John Thomas Dyer Jr.

Of Springfield, on July 31, at age the age of 76. Beloved husband of 47 years to Rita A. Dyer; caring father of Erin Colleen (Joe) Pearson; dear grandfather of Jordan, Ethan, and Jaclyn; and brother of sisters Ann Buxton, Maryalyce Pastorello, Rosalie Potter, and Ginger Verge.

Born in Massachusetts to John and Alice Dyer in 1938, Jack was a graduate of The Massachusetts College of Art, took graduate courses at Boston University, taught art in private schools, and worked as a cartoonist and illustrator for The Boston Globe Publishing Company.

Jack was a retired Major of the US Marine Corps and was named the first official Combat Artist during the Vietnam War. For 31 years, Jack served as Civilian Curator of the United States Marine Corps Art Collection. He was a freelance artist since 1971. Upon retiring, he continued to pursue his love of art, spending a good deal of time with several Co-ops, most notably the Artists Undertaking Gallery in Occoquan, Va.

Jack's art is represented in private and government collections in England, South Korea, the Philippines, Norway, and the United States of America, including the National Museum of the Marine Corps.

In lieu of flowers, Jack's family requests donations in his memory to the Wounded Warrior Project, www.woundedwarriorproject.org