John Carlyle; O.C. Educator, School Superintendent

John Carlyle, a longtime Orange County educator who spent the past eight years as superintendent of the Centralia School District, has died. He was 64.

Carlyle, who recently announced that he planned to retire June 30, had been on medical leave since October when he underwent brain surgery. He died Friday of cancer, according to Jean Stuesser, director of human resources for the district, which has nine elementary schools in Buena Park, La Palma and Anaheim.

In an education career that spanned 37 years, Carlyle joined the Centralia School District in 1982 as principal of Glen H. Dysinger Jr. Elementary School. He was selected as assistant superintendent of instruction and support services in 1986. Appointed as interim superintendent in 1993, he was named superintendent the same year.

Carlyle is survived by his mother, a brother, a stepsister and two stepbrothers.

A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday at Friendship Baptist Church in Yorba Linda. Visitation will be from 4:30 to 8 p.m. today at Forest Lawn in Cypress, where he will be interred.