Obituaries

Vernon A. Tryon, born September 21, 1936, in the Town of Boylston, Oswego County, NY, died Sunday, August 10, 2025.

He was the son of Merrill Vernon and Beatrice Mildred (Hanson) Tryon.

He was predeceased by his parents and his wife of over 61 years, June Ruth (Gehm) Tryon. He is survived by two sons, Steven (Kimberly) and Daniel (Robin); four grandchildren, Kristen Tryon, Sarah (Tyler) Greenleaf, Lydia, and Jordan Tryon; three great grandchildren, Everleigh Olive Greenleaf, Wesley Oliver Greenleaf and Lucy Rue Greenleaf; and brother James (Tracy Carmichael) of Kansas.

Dr. Tryon’s schooling began in Adams, NY, and he graduated from the Philadelphia (NY) High School in 1954. He earned the Bachelor of Science degree from the State University of New York College at Oswego in 1958, and the Master of Arts and Doctor of Philosophy degrees at the University of Maryland, 1963 and 1972 respectively.

Dr. Tryon taught industrial arts at Gaithersburg (MD) Junior High School, 1963–1965. He then joined the faculty of the State University of New York at Oswego as assistant professor of industrial arts where he taught graphic arts. He became chairman of the Technology Department in 1972 and served in that capacity for twenty-one years. He retired as professor emeritus of technology in 2000. During his years at the college, he served as acting dean of professional studies, taught a number of undergraduate and graduate courses, and served on many committees and councils.

Over a fourteen-year period, Dr. Tryon fulfilled many responsibilities with the New York State Technology Education Association including president, executive secretary, chairman of annual conference, and many others. Through the 1980s and 90s, he served as a consultant to the New York State Education Department on a variety of curriculum development initiatives including Preservice Teacher Education; Mathematics, Science, and Technology; Action Plan to Improve Secondary Education Results; the Futuring Project for Occupational and Practical Arts Education; and authored several funded grant proposals in related fields.

Dr. Tryon chaired the Futuring Project subcommittee that successfully recommended changing the name of industrial arts to Technology Education in New York State, a change that subsequently prevailed across the nation. He made a month-long observation tour of the rural vocational training centers and higher technical high schools throughout South Korea for the Peace Corps in 1974.

Professional, educational, and civic organizations occupied much of Dr. Tryon’s voluntary time and resources. He served as president of the Oswego Rotary Club in two different decades, centuries, and millennia — 1988-89 and 2003-04. He earned the Paul Harris Fellowship multiple times during his forty years as a Rotarian, also chairing their scholarship committee across most of those years. He served as the pronouncer for the Scripps National Spelling Bee in Oswego for thirteen years. He was a member of the Oswego County Salvation Army Advisory Board for forty years, where he chaired the Nominating and Guest Chef Dinner committees for a number of years. He was a director emeritus of the Technology Alliance of Central New York, having chaired its Teacher Awards Committee for fifteen years. In retirement, Dr. Tryon was a director of the Oswego Emeriti Association and served as its president for fourteen years. He held many leadership positions in the Minetto United Methodist Church since 1966, including lay leader, trustee, treasurer, chairman of the finance committee, coordinator of the annual harvest turkey fundraising dinner, member of the administrative council, and member of the pastor, staff, parish relations committee. He was chairman of the Residents’ Advisory Council at Springside at Seneca Hill for several years.

On the occasion of Older New Yorkers’ Day in 2019, Dr. Tryon was cited by the New York State Office for the Aging, the New York State Assembly and Senate, and the Oswego County Legislature for his sixty or more years of volunteerism.

A celebration of his life will be held at the Minetto United Methodist Church followed by a family burial of the remains at Sanford Corners Cemetery, Calcium, NY, both to be scheduled at the convenience of the family. Dain-Cullinan Funeral Home of Oswego has care of arrangements. Memorial gifts may be given to Minetto United Methodist Church, PO box 217, Minetto, NY 13115; or Oswego County Salvation Army, PO Box 146, Oswego, NY 13126; or Oswego College Foundation, Technology Department Endowment #7383, 215 Sheldon Hall, Oswego, NY 13126.