Dana L. West, longtime teacher, coach, administrator, mentor and friend of the Port Byron community, died June 28 at his summer home in the Adirondacks. He had recently celebrated his 99th birthday.

West spent more than 36 years at Port Byron Central School, and the school district in 1999 named its new high school building in his honor.

West graduated from Cortland Normal School in 1936, where he was senior class president and captain of the football team. He then earned a master's degree at Syracuse University before coming to work as a teacher in Port Byron, where he taught physical education, coached a variety of sports and served as school principal until his retirement in 1971. The only disruption to his service to the school district came during World War II, when West served in the U.S. Navy.

He also served as commander of both the Port Byron and Cayuga County branches of the American Legion. He chaired the Cayuga County United Way and also the county's human services board.

Conquest Town Historian Joni Lincoln, who was a student at Port Byron when West was principal there, recalled that the school district sent out a survey about naming the school and the feedback from the community overwhelmingly supported naming the school Dana L. West High School.

“I could give you the names of about 1,000 people who would say great things about him,” Lincoln said. “He spent his whole professional life in Port Byron.”

To have a building named after a person who is still living is quite an honor, Lincoln said, adding that West was “quite proud of that.”

West's son, U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Richard West, visited Port Byron a few months after the high school was named after his father. He said at the time that the family was “absolutely thrilled ... because we knew how much the school meant to Dad. He was a very good coach. He had several opportunities to move on, but he decided to maintain a family here, so he put his roots down and dedicated his whole life to this school.”

Gino and Maxine Alberici, of Owasco, were both hired by West in the early 1960s and remember him as a great person to work for and also a great friend.

“He was an outstanding individual,” Gino said. “I had great respect for him.”

Gino said that West was a firm and fair administrator who had great insight into people.

“You knew just by his presence where you stood with him,” Gino said. “He was the type of person people respected. He related well to his staff and was extremely well-respected by his staff.”

Lincoln said that after his retirement, West would meet with fellow Port Byron alumni who also spent their winters in Florida.

“When he walked into the room, everyone stood up and applauded,” she said. “He would spark the whole room. The honor and respect that people have for him is incredible.”

Lincoln said that West's immediate family members were all with him when he died.

“You could not find a better group of young adults,” she said. “And he was very proud of them.”

If you go

What: Celebration of Life for Dana L. West

Where: at the Dana L. West High School, Port Byron

When: 1 p.m. Saturday, July 25

The family has asked that in lieu of flowers, those so wishing may make a contribution to the Dana L. West Scholarship Fund c/o the High School Business Office, 30 Maple Ave., Port Byron, NY 13140.