Author: Carmen Guerrero

The VCCCD Retirees Association recently learned of the passing of Dr. Howard Schiller on October 14, 2017.

Dr. Howard L. Schiller Ventura, CA August 8, 1927- October 14, 2017 In loving memory of Howard L. Schiller who was an extraordinary man who accomplished more in his life then most could dream about. He was incredibly kind, loving and generous. He was loved and adored by so many, he will be greatly missed. Served in the US Navy, Retired LAPD Sargent, Teacher, Retired Professor Ventura Community College, Ventura Superior Municipal Court Commissioner, Coast Guard Auxiliary Search and Rescue Commander. Most of all he was a loving Husband of 58 years, Father, Docpa and friend. He died peacefully at home with family and friends .

Published in Ventura County Star from Oct. 27 to Oct. 29, 2017.  To read his obituary, please click here.

To visit the VCCCDRA website, click here.

Gary Brinkman, a founding faculty at Oxnard College in 1975, passed away on June 30, 2019.  Gary served as a counselor and taught Health Education classes.  In later years before his retirement, he served as the Articulation Officer for the college.

Gary graduated from Brigham Young University with a bachelor’s degree; earned a master’s degree from  California State Polytechnic University, Pomona; and an Ed.D from Brigham Young University.

We have not been able to locate an obituary for Gary.

To visit the VCCCDRA website, click here.

The following was received from Rebecca Taggart Aaland, Mike’s daughter:

“Our loving, curmudgeonly, master story-telling father, Michael Taggart Sr. passed away peacefully on July 27^th at his summer home in Michigan, at the age of 88. There was lightning and thunderclaps, gale-force winds, and rain as he left the house for the last time.

“Mike was many things.  He was an intellectual, attending Princeton University and Colorado College.  He taught English at The Ojai Valley School in the early 60s, was a hippie professor in the late 60’s and early 70’s, and later taught English Literature at Ventura College for many years. He was beloved by his many students.

“Mike was an irreverent tennis player, winning his first tournament in 1953.  In his 60s, he and his partner won the senior national doubles title, with oh-so-many matches in between.  He loved everything that moves fast, and was a serious, to put it mildly, collector of cars, boats and motorcycles, and his Ojai garage has been a destination for many vintage car and motorcycle enthusiasts over the decades.

“He is survived by his loving children, Rebecca Taggart and Michael Taggart, their spouses Mikkel Aaland and Lori Taggart, his granddaughters Miranda and Ana Aaland, and his long-time partner, Hiroko Yoshimoto.

“There will be a memorial on Sunday, September 8, starting at 5pm, at court one in Libby Park. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorial contributions in his name to the Ojai Valley Tennis Tournament (OVTC).”

The above obituary was published in the Ventura County Star on Sunday, August 25, 2019; click here to view.

To visit the VCCCDRA website, click here.

Virginia Johnson, part-time faculty at both Ventura College and Oxnard College, passed away on August 7, 2019 at the age of 94.  Virginia attended Glendale College as an art major and illustrator for the college newspaper.  She received a BA in Sociology from California State University, Northridge, and then a Masters in Vocational Education from California State University, Long Beach.  Virginia taught classes in journalism, English, typing and keyboarding, first at Ventura College and then at Oxnard College where she retired in 2004 at the age of 79.

A complete history of her life was published in the Ventura County Star on Sunday, August 11, 2019.  Please click here to read the obituary.

To visit the VCCCDRA website, click here.

Janice Endo in Human Resources was kind enough to share, with Joy Kobayashi and Harry Cullotta, the names of additional former (retired) VCCCD employees who have passed away within the last three years.  Their passing was unknown to the VCCCDRA until so informed by Janice.  We are grateful to her for helping us keep tabs on so many of our membership living in so many locales.

Because we have not been able to locate informed obituaries, we are asking the membership’s help in providing information on our recently passed colleagues.  We would like to know which location they worked, position(s) they held, and any other memories you may have.

The names Janice provided are (please click on each name to read the limited obituary for each):

McCallian N. Blain (photo included)

Mike Taggart, former ESL instructor for the Bilingual Vocational Arts program at Ventura College, passed on July 27, 2019 (he was born on September 15, 1930).  Mike would have been 89 next month.

Daughter Rebecca Taggart informed us that there will be a celebration of life for Mike in Ojai on September 8th.   More information will follow.

Hiroko Yoshimoto spent the five last days of his life by his bedside together with his family and friends in his house at Higgins Lake in Michigan.  When contacting us about Mike’s passing, Hiroko shared that Mike was a very close friend for nearly 40 years, and that in those days, he held court at the campus cafeteria with Frank Salazar, Mike Seely, Don Clark, Gary Johnson and many others most of whom are no longer with us.

Mike’s obituary was published in the Ventura County Star on Sunday, August 25, 2019; click here to view.

To visit the VCCCDRA website, click here.

The VCCCDRA Board recently learned of the passing of Jim Jarvaise on June 19, 2015.   Although it has been more than four years, we wanted the retiree membership to be informed of his passing.

Jim Jarvarise was a Founding Faculty at Oxnard College having begun his tenure in 1975.  Jim was an internationally known painter whose works were displayed at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City, Gallery San Jorge in Madrid Spain and many others.

There is a beautiful article about Jim, his family, and his home in Santa Barbara in the Santa Barbara Magazine (beginning on page 118), click  the link to read the article; and a  biography of Jim on Wipipedia and can be viewed thru this link.

To visit the VCCCDRA website, click here.

The VCCCDRA recently learned of the passing of Jeri Chandler.  Jeri worked at Moorpark College for nearly 20 years.  She served as Student Services Specialist and Matriculation Specialist.  She passed away peacefully on July 1, 2019.  A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, August 24th at 1 pm at the Thousand Oaks Inn — Banquet Center, located at 75 W. Thousand Oaks Boulevard, Thousand Oaks.

To read Jeri’s obituary please, click here.

To visit the VCCCDRA website, click here.