Obituary of Candace Dyal

May 17, 2023

All who knew and loved Candace Dyal are mourning her loss following a lengthy battle with cancer. Candace passed away at home on May 17 at age 69.

Candace was born on December 4, 1953, in Baltimore to the late Richard Eldredge Whiffen and the late Marjory Cady Whiffen. At the time of her death, she resided in the West Village of Manhattan.

She grew up in many places around the United States including South Bend, Ind., Ridgewood, N.J., and Doylestown, Pa. Her homes in later years included not only New York City but Chappaqua, N.Y.; London; Boston; and Kiawah Island, S.C.

Candace was a proud graduate of Wheaton College (Norton, Mass.) in 1976 and went on to work in many different career fields. She started out selling mattresses, later worked on Wall Street and went on to enjoy successful careers in children’s clothing manufacturing and real estate sales. Eventually she started her own real estate development company, Dyal Compass. Dyal Compass created Indigo Park on Kiawah Island, S.C., recognized as one of the nation’s most sustainable living communities.

Her intense focus on sustainability reflected her lifelong passion for making the world a better place. A quiet but generous philanthropist, she was valued for her leadership on the governing boards of Wheaton College, Camp Kieve in Nobleboro, Maine, and the Northfield Mount Hermon School in Gill, Mass. She also donated to other causes, such as the Alzheimer’s Association, the World Wildlife Fund and Washington Performing Arts in Washington D.C.

A lover of cultural diversity, Candace greatly enjoyed traveling at every possible opportunity; and, over time, she visited nearly every continent. As a result of these extensive travels and her comfort interacting with people from all walks of life, she touched the lives of people around the globe. She had countless circles of friends, who all gravitated toward her because of her enthusiasm for life.

Candace has two surviving sons, Nicholas Palmer “Nick” Dyal and Evan Richard

Dyal, who today live and work in New York City. Her sons were, purely and simply, Candace’s greatest point of pride. She raised them to be good people and citizens of the world who give back and lift up those around them.

Other survivors include her older brother, Richard Cady Whiffen (Mary Zoller) of North Wales, Pa.; her older sister, Janet Whiffen Jones (Raymond) of Charlotte N.C.; her younger sister, Karen Whiffen Oberg (Jeffrey) of Naples, Fla., and her former husband, Gordon E. Dyal of Greenwich, Conn. She loved and was adored by her eight nieces and nephews, who will benefit always from her example of loving life, always doing your best and always giving back to others.

Her sons would like to thank all those who helped and supported Candace during her courageous battle with cancer. In addition, they extend a special thanks to the doctors and nurses at NYU Langone Medical Center, who took such exceptional care of Candace during her time of need.

The family suggests that, in lieu of flowers, friends memorialize Candace by donating to any organization that, to them, best represents Candace’s spirit and enduring legacy.