John Boyd 3d, Manor College educator

John E. Boyd 3d, 76, founder of the Learning Center at Manor College in Jenkintown, died of complications of heart disease Saturday at his home in King of Prussia.

I. Jerry Czenstuch, vice president for enrollment management at Manor, said Mr. Boyd was director of the Learning Center from its founding in 1986 to 1995.

Czenstuch said Mr. Boyd's agency provided "tutoring, help with study skills, mentoring."

In 1995, he received Manor's Teacher Excellence Award.

Mr. Boyd was reading and testing specialist for Manor's admissions office from 1996 to 2005.

With both the Learning Center and the admissions office, he helped those "who grew up in countries that have very unstructured education systems," Czenstuch said, and helped students from "less than desirable neighborhoods in the U.S."

Czenstuch added that "with tremendous empathy and a great sense of humor, John was known for his ability to develop a plan ensuring success for these students."

Born in Lebanon, Pa., Mr. Boyd graduated from Altoona High School and earned his bachelor's degree in education from Pennsylvania State University and his master's degree in psychology from Temple University.

His wife, Constance, said that Mr. Boyd taught at the Kimberton Waldorf School in Chester County and then in the Pottstown School District.

She said he worked with the Philadelphia office of Research for Better Schools, a private, nonprofit organization, and, until joining Manor, was a reading coordinator for the Owen J. Roberts School District in Chester County.

Mr. Boyd spent his first two college years at Penn State's Altoona campus.

With a former student there, his wife said, he established the John E. Boyd and Bernard G. Monahan Award to fund books and tuition for students at the Altoona campus.

A member of the International Reading Association, Mr. Boyd conducted workshops for its Readability Special Interest Group at conventions across the nation and in Stockholm and Toronto.

He was an audiobook reviewer for soundcommentary.com, a library reference.

Besides his wife of 29 years, Mr. Boyd is survived by sons John 4th and Carl; daughters Penelope, Candace, and Therese; a stepson, Richard E. Maximowicz Jr.; a stepdaughter, Linda Maximowicz; four grandchildren; a brother; a sister; and several nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his former wife, Miriam Boyd.

Visitation is from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the Bacchi-Courtney Funeral Home, 805 DeKalb St., Bridgeport, and from 9 to 9:50 a.m. tomorrow at St. Isaac Jogues Roman Catholic Church, 50 W. Walker Rd., Wayne, before a 10 a.m. Funeral Mass there. Burial will be in the Cemetery of Washington Memorial Chapel in Valley Forge National Historical Park.