Paul J. Tracy, a retired Harford County public schools educator whose career spanned more than three decades, died Friday at his Forest Greens home near Perryman of complications of Alzheimer's disease. He was 79.
The son of Vincent Tracy, St. John the Evangelist High School football coach, and Ruth Oliver Tracy, Luzerne County, Pa., registrar, Paul James Tracy was born and raised in Pittston, Pa., where he graduated in 1954 from Pittston High School.
He was a 1958 graduate of Wilkes College and earned a master's degree in education in 1962 from Penn State University.
Mr. Tracy began teaching in Harford County public schools in 1958 when he joined the faculty of Havre de Grace High School as a social studies teacher. He later was assistant principal at Bel Air and Aberdeen high schools before being named social studies supervisor for county schools.
"As an educator working with students, teachers and administrators, he was known for his dependability, hard work, wit and humor," said his wife of 54 years, the former Sandra Allen, whom he met at Havre de Grace High School, where she taught English.
Mr. Tracy was inducted into the Harford County Public Schools Educator Hall of Fame. At the time of his induction he stated: "I can tell you, my happiest years were those six I spent in the classroom and, if I had to do it over and the choice had been mine, I would have spent more time as a teacher."
In his retirement, he spent six years part-time supervising practicing teachers at Towson University.
He was a charter member and served as treasurer of the Perryman-Forest Greens Association.
In addition to enjoying his home that overlooked the Bush River, Mr. Tracy liked spending time at his Ocean City condominium and traveling.
Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the Tarring-Cargo Funeral Home, 333 S. Parke St., Aberdeen.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Tracy is survived by three sons, Mark A. Tracy of Bel Air, Christopher S. Tracy of Aberdeen and Tobin P. Tracy of Abingdon; a daughter, Leah R. Wait of San Francisco; and nine grandchildren.