David R. Myers, science teacher

David Ruby Myers, who taught physics in the Prince George’s County school system for 39 years, died of cancer Nov. 17 at his Laurel home. He was 73.

Born in Easton and raised in Laurel, he was the son of Merl D. Myers and Lillie Ruby. He was a 1961 graduate of Laurel JuniorSenior High School and earned a bachelor’s degree from the Johns Hopkins University.

In 1967, he married Sherry Swank, a Union Memorial Hospital nursing student.

He taught physics and chemistry at Crossland High School in Temple Hills and then joined the faculty of Greenbelt’s newly opened Eleanor Roosevelt High School. He was later its science department chair. He was named Prince George’s Outstanding Science Teacher in 1987. He was a Maryland finalist in the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science.

Mr. Myers was part of a 2002 University of Maryland program to instruct Rwandan educators in teaching science. He also taught a Prince George’s Community College summer course for elementary science teachers for many years.

He was a founding member, board president and treasurer of Side by Side, a nonprofit organization that assists Prince George’s County public schools.

A memorial service will be held at 11:30 a.m. Dec. 10 at First United Methodist Church of Laurel, where he sang in the choir, taught Sunday school and chaired the administrative board.

Survivors include his wife of 49 years, a retired nurse; a daughter, Trysta Yox of Millerstown, Pa.; three brothers, Donald T. Myers of Edgewater, Charles I. Myers of Oak Island, N.C., and Carey R. Myers of Dayton; a sister, Rebecca J. Henderson of Faulkner; and a granddaughter.