Earl VanDyke Toliver

Earl VanDyke Toliver was born on September 13, 1925, in King George, Virginia. After his mother's death in 1933, and soon before his father's, he was raised by his cousin Pearl Kelly, a successful real estate developer in Washington, D.C. He was educated in the public schools of Washington and a graduate of the renowned Dunbar High School and Howard University.

On September 21, 1951, he married Margaret Elizabeth Boston, his wife of 57 years, and the popular couple from two distinguished families in 1953 made their home in an historic brownstone in Brooklyn, New York. After their daughter Susan and son Eric were born, they built their summer residence in Westhampton, where they spent many years entertaining family and friends.

He began his long communications/broadcasting career in the mid 1950s. After a brief stint at Time, Inc. (The March of Time), he moved to CBS – See It Now, the Edward R. Murrow–Fred Friendly–much–documented program. From there, he moved to Dumont Channel 5 in 1956, which became Metromedia and eventually Fox TV-5, where he remained for 35 years and retired as a Vice President in 1991. He had a brilliant broadcasting career marked by numerous awards, achievements, and citations, including two Community Excellence to Black Achievers CEBA, YMCA Achievers in Industry, McDonald’s Trailblazers in Television, and two Emmy awards for his iconic “It’s 10 PM. Do you know where your children are?“ Public service announcements.

In November of 1998, he and his wife relocated to Stamford, Connecticut, where he continued his lifelong engagement in community service and volunteerism, joining the Holy Spirit Social Concerns Committee, serving as librarian for Holy Spirit School, and confounding Your Second Closet (provided clothes for young men re-entering the workforce) with his grandson, Jordan.

He served on numerous boards, including Saint Francis College, Catholic Charities, and the Bishop’s Advisory Board, and served as President of New York Youth Team Tennis (awarded free tennis instruction to underserved youth in New York City).

He belonged to several national and local organizations in Washington, DC, New York, and Connecticut, including Dunbar Alumni Federation, 100 Black Men New York, 100 Black Men of Stamford, the Urban League, Knights of Columbus, Catholic Big Brothers (steering committee), and AARP.

He was an avid reader and letter writer, gardener, and enjoyed bridge, jigsaw puzzles, and tennis.

Since 2011, he resided in West Palm Beach, Florida, where he volunteered at the Lord’s Place and Café Joshua, and AARP, and in Westhampton, New York.

He was predeceased by his wife, Margaret Boston Toliver. He leaves to cherish his memory his daughter, Susan Toliver (Stephen Perry); son, Eric Toliver (Marcee); his grandchildren, Jordan, Devin, and Kristel; two great-grandchildren, Canon and Cora; his brother, James Toliver; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Friday, September 11, 2026 at 11:30 a.m. at Church of the Holy Spirit, 403 Scofieldtown Rd, Stamford, CT 06903.

Interment will immediately follow at Queen of Peace Cemetery, 124 Rock Rimmon Rd, Stamford, CT 06903.