Teacher drew praise for leadership in TPS

3/26/2005

Bryan H. Reamsnyder, 60, a teacher at the east side schools he attended who became a leader in the Toledo Public Schools, died of cancer Thursday in his Oregon home.

He had cancer more than two years, yet he continued his duties as a counselor at Cardinal Stritch High School until November. He'd worked there about eight years.

He retired from Toledo Public Schools in 1996 as executive director of secondary education. He oversaw junior high and high schools and athletics.

"He did an excellent job," said Crystal Ellis, who was superintendent of schools. "He was a great person and a great educator. He earned the admiration and respect of all who knew him and worked with him."

Mr. Reamsnyder was a football referee and, for 30 years, he and his crew spent fall Friday nights officiating at high school stadiums in northwest Ohio.

He began his career in 1966 as a science teacher - and a baseball, basketball, and track coach - at Garfield Elementary School, which he'd attended. He taught math - his specialty - at Waite High School.

Mr. Reamsnyder was a graduate of Waite High School, where he played on the 1960 City League championship baseball team. He was a member of the City League Athletic Hall of Fame. He was head tennis and baseball coach at Waite. He moved into counseling and became guidance director there.

He became assistant principal of Libbey High School in 1984. He was named principal of Woodward in 1990, a post he held for three years.

"One thing everyone has always said about Bryan is that he was fair and honest and talked to everyone with respect," his wife, Sherry, said.

He received bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Toledo.

Surviving are his wife, Sherry, whom he married Aug. 3, 1973; daughters, Erika Dawkins and Andrea Reamsnyder; brothers, Thomas and Rick Reamsnyder, and two grandchildren.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Tuesday in Eggleston Meinert Pavley Mortuary, Millbury Chapel, where the body will be after 2 p.m. Monday.

The family suggests tributes to Cardinal Stritch High School.