Tom Dwyer’s background and experience make him a wonderful addition to the El Sol family. It is El Sol’s great fortune to have an ex CEO of a computer startup company who can teach computer literacy to under-served populations.
Tom has been a part of the El Sol family since 2012. Tom and his wife of 44 years, Kathleen, moved to Florida about five years ago from Malone, in upstate New York. They tried Florida’s west coast and Orlando for a few years, before settling in and becoming part of the fabric of Palm Beach County. They are happiest here because there are a lot more cultural opportunities in Palm Beach County than elsewhere. He chose Jonathon’s Landing specifically because of JL Cares, a community effort that encourages volunteerism in the area. Dwyer was the CEO of a start-up computer company in 1985, so when he learned that El Sol was in need of teachers to help our clients learn computer literacy, he knew it was the perfect spot for him.
Tom volunteers his services at night because he has a full schedule during the day. He and his wife attend classes at the Lifelong Learning Center at FAU, enjoy being entertained at the Maltz and Kravis theaters, are avid supporters of the Society of the Four Arts, enjoy working out at the fitness center, and are learning golf. Tom and Kathleen don’t have children, but they did enjoy the companionship of a Tonkinese cat named Pal for 21 years. Pal has since crossed over the Rainbow Bridge but they’re considering possibly adopting another one.
In addition to El Sol, Tom is active in the Catholic community at St. Paul of the Cross, and happily states, for the first time in his life, most of his friends are from church. He has also volunteered with Forgotten Soldiers and Habitat for Humanity. Tom finds volunteering at El Sol to be both challenging and rewarding. Each student has a different level, capability and style of learning. Keeping everyone engaged and moving forward is the challenge. His reward is when his students become engaged in the learning process. “I’ve been very blessed in my life,” says Tom, “it’s time to give back.”