Longtime FDU Professor, Mendham Resident Passes Away

MENDHAM, NJ — Obituary provided by the Bailey Funeral Home:

Gloria Joan Dyer died on May 18, 2018 at Morristown Medical Center after a short illness. She was 88.

Born in Bloomfield, New Jersey, she lived in Bloomfield and Lakeville, Connecticut before moving to Mendham in 1964.

Dr. Dyer received her Bachelors degree from Upsala College; two Masters degrees from Columbia University in education and nutrition, respectively; and a Doctorate from Rutgers University Graduate School of Education.

She started her professional career with Bell Laboratories in Murray Hill, NJ. She was an instructor in biological sciences at the University of Connecticut in Torrington until 1964. For over 40 years Dr. Dyer was a Professor of Biology at Fairleigh Dickinson University, teaching at campuses in Rutherford, Teaneck and Madison. She was a pioneer in offering college courses in environmental sciences and field work, and had been active in local community environmental activities, including the Great Swamp Watershed Association and the Mendham Township Environmental Group.

Dr. Dyer was married for 55 years to John Spiers Dyer, Jr., who predeceased her. Survivors include her brother, David A. Zawicki of Roseland, NJ, her daughter, Robin A. Dyer of Mendham, and her son J. Scott Dyer of Pleasantville, NY. She is also survived by her 4 grandchildren James G. Dyer, Ann M. Dyer, Christian J. Matthijssen and Jonathan C. Matthijssen.

Visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 22 from 2-4 & 7-9 pm at the Bailey Funeral Home, 8 Hilltop Rd., Mendham www.baileyfuneral.com. Interment will be private. A memorial service will be held in coming weeks at the Morristown Unitarian Universalist Fellowship.

The family is requesting that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Dr. Gloria J. Dyer Memorial Scholarship Fund which has been established to provide scholarship money to a young woman with financial need to study science or science education in college. Donation checks should be made payable to Fidelity Charitable and the memo line should reference Giving Account # 1145231. The regular mail address is: Fidelity Charitable, P.O. Box 770001, Cincinnati, OH 45277.

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