John Anthony "Tony" Tyler, a passionate educator, coach and singer

Tony Tyler passed away on July 21, 2025 at the age of 82. He loved fishing, following the stock market, feeding the birds, military history, the Ravens and the Orioles.

Tony was born on January 18, 1943. A native of Baltimore, he graduated from St. Paul's School, Brooklandville in 1960. He was awarded the Alumni Medal for having the highest academic achievement in his class. He attended Johns Hopkins University, graduating with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology in 1964. He continued his studies at the University of Maryland, pursuing a Master's degree in Art History.

His favorite pastime was fishing. For years he could be found in his Boston Whaler fishing and crabbing in the Chesapeake Bay. He enjoyed learning about military history. While he had a wealth of knowledge about WWII, he also took great interest in the' Civil War. Many day trips were spent visiting local battlefields. When he could no longer read, he still enjoyed watching war movies.

Watching the Ravens was all important in the colder months. Family football pools kept his mind sharp as he made his picks each week. In the summer it was all about the Orioles, even when they weren't doing so well.

While at St. Paul's, Tony was a boy soprano in the school choir, regularly singing at Old St. Paul's Church. He continued his singing at Johns Hopkins where he was the second tenor soloist in the Hopkins Glee Club as well as the Madrigal group. From 1965-1975 he was the baritone soloist at Roland Park Presbyterian Church. In 1975 he became the tenor soloist at Grace United Methodist Church in Baltimore. He sang there until 1986. He would always say that this was the best job he · ever had. He was a member of the Baltimore Opera Chorus in the early 1980s.

In 1964, Tony met Betty Jean and they were wed in 1965. They had two children, Pamela and Joel. From 1972 - 1984 they lived in a faculty house on the St. Paul's campus. His beautiful voice could be heard wafting over the campus as he practiced his singing when the windows were open. His lab mix, Pepper, was his constant companion and you seldom saw one without the other.

In 1967 he joined the faculty of St. Paul's School for Boys as an upper school math teacher and soccer coach. In 1980 he led his team to the first "A" conference soccer championship.

Upon retiring from St. Paul's school in 1985, he became an insurance broker for Mutual of New York. He remained in the insurance field until his stroke in 1999. For the next 25 years, he would be at home greeting friends and fur babies alike. He especially loved his granddog, Tessa. He also loved watching golf, baseball, football and basketball and reading the Wall Street Journal.

Survivors include his wife of almost 60 years Betty Jean Grissom of Garner, North Carolina, children Pamela Tyler and Joel Tyler, both of Lutherville, sister Bonnie Low of Towson, nieces and nephews as well as many friends and loved ones.

A Memorial Celebration will be held at Grace United Methodist Church, 5407 N. Charles St., Baltimore, MD 21210, on August 2, 2025 at 11am.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to St. Jude's Hospital or Grace United Methodist Church.