Dale Zaris Dye

DALE ZARIS DYE, late of Wyndmoor, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, died Monday, August 28, 2023, at the Artman Lutheran Home, Ambler, PA, after a long illness. DALE was 80 years of age.

Born May 29, 1943, in Camden, New Jersey, second child of Jack and Eleanor Zaris (brother Gilbert Zaris), DALE was married December 20, 1969, to Douglas G. Dye in Philadelphia, PA. She is survived by her husband of 53 years, Doug, and by her children Jocie Dye and Kerry Dye (married to Leslie Kendall), her grandchildren Jade Huber and Lydia Kendall Dye, her brother, Gilbert Zaris (married to Sue), and many loving nieces, nephews and cousins.

DALE was educated at Camden High School in New Jersey, and graduated from Temple University, Philadelphia, PA. She embarked upon a career in social work with Childrens Service of Philadelphia, later working with Lutheran Children and Family Services to find foster homes for unaccompanied minor refugees from Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia in the late 70’s and 80’s. Her acculturation manual, titled “Living With an American Family”, was published by the federal government and widely disseminated for use by social service agencies around the country. Subsequently, DALE was employed by the MORDY Program to work with delinquent youth.

Smitten by the writing bug, DALE wrote two novels, one published, and reinvented herself as a grant writer, successfully generating substantial grants for her clients, a list which included The Boys and Girls Club of Philadelphia, the African American Museum of Philadelphia, (AAMP) and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (PAFA).

An avid bridge player, DALE participated in the game at the highest level, attaining the status of Gold Life Master. She also loved tennis, playing until late in life, and devoured books at the rate of three novels a week until disease took away that pleasure. DALE gave generously to charity, finding it difficult to turn away any earnest young people who appeared at her door over the years. She would surely approve of donations in her name to Doctors Without Borders, Smile Train, Philabundance, and the “green” organization of your choice.

A Memorial Service celebrating DALE’s life will be held on Wednesday, September 13^th  at 10:30 AM at the Chapel of Peace, Laurel Hill West, 398 Belmont Avenue, Bala Cynwd, PA 19004.