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Heinz Gewing, who served as Dublin’s first schools superintendent after local districts unified 35 years ago, died last week. He was 91.
A Jewish refugee from Europe in the World War II era, Gewing was a career educator in the Bay Area who went on to rise through the ranks in Dublin’s old Murray School District and ultimately worked as its final superintendent before becoming the inaugural leader of the newly combined Dublin Unified School District in 1988.
“Heinz Gewing played a critical role in developing the Dublin Unified School District by serving as our first superintendent. He laid the foundation for what was to become one of the most respected districts in the area. We are thankful for the role he played in making Dublin Unified what it is today and hope the memory of a life well-lived brings comfort to his family at this time,” current DUSD Superintendent Chris Funk told Embarcadero Media Foundation.
City historian Steve Minniear called Gewing “an early education pioneer in Dublin’s history.”
“Heinz was promoted to superintendent of the Murray School District and worked to represent the Murray School District’s board position that unification was not in their students’ interest during the 1987 discussions and election. That appears to be why the previous superintendent was let go,” Minniear told Embarcadero Media Foundation. “However, it’s obvious from newspaper accounts that he fully supported the Dublin Unified School District as it came into being and that he was instrumental in making it work so well.”
Minniear added, “I only spoke with Heinz a few times, mainly while I was doing work on the Parks Job Corps Center history. But it was obvious to me that he was committed to improving students’ education throughout his career.”
Gewing was born in Austria in 1932 but spent much of his childhood in Shanghai as China was one of the few countries to accept Jewish refugees in the World War II era, according to an obituary his family posted on the Pleasanton Weekly website.
“Heinz and his family lived in a small apartment above his father’s store, in an area known as the Shanghai Ghetto. It was not an easy life, but hard work, resilience and a sense of humor helped sustain them,” his family wrote.
Gewing moved to San Francisco in 1948 and earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley and a master’s degree from Pennsylvania State University, according to his obituary. He began teaching at Oakland High School and then worked at the Parks Job Corps Center in the 1960s.
After teaching and administrating in Berkeley, Gewing started his tenure in the Murray School District as principal of the former Cronin Elementary School in the 1971-72 school year, according to DUSD. Holding various upper positions with Murray, Gewing was promoted to superintendent in its final year and guided the district through the unification process.
He then worked as the first-ever superintendent of Dublin Unified School District from July 1, 1988 until retiring after the 1991-92 academic year.
“Heinz was a kind man, known for his generosity, wit and common sense. A close friend once described him as the only person he knew who could turn a mountain into a molehill. How lucky we all were to have had him in our lives and how we will miss him,” his obituary stated.
Gewing died on Jan. 21. A cause of death was not revealed, but his family said he was under the care of Hope Hospice. A private memorial service is pending.
He is survived by two daughters, two grandchildren and his partner of 17 years, Eileen Barr. He was preceded in death by his wife of over 50 years, Lisa Gewing.
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