Fred Dyson

Dyson, Fred SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. Fred Dyson died Monday, October 22, 2007 at Saratoga Hospital after a short illness. He was 93. Born on October 20, 1914 in Manhattan, he is the son of the late Fred and Eva Pascoe Dyson. Fred attended Valley Stream Central High School, graduating in 1932. Interested in the Revolutionary War, he decided at the age of 21 to bicycle from Valley Stream, Long Island to Quebec City, following the battle route of Benedict Arnold. The following year, he bicycled to Montreal. Fred worked at the Brooklyn Trust Company as a teller from 1933 to 1940. He graduated from St. John's University in 1939 with a bachelor's degree in business administration. He was active as a Boy Scout counselor for several years during the 1940s. From 1940 to 1961, Fred worked for WMCA Radio as comptroller and then from 1961 to 1976 as a traveling auditor for ASCAP (American Society for Composers, Authors and Publishers), traveling to 47 of the 48 continental states, excluding Colo. During the 1970s, he served as the treasurer for the Mineola branch of the Salvation Army. Fred was active in the Farmingdale Theatrical Group as both an actor and president, and later in the Huntington Theatrical Group. In addition, he was a very active member for many years and a former treasurer of the Farmingdale-Bethpage Historical Society. Fred resided in Farmingdale for 58 years before he and his wife moved to Saratoga Springs to be closer to family. In addition to his parents, Fred is predeceased by one brother, Albert Dyson; a sister, Hazel Dyson; and one grandson, Kenneth Westerberg, who died on January 1, 2001. He is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Dorothy B. Dyson, whom he married on June 14, 1940; three daughters, Barbara (Arthur) Westerberg of Pittsburgh, Pa., Jo-Ellen (Ronald) Martino of Geneva, N.Y., Juliette (Kurt) Swartz of Ballston Lake, N.Y.; one son, Robert (Joanne) Dyson of Wappinger Falls, N.Y.; five grandsons, Karl Westerberg, Peter (Pamela) Dyson, Michael Martino, Michael and Jeffery Swartz; four granddaughters, Jenny and Amy Martino, Pamela (Joseph) Tumminello and Jacqueline Dyson; also several cousins, nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Saturday, October 27, 2007, in the Saratoga Room at Woodlawn Commons, 156 Lawrence Street. Burial will be private at the convenience of the family. Memorials may be made in Fred's name to the Farmingdale-Bethpage Historical Society, P.O. Box 500, Farmingdale, NY 11735; St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 290 Conklin St., Farmingdale, NY 11735; or to Bethesda Episcopal Church, 41 Washington St., Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. Arrangements are under the direction of the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes of 628 North Broadway (584-5373). Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com