VCCCDRA has learned of the passing of VC’s long-term part-time professor (30 years) in 2014. Ben taught history and Chicano Studies. Below is his obituary copied from the VC website.
Beloved family man and professor Benjamin F. Saiz peacefully passed away surrounded by his family on Friday, November 21, 2014. Ben taught history and Chicano studies at Ventura College for over 30 years.
Born in East L.A., Ben attended Cal State University Northridge, where he served as MEChA and senior class president. He earned his master’s degree at San Jose State University. Ben was a retired Youth Probation and Parole Officer.
He served in various political offices in Ventura County, including the Grand Jury and the Santa Paula Elementary School Board. One of his proudest accomplishments was serving as advisor and actor to the filming of “Stand and Deliver.” He was an avid collector of Chicano art, which he showcased throughout the county.
Ben will be dearly missed by his family and the community. His contributions to society and his legacy as an instructor were honored through the Ben Saiz Memorial Scholarship awarded in 2015 in support of a History and Chicano Studies student of Ventura College.
It is with deep sadness that the VCCCDRA has learned of the passing of Richard Brunner, long-time part-time Mathematics instructor at Ventura College. Richard passed on March 12, 2021 of Brain Cancer. Per Marta Freixas, VCCCDRA executive board member, Richard taught more than 35 years, “had a delightful personality and was a lot of fun to speak with in the workroom or at meetings.”
A Mass for Richard will be held on March 18th at Sacred Heart Church, 10800 Henderson Rd, Ventura at 11 am. Everyone is asked to observe COVID-19 regulations.
Please use this link to read his obituary published in the Ventura County Star.
It is with sadness that VCCCDRA has learned of the recent passing of Jay Crane, long time part-time instructor of chemistry at Oxnard College.
Per Dr. Luanne Crocket, retired Oxnard College chemistry professor, “Jay taught chemistry labs for us for about 15 years. He was a great guy, a very talented person. He will be missed.”
To read Jay’s obituary in the Ventura County Star, please use this link.
With sadness, VCCCDRA has learned of the passing of Chiiho Terada, a long time part-time instructor at Ventura College. Chiiho, passed away on January 28, 2021 from cancer.
Chiiho graduated from the University of Southern California’s School of Architecture with a bachelor’s degree in industrial design. For more than 35 years, Chiico was a part-time instructor in drafting and mechanical drawing at Ventura College. Hundreds of his students found employment throughout Ventura County and beyond, contributing to the region’s strength as a high tech manufacturing hub.
A Celebration of Life service will be held for Chiiho on Saturday, February 27 at 10 a.m. at the Conejo Mountain Memorial Park in Camarillo.
It is with sadness that VCCCDRA learned of the passing of Bona Dillon Press, retired professor of journalism at Moorpark College. Bona passed away on February 6, 2021 of cancer. Her death came one year to the day of the passing of her husband, Larry Press.
“A small private graveyard service took place this week. But please mark your calendars for Aug. 6, 2021, when we will have a party and celebration at the Ventura Harbor in honor of this remarkable woman’s life. Stay tuned for info. And as Bona would frequently say in parting, “Take good care of yourself. Cheers.” ”
Today, VCCCDRA learned of the recent passing of Nikolaso “Nick” Ioannidis on January 24, 2021, after a short illness with cancer. Harry Culotta, past VCCCDRA President, remembers “Nick not only ran his own HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) company, but he also taught for many years in the Air Conditioning and Refrigeration program at Oxnard College, under the lead instructor Bob Chatenever. His obituary in the Ventura County Star, does not mention his teaching, although it should because he worked diligently to train students in the program.”
Per the family’s wishes, the services will be private.
Please use this link to read his obituary in the VC Star.
With deep sadness, VCCCDRA has learned of the passing of Carlos B. Ramirez on August 19, 2020 of pancreatic cancer. Carlos earned a bachelor of arts in Political Science from San Francisco State University in 1968, Master of Arts from the University of New Mexico in 1969, and Ph.D. in Political Science from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1979
Carlos first served Ventura County students as a political science professor at Moorpark College. While at Moorpark, Carlos wrote and was awarded a grant that established the Fillmore/Piru Bilingual Bicultural Vocational Center that later (after Carlos had left the VCCCD) became the Bilingual Vocational Education Program at Ventura College campus and Santa Paula Center. He served as the first Director of this Center that was located in Fillmore, first under the administration of Moorpark College, then after Proposition 13 was voted in, the program was transferred to Ventura College. Carlos next served county students as the Dean of Vocational Education at Oxnard College.
In 1983, he became the first Latino President of San Francisco City College (and to date the only Latino to have held that position). His tenure as president at SFCC, 1983-1989, was challenging as this was a time of brutal community college budget cuts and it was also during this time that California first levied tuition to community college students. After his tenure at SFCC, Carlos returned to his native New Mexico.
A celebration of his life will be held at a later date.
To read his obituary published in the Santa Fe New Mexican newspaper, please use this link.
