Virginia Beach—Donald Allen Myers, Ph.D., died peacefully in his home early on Feb. 2. 2019, after a long struggle with dementia. He was born in Nebraska City, Nebraska in 1932, and grew up in Omaha, Nebraska.
He graduated from the University of Nebraska-Omaha and the University of Chicago, with a Ph.D. in Educational Administration. He was Professor of Education at SUNY-Albany, Oklahoma State, and Dean of Education at the University of Nebraska Omaha. He was also Dean of the Darden College of Education, Old Dominion University for 10 years, and taught another 16 years at ODU. He was named Professor Emeritus. He gained some notoriety with publication of his book, Teacher Power: Teacher Professionalization and Collective Bargaining (1973). He published many scholarly articles, his favorite being Devil’s Dictionary of Educational Terms. He received many honors and distinctions, but was too humble to want them noted.
He leaves his partner of 31 years and primary caretaker, Alice L. Twining; Don’s older brother and sister, Merle Myers, Jr. and Myrlene Wheat and husband Al; sons Eric Levy-Myers and wife Helen, Johnny Myers and wife Stacie, David A. Myers, and Aaron Twining Myers and his fiancée Anne Friedman; daughter Sherri Gescheidler and husband Jimmy; grandchildren Christopher, Mickayla, Mathew, Reuben, Julian, Asher, Drew, and Dawson; and three great grandchildren. Don enjoyed the Myers’ and Twining’s extended families, with many nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was the best father a child could ask for—generous with his laughter, his time, and his love. He will be remembered for his leadership and dedication to his work, his kindness to all who knew him, his French cooking, his love of the Nebraska Corn Huskers, and perhaps most of all his sardonic wit. His favorite sign in the kitchen was: I value the opinions you keep to yourself.
Thanks to the compassionate team of hospice professionals at Jewish Family Service and Frieda Gordon Hospice and Palliative Care of Tidewater.
A Celebration of Life will be held later this year in Virginia Beach. Details are pending. Please consider donating to a non-profit of your choice in Don’s memory.