Category: 03 – Obituaries

NOTE:   It has come to our attention that the passing of George McNeely on September 17, 2009 at the age of 95, was missed by the association, and his obituary is not in our BLOG archives.  We apologize to his family and his many friends and acquaintances.

George McNeeley, began his academic career in the early 1940s at Ventura College in a teaching position in vocational agriculture.  He took a military leave to join the Navy and participate in WWII.  As a lieutenant commander in the Navy, George was in charge of a landing craft to make the Normandy  invasion.  His craft was one of the first to successfully unload its cargo of men and machines on the beach.  His participation in the Normandy invasion was a subject of many presentations in the Ventura community upon his return.

After his return from the war and his return to Ventura College, George continued to teach, then served as Dean of Men and Dean of Students. George retired in 1973.  He was also a founding member of the Ventura College Foundation in 1985.

George served the city and County of Ventura in various roles, including as a member of the Ventura Breakfast Lions Club and as a volunteer at the Ventura County Fair.

Of very special note, George McNeely made a $25,000 donation to the VCCCDRA Legal Fund during our organization’s first lawsuit against the college district.  It is this fund that has sustained us in dealing with ongoing legal issues.  The VCCCDRA owes a great deal of gratitude to George McNeely.

To read George’s obituary and learn of his many accomplishments, please use this link.

Sadly, the VCCCDRA has learned of the passing of Carmen Llanes, on March 24, 2023.  Carmen worked at and retired from the Records Office at Oxnard College.  Carmen was loved by all who knew her, especially students.

The Vigil was held on April 11th and the Funeral Mass was on April 12th.

No obituary for Carmen has been published.  Below are recollections from Harry Culotta and David Magallanes.

Harry: I’m so sorry to learn of Carmen Llanes‘s passing. She was a superb A&R tech at Oxnard College for many years. Carmen was the go-to person for all military veterans on campus. She had a keen knowledge of the federal regulations regarding veterans’ educational benefits. Congress periodically has enacted new G.I Bill legislation that applies to veterans serving in specific wars (e.g. Vietnam, Gulf War I, Gulf War II, Post 911) and/or specific dates of service.. Accordingly, the regulations implementing the federal laws affect veterans differently, impacting the dollar amounts veterans receive each month in educational benefits. This was no problem for Carmen because she was intimately familiar with all the regs, and OC’s students benefited from her knowledge. She was also very upbeat and positive with all (students, faculty, and staff) who were in contact with her. She is definitely missed!

David:  My recollection is that when Carmen Llanes interacted with younger Hispanic students at the registration windows, she would often address them as “mija” (pronounced “ME-ha”) and “mijo” (“ME-ho”), contractions for “mi hija” and “mi hijo,” which in Spanish literally mean “my daughter” and “my son.”

To the Hispanic ear, these are acceptable terms of endearment, conveying to them that she cared about helping them. It would make these students feel as if someone from “home” was wanting to help them with their paperwork and questions.

 

With sadness, VCCCDRA has learned of the recent passing of Edith Stone on April 4, 2023.  Edith was a retiree from the VCCCD District Office, where she was the receptionist/switchboard operator.  Edit was 95 at the time of her passing.

No services are planned and no obituary was published.

It is with sadness that the VCCCDRA has learned of the passing of Paul Acker, retired psychology professor from Ventura College.

Paul graduated from Occidental College with a degree in Music.  He then earned a Masters Degree in Psychology at Los Angeles State College, which became California State University at Los Angeles. There he also attained a teaching credential which allowed for his work at community colleges, this during a time that community college professors needed credentials to teach.  Paul later earned a Doctor of Ministry Degree, with emphasis on family counseling, at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California.

Paul’s celebration of life was held in March, in Ferndale, WA.

Please use this link to read Paul’s complete obituary.

