Obituary of Alan J. Wyner

Our beloved father, husband, brother, uncle, and grandfather, Alan Jay Wyner, died on Wednesday, April 16, 2014 after a courageous three-year struggle with brain cancer. Alan Wyner was born in Cleveland, Ohio to parents Hyman Wyner and Alice (Gulko) Wyner. He is survived by his loving wife, Louise (Blumberg) Wyner, two children Rick (Staci) and David (Farren), two step-children Zoe Corwin (Dan) and Seth Blumberg, five grandchildren (Jacob, Logan, Ethan, Teva and Jesse), and sister Carol Goldman (Bill), niece Amy Goldman, and aunt Goldie Gulko. Alan earned his undergraduate degree from Northwestern University in 1964. In 1967, he completed his Masters and PhD studies in Political Science at The Ohio State University. In 1968, Alan, along with his first wife Rozanne (Allen) and young son moved to Santa Barbara to pursue his first professorial position at University of California, Santa Barbara. He retired in 2008, after a 40-year career at UCSB. Dr. Wyner was a renowned Political Science professor, lecturer, researcher, dean, administrator, and leader in the university community. During his career, he taught a number of different courses in the political science department, and in 1996, he was appointed Dean of Undergraduate Education in the College of Letters and Science, a position he held until he retired. He was passionately committed to helping undergraduates succeed in their studies, their campus lives, and their careers. He was an avid and effective advocate for student issues at the campus and system-wide levels, while still remaining accessible to provide one-on-one counseling and support to the tens of thousands of students who walked into his office every year. In addition to his professional accomplishments at UCSB, he also found ways to serve his community as an elected member of the Goleta Water Board, volunteering as an audio book reader for the blind, and serving as President of the Santa Barbara Jewish Federation. Alan was often described as dignified, humble, capable, caring, hard-working and respected. He was a great man whose spirit, values, and teachings will live on forever. We will strive to continue to make him proud, every day. We are truly grateful, and we will miss him dearly. Funeral services were held on Friday, April 18 at Temple B'nai B'rith followed by a graveside service at the Santa Barbara Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests donations be made to Congregation B'nai B'rith of Santa Barbara, The Santa Barbara Jewish Federation, and/or the Visiting Nurse and Hospice Care of Santa Barbara, Serenity House.