School building named for educator Janet Wyatt
Advertiser Staff
Janet Wyatt, an educator and longtime supporter of the arts in Hawai'i, died March 13. She was 84.
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Wyatt was born Janet Mae Wullschleger in Albany, N.Y., on March 12, 1918. In the seventh grade, she met Arthur Wyatt and the two would marry in 1942.
Janet Wyatt died March 13 at age 84.
Janet Wyatt studied English and education at State University of New York, where she also earned a master's degree in library science. Her husband became a physician and in 1945 was assigned to Schofield Barracks on O'ahu.
After the war, the Wyatts moved to Iowa, but returned to Honolulu in 1947 to reside permanently. Dr. Wyatt became a partner at the Honolulu Medical Group and Janet Wyatt volunteered with the Junior League and Girl Scouts and taught English at the University of Hawai'i.
While teaching at the university, Wyatt became interested in improving education in kindergarten through the 12th grade. She was named chairwoman of the first Hawai'i School Advisory Board and in 1966 became principal of the small private school Honolulu Junior Academy, now known as the Academy of the Pacific.
Wyatt remained at the school until her retirement in 1975. In retirement, she returned to her early love of art, particularly watercolors.
In recognition of Wyatt's dedication to Academy of the Pacific, the school voted in January to name its art building after her. A brief dedication and blessing ceremony will be held at 8:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Academy of the Pacific, 913 'Alewa Drive.
Donations may be made to the Janet and Art Wyatt Scholarship Fund.
Janet Wyatt is survived by her children, Janine, Nancy, Patricia, Christine and Thomas; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
