James Dewey, 99; longtime Grossmont High Teacher and Former La Mesan

Not even a world war could keep James Dewey from his beloved teaching position at Grossmont High School. 

He started at Grossmont in 1939, but as tensions heated up in World War II, Dewey was drafted into the U.S. Army’s 81st Infantry Division, and served four years before returning to the La Mesa-El Cajon area and picking up right where he left off.

James Russell Dewey died March 14, 2011, at age 99, in Lakeside.

After seeing action at Angaur Island and Peleliu Island in the Pacific, Dewey continued teaching at Grossmont until 1955, when he transferred to El Cajon Valley High School.

Dewey was buried last month in a private service at Singing Hills Memorial Park, but his survivors request that memorial donations be made to the National Park Foundation, nationalparks.org, or the charity of your choice.

More information on Dewey can be found on his official announcement.

Other La Mesans in memoriam:

Grossmont High alumni from the 1940s might remember cheerleader , who went on to earn multiple degrees at SDSU.