Harold J. Bayerl

COLUMBIA - A Memorial Mass for Harold J. Bayerl will be celebrated at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 23, 2023 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Columbia, SC, with burial following in the church memorial gardens. The Rosary will be recited Wednesday, March 22, 2023 at 6:00 p.m., with visitation following until 7:30 p.m. at Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel. Mr. Bayerl who was born on June 9, 1943 in Jersey City, New Jersey passed from this life on March 16, 2023. He was the son of Harold & Irene Bayerl who preceded him in death and the brother of Dr. Francis Bayerl of Ottawa, Canada who also preceded him in death. Harold graduated from St. Michael High School in Union City, N.J. and obtained B.A. and M.A. degrees from Seton Hall University in New Jersey. He did post graduate work at Fordham, University of Dayton and San Jose Universities. He served for 23 years as principal at Cardinal Newman School in Columbia and also served as a principal in the Archdiocese of Newark, Diocese of Baton Rouge and Diocese of Birmingham. For a time he was Assistant Superintendent of Schools in the Diocese of Charleston. During a very satisfying career in Catholic education Harold served on many committees of SACS,as president of the Board of Education in the Diocese of Charleston and as a member of the National Advisory Council of The National Association of Catholic Bishops. Locally,he was a member of the board of Growing Home Southeast, a Cayce based foster care agency. Harold always enjoyed travel and began that experience at an early age traveling to every state with his parents while in elementary school. The travel continued throughout the work years and beyond eventually resulting in more than 55 ocean cruises to all parts of the world and much foreign land travel. In retirement he managed a portfolio of rental houses. He enjoyed the company of a succession of large dogs whom he regarded as family and treated accordingly. Adding to the richness of life was the friendship of special people such as Ken Buxton and his children Joshua and Kennedy, Father Timlin, Msgr. Sterker, Msgr. Aiken, Susan and Bob Henry, Dr. John Hicks, Patrick & Bonnie Greenwood, Carmen & Emilio Novellas, Loretta Hudson, Sister Vera Gardner and many others. He was a practicing Catholic and member for many years at St. Peter Basilica in Columbia where he served as lector and parish council member. For the past several decades Harold was a member at St. Joseph Catholic Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Joseph Catholic Church, 3512 Devine Street, Columbia, SC 29205 or Cardinal Newman School, 2945 Alpine Road, Columbia, SC 29223. Memories may be shared at www.dunbarfunerals.com.