Hayfield High School Principal Remembered at Candlelight Vigil

By Thompson Wall

Students gathered at Hayfield Secondary School Monday night for a candlelight vigil to remember former principal Dave Tremaine, who died of cancer Monday. He was 49.

Dave Tremaine, a native of Evanston, Illinois, graduated from the University of South Carolina and worked as a banker in Chicago before pursuing a career in education. 

Tremaine joined Fairfax County schools as a fourth grade teacher at Dranesville Elementary, where he met his wife, Robyn, in 1991. He previously worked at Luther Jackson Middle and Cub Run Elementary schools and served administrative roles at Lake Braddock Secondary School, Glasgow Middle School and Falls Church Academy. 

He served as principle at Hayfield Secondary School since 2010 until he stepped down May 28, citing unspecified medical reasons.

Tremaine was diagnosed with advanced colon cancer in 2011 and underwent chemotherapy, radiation and clinical trials while continuing to lead Hayfield, the Washington Post reports.

Tremaine's absence will be felt at Hayfield High School's graduation ceremony Tuesday afternoon at 4:30 p.m.

He died Monday afternoon at the Reston Hospital Center. Survivors include his wife, Robyn; his parents, Myron “Dave” Tremaine and Ann Tremaine; a brother; a sister; and three children, Samantha, 19, Grant, 16 and Parker, 10.