Dr. Thomas C. Dyer

DYER, DR. THOMAS C. Longtime educator, Dr. Thomas C. Dyer, died peacefully in his sleep September 26, 2003 at the age of 91. Tom was born on February 8, 1912 in Pecos, Texas, the seventh child of George and Laura Dyer. In 1924 the family moved to Los Angeles where Tom graduated from Manual Arts High School in 1930. A born leader, he attended UCLA where he was President of the Junior Class, graduating in 1935. He went on to earn his Masters and Doctorate in Education at USC. Tom began teaching at Excelsior High School in Norwalk, Calif, in 1936 before moving to the Los Angeles Unified School District as Vice Principal at Hollenbeck Junior High then Principal at Van Nuys High, Roosevelt High and Narbonne High Schools retiring in 1971. He continued to teach graduate students in education at USC and Cal State Los Angeles. While at Roosevelt, in 1963, he helped establish the first Kiwanis club in the East Los Angeles area. During WWII, Tom joined the Army rising to the rank of Major in the Inspector General ' s Office while serving in New Guinea and the Philippines. He was Officer of the Day at the Presidio in San Francisco on December 7, 1941 and always remembered the concern that the Japanese were on their way east to bomb San Francisco. He married his first wife, Mildred Dunn, February 13, 1941, a marriage that would last 51 years until her death in 1992. They lived in Pasadena and Newport Beach. At the time of his death he was residing in Oceanside with his second wife of 8 years, Lois Wiess who survives him along with his daughters, Christina Dyer of San Diego, son-in-law, Steve McCann and Dr. Cheryl Dyer companion Dr. Loretta Mayer, of Flagstaff, and grandson Trevor Dyer McCann as well as his stepdaughters Martina Rakowski, companion Phyllis Russo, Diane Kendall and husband Chuck and step granddaughter, Caroline and Joe Pecharka. Viewing will be at 9 a.m. and Services will be held at the Lesneski Chapel in San Clemente on Saturday, October 4, at 11 a.m. Donations are suggested to the San Diego Education Fund, which provides scholarships to college students who wish to become teachers, at 3963 Lamont St. SD, CA 92109.