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BORN
1934
DIED
2020
FUNERAL HOME
John Dwyer Obituary
85, of South Kingstown, formerly of Newport, Rhode Island and York Beach, Maine passed away Friday, January 3, 2020 in South Kingstown. Son of John T. Dwyer II and Wilmoth (Johnson) Dwyer, beloved husband of Jane (Erban) Dwyer. Devoted father of daughters Taura L. Dwyer and Erin N. Dwyer, son John T. Dwyer IV; former husband of Sally Emmett Dwyer, all of Aquidneck Island. Stepfather of Elizabeth Kearns and the late Megan M. Yakey; proud grandfather of Joshua Bowen, Abigail Yakey, and the late Dylan Gatta. Brother of the late Richard S. Dwyer, Mary Hedges, and W. Kathryn Mead.
John attended Harvard University until a job offer from Raytheon drew him to Newport. While there, he organized a softball team, named them The Rayporters, and challenged other teams in the Sunset League. John was also self-proclaimed "Mixologist Extraordinaire"; over the course of the next 30 years he tended bar at several Newport establishments, including Sully's Publick House, The Auld Mug Lounge, and Rogers Roost.
In the late 1960s, he earned his BA and Masters in Education from RIC. John enjoyed his career teaching History and Social Studies at Portsmouth High School, and was proud to represent Portsmouth teachers as their union president and NEARI Area Vice-President. For ten years after his retirement, he worked as a college recruiter for Green Mountain College, Mitchell College, and Rhode Island College.
A life-long Red Sox fan, he spent several winters at Spring Training in Fort Myers, FL after his second retirement. He was grateful to have lived long enough to enjoy their World Series wins. When not watching a Boston game, he could be found reading a book a day and completing New York Times crosswords.
John spent nearly every summer of his life in York Beach, ME, working on his famous tan and playing innumerable rounds of Bocce. Everywhere he lived and worked, John is remembered by good friends as being a true gentleman.
Calling hours Wednesday, January 8, from 3 – 5 PM, Barrett & Cotter Funeral Home, 1328 Warwick Ave., Warwick, RI 02888. Burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Hasbro Children's Hospital, Development Office, PO Box H, Providence, RI 02901.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for John Dwyer
Sponsored by Barrett & Cotter Funeral Home.
5 Entries
Michael Landers
January 9, 2020
A Good Man.. I Am Sorry For Your Loss..
Ronald DiOrio
January 8, 2020
Jane, I am so sorry to learn of John's passing. He was a great teacher leader and enjoyed the respect of his peers throughout the State. John was able to take complex issues and reduce them to simple solutions. I always enjoyed my conversations with him, bright, articulate, no nonsense and a great sense of humor. He's in my prayers as is the entire family Dwyer Family. My he Rest In Peace.
January 7, 2020
Rest in peace Uncle Jack. My Dad and I will always cherish and remember the fantastic trips up north with Mom, your loving sister Willie,(say hi for us by the way) for either the Christmas Holiday, a beach getaway to York or a visit to Newport where I once wandered away from a brunch as a child and wound up in a nearby auto museum. Luckily there was a nice English gentleman there to give me a quick tour before getting me back to the tennis club to finish brunch. From the Navy Yard to the Nubble those experiences will stay with us always and will remain some of our favorites of all time!! To all our family up there we regret we can not be there but we send all of our love and prayers and take solace in knowing all the Dwyer Kids are now together once again with their parents and others called home too soon. We hope to see you all soon someday for maybe a get together in York Beach during the summer but be warned...make sure to get a bocce ball court set up because the Mead toe is coming and we're thirsty!! God Bless you all
John and Tom
Richard Erban
January 7, 2020
I see John's feet every time I open the frig. He is on Long Sands Beach in York, ME with his can of beer in the brown paper bag. He and I made many trips across the street to get the beer to enjoy on the beach. I will always treasure those memories.
Dick and Becky Erban
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Jan
8
Calling hours
3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Barrett & Cotter Funeral Home1328 Warwick Avenue, Warwick, RI 02888
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