John Dyer-Bennet

Dyer-Bennet John Dyer-Bennet, professor emeritus of mathematics at Carleton College, died of prostate cancer on Tuesday, March 19. He was 86, and is survived by his wife, Mary; a son, David (Pamela); a daughter, Barbara (Mark); and a sister, Miriam. Dyer-Bennt came to Carleton in 1960 as an associate professor of mathematics. He retired in 1980, but continued to teach at Carleton for a number of years. He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of California, Berkeley, and a second master's degree and Ph.D. from Harvard University. He went into the U.S. Army in 1941 as an enlisted man, was commissioned and rose to the rank of lieutenant at the end of World War II. He was reactivated during the Korean War and rose to the rank of major. He continued in the reserves, and retired with the rank of lieutenant colonel. Dyer-Bennet was a teaching assistant at the University of California and was an instructor in mathematics at Vaderbilt University. From 1946 to 1960, he held the titles of instructor, assistant professor and associate professor of mathematics at Purdue University. He specialized in linear and abstract algebra, and was a member of the Mathematical Association of America, The American Mathematical Society, Phi Beta Kappa, Sigma Xi and Pi Mu Epsilon. Dyer-Bennet was also very interested in music; he played the violin and taught courses in music appreciation while at Purdue. He helped start Carleton's varsity men's soccer team in 1963, and served as volunteer coach for 19 seasons. He compiled a 88-57-27 record, including an undefeated 1977 season in which the team won the Midwest Conference Championship. He also coached tennis for a number of years.

Published on March 21, 2002