Obituary of James A. Eyer

Dr. James A. Eyer Dundee: Dr. James A. Eyer, age 83, of Dundee, NY died Sunday August 25, 2013 at home. Honoring his wishes there will be no prior calling hours; and services will be private at the convenience of the family. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Dundee Fire Company, 12 Union St., Dundee, NY 14837; or the Humane Society of Yates County, P.O. Box 12, Penn Yan, NY 14527. James was born Dec. 18, 1929 in Rochester, NY, the son of the late George E. and Mary Bolger Eyer. He graduated from MIT with a B.S. Degree in Physics in 1951, and received his PHD in Optics and Physics from the University of Rochester in 1957. On Sept. 10, 1960 in Rochester, NY he married the former Gail V. Greenfield. Dr. Eyer was a Professor and Administrator at the Institute of Optics of the University of Rochester, and then the Optical Sciences Center of the University of Arizona in Tucson, AZ. In 1974 he retired to the family home above Seneca Lake where he had summered since 1958, in order to do some consulting, cruise the lake, ride his horses, feed his chickens, make homemade wine, shoot his cannons, and collect anything that looked medieval. He and Gail helped deliver Meals on Wheels for many years, at the urging of the late Mary Lane. Through the sponsorship of the late Catherine Elliott, he was a former member and past chairman of the Town of Starkey Zoning Board of Appeals, and the Yates County Civil Service Commission. He is survived by his wife Gail G. Eyer at home; and a son Daniel J. Eyer of Boston, MA. Arrangements were entrusted to the Baird Funeral Home, 36 Water Street, Dundee, NY. Online condolences can be sent by visiting www.bairdfuneralhomedundee.com.