Jay Cecil Salyer Jr.

Salyer, Jay Cecil Jr., Esq., aged 55, of Fort Lauderdale, FL and Waterbury, CT died on August 27th of heart failure at his home on 1100 S. Ocean Blvd. He is survived by his two sons, Matthew and Andrew Carey Salyer of Waterbury, CT, and by Mrs. Diana Carey Salyer, also of Waterbury, CT. He leaves behind also his devoted brother Thomas, and many beloved friends, relatives, and professional associates. Mr. Salyer was born in Louisville, KY, the son of Jay Cecil and Carolyn Rice Salyer, both teachers, on Sept. 9th, 1947. He attended grammar school in Broward County, and completed his secondary education at Stranahan High School, also in Broward County. Upon graduation, Mr. Salyer attended Harvard University and received his B.A. cum laude in English Literature. While at Harvard, he was honored with unique opportunities to study poetry as a special student under the direction of Robert Lowell, and Robert Fitzgerald. He was also awarded for the expectional quality of his intellectual work by M.A. Finley, the renowned classicist. A poet throughout his life, he never published, and few have seen the work of the man Robert Fitzgerald declared: "possessed all the great and tragic genius of the South." Many, however, have seen something of its source in the poetic universality of his compassion, his self-sacrifice, and his quiet dignity. Before attaining his Juris Doctorate from The University of Miami, and passing the bar in 1975, Mr. Salyer held teaching positions at private academies in Connecticut and the American Virgin Islands, and in the Broward County public school system. For the past twenty-eight years, Mr. Salyer has practiced law in the Broward County area. He was a deeply spiritual man full of the enthusiasm of Christian joy, deeply moved by a gentle and passionate apprehension of the beautiful in the arts, in the lush beauty of Old Florida, and in the fullness of human love carried to the heart. He will be greatly missed, the last gentle man, and the last gentleman. A memorial will be held at the Family Tribute Center, 2895 Davie Rd., on Wednesday, the second of September from 5 - 8 pm. All are welcome to attend. Funeral Mass will be held next week at St. Margaret's Roman Catholic Church, in Waterbury, CT where he is currently being remembered at Mass all week. Burial will be with the Carey Family in Middlebury, CT "...that in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven." Matthew 18:10. May he know the peaceful embrace of our blessed Lord.