With sadness, VCCCDRA has learned of the recent passing of Victor Fernando Fontaine, retired philosophy professor from Moorpark College.  He passed away on March 8, 2023.  Victor was born in Santiago, Chile.  He attended the University in Fribourg, Switzerland, earning a master’s degree and PhD before coming to the United States. At UCLA, he earned a master’s in philosophy and an MBA.  Victor served on the board of Habitat for Humanity and for three years was a Planning Commissioner for the city of Oxnard. In 1991 he became a college professor at Moorpark College, where he taught for 24 years.

Mortuary visitation will be Saturday, April 8th from 11:30am to 12:30pm directly followed by a Funeral service at Reardon Simi Valley Funeral Home, 2636 Sycamore Drive, Simi Valley 93065.

To read Victor’s complete obituary, please use this link.

With sadness, VCCCDRA has learned of the passing of Dr. Al Fernandez on February 14, 2023. Dr. Fernandez was chancellor of the VCCCD in the 1980s, before he went on to be chancellor of the Coast Community College District.

Viewing is March 16 from 4-8pm, with vigil service at 7pm, at Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks at 5600 Lindero Canyon Rd, Westlake Village, CA 91362. The funeral mass is Friday, March 17 10:00am at St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church, 32032 Lindero Canyon Rd, Westlake Village, CA. Flowers may be sent to Pierce Brothers Valley Oaks, address above.

Dr. Fernandez daughter, Christina, invites all to a luncheon at Boccaccio’s Yacht Club,  across the street from St Jude’s Church.

Please use this link to read Dr. Fernandez obituary, printed in the Ventura County Star.

VCCCDRA has learned of the passing of Coach Jim Bittner on February 7, 2023.  Coach Bittner was the head football coach at Moorpark College for 32  years.  Prior to coaching at MC, Coach Bittner was coach at Oxnard High School.

A service of remembrance will be held at 10 am on Tuesday, March 7th at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 13955 Peach Hill Road, Moorpark. A reception will immediately follow at the hall at Holy Cross. Those who wish to remember Coach in a special way may make gifts in his memory to the Moorpark College Foundation, James L. Bittner Memorial Scholarship, 7075 Campus Road, Moorpark, CA 93021 or by using this link: https://moorparkcollegefoundation-bloom.kindful.com/

Please use this link to read Coach Jim Bittner’s obituary.

VCCCDRA has recently learned of the passing of Don Cook, retired economics professor at Ventura College.  Don passed on December 6, 2022.  Sadly, Don’s wife, Caroline also passed away the day after Don.

After graduating from Park College in Parkville, MO, Don joined the US Navy and was stationed at Point Mugu.  After his enlistment was over, he returned to Kansas and earned a Master’s Degree in Economics from the University of Kansas.  Don then returned to California where he accepted a teaching position at Ventura College where he taught for almost 40 years.

A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. on January 24th at Carpinteria Cemetery.

To read Don’s complete obituary, please use this link.

VCCCDRA has learned of the passing  on November 30th, 2022 of Glenn Hisayasu, retired Dean of Student Services at Ventura College.   As a young boy, Glenn and his family were incarcerated  during World War II with other Japanese Americans.  After WWII, he and his family returned to San Fernando Valley were he graduated from John H. Francis Polytechnic High School in Sun Valley in 1966.  A few years later Glenn served his country in the Vietnam War.  After the war, Glenn attended Cal State LA to pursue a degree in educational psychology.  He later earned a Doctorate in Education.  Glenn accepted the position of Dean of Student Services at Ventura College in 1997 and remained until retirement in 2008.

A Celebration of Glenn’s Life will be held at Grace Church in Ventura on Saturday, January 14th at 2 pm (65 MacMillan Ave, Ventura, CA, 93001). The family requests in lieu of flowers, please feel free to donate to The City Center Transitional Living Center (https://thecitycenter.org/monetary-giving/), selecting Glenn’s name in tribute.

Please use this link to read Glenn’s full obituary.

VCCCDRA has learned of the passing of Linda Callaway, retired EOPS Technician at Oxnard College.  A Celebration of Life for Linda is planned for January 14th at Oxnard College’s PAB-Conference Center at 11 am (please refer to photo).

Her obituary will be posted when it is available.