Roger Hyndman

Roger Hyndman was born March 3, 1926, in Cincinnati, Ohio, he grew up in Saint Louis, Missouri.  He served as a radio operator in the field artillery in the Philippines during World War II and as a personal sergeant major in an army field hospital in Kyoto, Japan, during the first months of the Occupation.  An English major, he earned a B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles, an M.A. from John Hopkins University, and a doctorate from UCLA.  He began his professional career as an English teacher in the junior and senior high schools of the Los Angeles Unified School District, serving as department chairman at Birmingham High School and, for 29 years, as supervisor of English instruction and curriculum for the District.  He was editor and or author of some 20 LAUSD curriculum publications. 

Hyndman played an active role in English professional organizations at the local, state, and national levels for over 30 years, including serving as a member of the Commission on the English Curriculum of the National Council of Teachers of English.  For several years, Hyndman taught part-time classes in the English Department of UCLA.  He was member of the founding committee of the UCLA Friends of English. 

While living in Los Angeles, one of his hobbies was Greek folk dancing, which he called his “folly,” claiming it was his way to “cut the rope.”  His close friends called him Zorba.  He enjoyed reading many of the modern Greek poets and writers.  He was also proud of his Scottish ancestry with roots in the Hamilton clan.  A longtime member of the Saint Andrew Scottish Society, he delighted in introducing his friends to the Robert Burns Night dinner. 

Upon his retirement in 1986, Hyndman was awarded special citations from the LAUSD Board of Education, the Los Angeles City Human Relations Commission, the Los Angeles Times, the National Council of Teachers of English, the California Teachers of English, and the English Council of Los Angeles.  After his retirement, he divided his time between his homes in Santa Fe, New Mexico and Lahaina, Maui.  He served as docent at the Santa Fe Opera, the Museum of International Folk Art, The Museum of Spanish Colonial Art, and as a volunteer tutor at Carlos Gilbert Elementary School.  He was an avid reader, inveterate world traveler and lifelong opera buff. 

Hyndman was long known as Grandpa Roger to the grandchildren and great grandchildren of his longtime companion and wife Elizabeth Romero.  The couple moved to Taos, New Mexico to be closer to family where they spent the last nine years.   

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Santa Fe Opera or the Taos Chamber Music Group.   

The family of Roger Hyndman has entrusted the care of their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home of Taos.  866-657-4019 www.devargastaos.com