Clarissa Bowman Dyer

1922 - 2020

Clarissa Bowman Dyer
1922-2020
Clarissa Bowman Dyer, of Hillsborough, passed away peacefully on December 4, surrounded by her family both present and virtual. Born in Oak Park, Illinois, to Ida and Harry Bowman, Clarissa was the second of three children. She and her family moved to San Francisco in 1928, and later to Redwood City, where she attended Sequoia High School, lettering in every sport she played.

Clarissa met her love match, George Dyer, on a blind date, arranged by her sister. They married in 1943, and spent the next 59 years in Hillsborough, raising their children and enjoying a richly rewarding life of work and play.

During WWII Clarissa volunteered to meet the wounded as they arrived for treatment in San Francisco and often spoke of how difficult it was to maintain her composure in the face of so much sadness and hurt. She was active in the Crippled Children's Society and Junior League and was a model for many of the League's fundraising fashion shows. She chaired the League's most successful show, filling 1,200 seats at the Sheraton Palace Hotel- a record not matched since. Clarissa was a founding member of the Northern California Chapter of the ARCS (Achievement Rewards for College Scientists) Foundation and was a life long learner. She loved to jog long before it became popular, played tennis, golf and was a member of the Cypress Point and Burlingame Country Clubs.

Clarissa enjoyed travel, orchid collecting, opera, car races, party planning, bridge, and her many friends but, above all else, she loved her family. "Tutu"," as she was affectionately called by her grand and great-grandchildren, loved spending time with her clan. No matter the activity, from fly-fishing and snow skiing to attending the opera, Clarissa never missed an opportunity to be with her family. She was a memorable beauty inside and out and will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved her.

Clarissa leaves her daughter Linda Millard (Steve), son George C. Dyer, Jr. (Caroline) grandchildren, Prentis Hale IV (Tracy), Christina Hale, Elissa Knight (Michael), Alice Sutro (Eliot), Pierce Warnecke (Maria), George C. Dyer III (Gosia), seven great-grandchildren as well as her many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband George, sister Adalene Ross and brother Harry Bowman.

Funeral services will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations in Clarissa's memory may be made to the Northern California Chapter of the ARCS Foundation.