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J. Thomas Dwyer

1967 Ph.D. Graduate
Dissertation Advisor(s): Theophilus Ernest Martin Boll
"Joyce Cary's Critical Theory and its Relationship to the Development of His Fiction"

J. Thomas "Tom" Dwyer, 77, of Elizabethtown, died on February 20, 2012, at Lancaster General Hospital with his wife, Ruthann, and son, Jonathan, at his side.

Born in Philadelphia, PA, Tom was the son of the late Charles Raymond Dwyer, MD, and Gladys Kendrick Dwyer Seeders.

In addition to his wife and son, two daughters from his marriage to Aristine Govatos survive him: Megan Sweigart of Elizabethtown, wife of Dean; and Alexa Henson of Winston-Salem, NC, wife of Rodger. Tom is also survived by Jonathan's Dad-approved girlfriend, Erin Doyle, and three grandchildren: Miranda Sweigart Richter, wife of Robert; Cameron Sweigart; and Damian Wilder. A son, J. Matthew Dwyer, and brother, Charles Kendrick Dwyer, predeceased him.

Tom grew up in Pottstown, PA, and attended public schools until receiving a scholarship to attend the Hill School. He received BA, MA, and Ph. D degrees from the University of Pennsylvania. Tom taught English at Elizabethtown College from 1960 until his retirement in 2004. He was an avid supporter of the men's soccer team.

Tom's passion was teaching, learning, and reading, always searching for the truth. He was rarely without a book in hand. He especially enjoyed the beauty of the natural world, particularly the mountains of West Virginia.