Marion Hawley Porter Thayer

Marion Hawley Porter Thayer
Marion Thayer, a gifted mother, teacher and writer, and longtime Marin County resident, died October 29, 2003 from complications of rheumatoid arthritis. She was 75.
Mrs. Thayer is well known and loved by her associates and generations of students at San Domenico School in Sleepy Hollow, where she taught English Literature for more than 20 years.
Although her illness left her unable to walk for much of her adult life, she never considered herself disabled. With the help of her husband John, she coped with the disease for over thirty-five years, and died at Marin General Hospital just four days before her seventy-sixth birthday. She will be remembered for her energy, activity, optimism and generosity of spirit.
Born in Oakland, CA in 1927, Mrs. Thayer grew up living in cities all over the world, following the career moves of her father, Livingstone Porter -- a distinguished professor of Slavic languages and history. As a child she lived in Pasadena, Sacramento, Berkeley, Capitola, New Jersey and Prague, Czechoslovakia. As an adult she called Oklahoma and Kansas home for brief periods, but settled with her family in Marin County, where she lived for 44 years.
From 1971 to 1993, she worked with the high school students at San Domenico, teaching them to read with comprehension and to write clearly and effectively. Generations of young women, bolstered by her gentle persuasion and encouragement, learned to write the essay so well in high school, they would often be admitted to upper division college courses as freshmen.
Mrs. Thayer was especially gifted at working with children and adults with learning disabilities. She developed innovative techniques in this field, and often succeeded with people who had tried and failed to read or write using other methods. She tutored privately for many years in both California and Kansas.
Mrs. Thayer received a BA in English from the University of California, Berkeley in 1949 and the Masters Degree in English from the University of Kansas in 1970. In the mid-sixties she wrote the Cliffs Notes versions of two classics of American literature: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Red Badge of Courage. Mrs. Thayer loved poetry, and often wrote poems for friends and family on special occasions.
Mrs. Thayer remained active in a number of clubs organized through the AAUW (American Association of University Women). These included a Literature Group (which she led), a World Affairs group, and an Investment Club.
Mrs. Thayer is survived by her husband John S. Thayer of Corte Madera, son Kyle A. Thayer of San Francisco, daughter Caren Thayer Nelson of San Rafael, sisters Alice Thomas of Capitola and Florence Grossenbacher of Oakland, two grandchildren -- Joshua M. Thayer and Molly M. Nelson, daughter-in-law Maria Thayer, son-in-law Eric Nelson, and numerous nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Gathering will be held early in 2004.