ADOLPH “DOLPH” FALLER III
1937 – 2017 Obituary
age 79
Died peacefully at home on May 8, 2017 in Olmsted Falls, OH. Born November 28, 1937 in Chicago Illinois to Irma (Hug) and Adolph Faller, Jr., Dolph is survived by his devoted wife of 57 years Dorothy (Anderson); their sons: Carl (Columbus, OH) with his wife Mary and their children Carolyn, Robert, and John; and Kurt (Wilmington, DE) with his wife Sutton and their children Baily and Quinn; and Dolph’s brother William (Kewaunee, WI) with his wife Heidi and their children William, Annette, and Chris. Dolph was a mid-year graduate of Chicago’s Hyde Park High School in 1955. He received a Bachelor’s Degree with a major in Biology from Kenyon College in 1958 and went on to earn a Master of Science degree in Biology Education from the University of Illinois, and later a PhD in Plant Ecology from Indiana State University. Dolph also received a National Science Foundation Fellowship to study radiation biology at the University of Wyoming. After marrying his high school sweetheart, Dorothy, they moved to Klamath Falls, Oregon in the late 1950’s where he taught science at Klamath Falls High School. In Oregon, he pursued outdoor interests as a member of the National Ski Patrol; as a mountain climber, where he scaled Mt. Hood, Mt. Shasta, and Mt. St. Helen’s; and as a seasonal National Park Service Naturalist at Crater Lake National Park.
In addition, life-long hobbies included swimming (both as a competitive swimmer and coach), working on cars (from basic maintenance to engine changes), playing tennis, photography, cycling (serving many years as a nationally licensed United States Cycling Federation racing referee), traveling, reading, and birdwatching. Upon completion of his PhD, he taught environmental science and biology at Cleveland State University. With a growing young family, Dolph pursued professional opportunities as an environmental planning consultant (Dalton, Dalton, Little & Newport). Dolph later returned to teaching high school science. He was a longtime faculty member at Brookside High School in Sheffield Lake, OH, teaching their full range of science courses, helping many students attend college as the first in their family to do so, and particularly encouraging young women to pursue science-related fields. His high school contributions included serving as the faculty coordinator for the National Honor Society, Cross Country Coach, and serving as ski trip advisor for student trips to Austria. Hearing back from former students engaged in science was one of his greatest rewards. In retirement, Dolph actively pursued his passion for flying, serving as a dedicated member of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary, where he was the Commander of Flotilla 7-5, Division 7 Commander, and Staff Officer for Aviation. He also taught skiing as a certified ski instructor at Boston Mills/Brandywine Ski Resort for 22 years. Dolph remained a caring individual, inquisitive to the end, and passionate about the pursuit of science for the good of all humankind. Throughout his years in Cleveland Dolph retained his membership in the West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church (WSUUC) and lived his life in adherence to its humanistic principles. In memory, please consider donations to the WSUUC Memorial Fund, the Alzheimer’s Association , or the Carolyn Farrell Foundation. Services will be held on June 10, 2017 at 2:00 pm at the West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church, 20401 Hilliard Blvd., Rocky River, OH. (440) 842-7800
Published in The Plain Dealer from May 12 to June 9, 2017
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