during the 1980s; he was secretary for 25 years for the Anchor Darts Club at the Royal Oak pub in Woodlands.

Bertram Vere Dean died 14 April 1992, aged 81.  He was cremated at Southampton Crematorium on 22nd April 1992 and his ashes were scattered in St Mary's churchyard, Eling, Totton, Southampton, England.

His widow Dorothy still lives in Southampton.