With sadness, VCCCDRA learned over the weekend of the passing from brain cancer on January 9, 2021, of Jim Englund. Jim was a well-known commercial photographer and longtime adjunct instructor in photography at Oxnard College.
There will be a celebration of Jim’s life at a later time.
Please use this link to view his obituary on the Ventura County Star.
With sadness, VCCCDRA learned over the weekend of the passing on January 9, 2021, of Rita Carls, retired administrative assistant in the Athletics and Physical Education department at Oxnard College.
Services and interment were privately held at Conejo Mountain Cemetery in Camarillo.
Please use this link to view her obituary in the Ventura County Star.
With great sadness, VCCCDRA was informed that Bob Camarillo, passed on Tuesday, November 3.
Ginny Camarillo, Bob’s wife, provided Bob’s obituary below, that will be published in the VC Star on Sunday, November 15.
Jesus “Bob” Camarillo
Jesus (Bob) Camarillo, 88, left this Life on Tuesday, November 3, with his wife, Ginny, by his side.
It is difficult to describe in a few words what an amazing life Bob lived and the “larger than life” human being he was.
He loved his family, law enforcement and teaching, the Marine Corps, traveling, the ballet and symphony, little children and dogs. He was intelligent, curious and funny with a great sense of confidence and had “hundreds of stories.” He was tremendously generous with his time … with his students, Scouts, and young Marines … constantly promoting further education and encouraging belief in oneself.
Bob was born at home on Anthony Street in El Paso, Texas, on June 12, 1932. He said he felt from the moment he was born God blessed him … and with that feeling he lived a long and adventurous life.
Bob said he was an adult before he realized his family was financially impoverished, but with his mother, many uncles, grandparents, and neighborhood friends (along with music and an insatiable curiosity) his childhood was happy. His life changed dramatically during World War II with the death of eight of his uncles. It was during that time that his passion for the Marine Corps began.
When he was 11, Bob and his mother moved to Los Angeles. He felt blessed that his mother and grandparents instilled in him the importance of education and perseverance. As time passed he increasingly appreciated how much his mother had sacrificed to provide for him … his education, his confidence, his compassion and weekend ice cream sundaes.
At age 15 he and several friends lied about their ages, forged parental signatures and joined the United States Marine Corps. He was finishing boot camp when his mother found him. Bob felt fortunate that a local police officer encouraged her to allow him to remain in the Corps rather than return to the neighborhood where he had struggled to avoid gang membership.
Initially he was stationed at Camp Pendleton. Then the Marine Corps took him to Japan, China, the Philippines, and then to the Korean War. He fought in the historic Chosin Reservoir campaign and was wounded and captured.
After he returned to Los Angeles he married, had three children (Robert, Michele and Teresa), attended USC (Criminal Justice program) and was on the football team. His senior year he transferred to CSULA and graduated with a Bachelor’s degree.
Bob worked in law enforcement for the Pasadena Police Department and then the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department. From the streets of Los Angeles as a Deputy he became a Detective, worked Robbery, Vice and the Watts Riots, was assigned to motorcades for dignitaries like President Eisenhower and became a resident Deputy living with his family on Catalina Island for two years. He continued in the Marine Corps as a Reservist and served two tours as a company commander in Viet Nam. He was also on the Marine Corps Rifle/Pistol team. Bob is one of only 58 members of the military to earn the title of “Double Distinguished”.
After seventeen years with the Sheriff’s Department he retired and began working for the Police Officer Standards and Training (POST) Commission and teaching at Rio Hondo College. During his tenure, Rio Hondo became the premier college for Criminal Justice in California.
Bob transferred to Merced College and also enjoyed working as a seasonal ranger at Yosemite National Park. He came to Ventura College as an Instructor in the Police Science Program, then obtained a Master’s degree in Administration of Justice from California Lutheran University. He also enjoyed teaching School Law at CLU for many years in the Graduate Education program. He often ended the semester with a home-cooked spaghetti dinner for his students. In 1975 he was asked to help establish the newly-inaugurated Oxnard College and became the Dean of Continuing Education.
He returned to Ventura College and taught in the Administration of Justice program. He spent a 5-month sabbatical working with the British Police in their training academy and “on the street.”
A long-time friend said Bob “made good students great professionals.” A former colleague said, “This big imposing guy always had a smile, was always in good spirits. He reflected the personality and character of someone we want to have in law enforcement. We were fortunate to have him teaching Criminal Justice at Ventura College”.
In May 2003, after 36 years of teaching, he retired. With his wife, Ginny, he pursued his dream of visiting many of the countries he had read about as a child and never imagined he would see.
He was a long-time member of the Knights of Columbus on Catalina Island and in Ventura. Ventura’s Sacred Heart Cub and Boy Scout troops acknowledged him for his 8-year involvement with the church sponsored troops.
Bob was excited to continue his affiliation with the Marine Corps. For eight years he was president and reunion organizer for his Korean War company. Many times he was invited to be guest speaker at retirements, changes of command, and annual Marine Corps birthday celebrations where he shared his belief that military leaders have a sacred responsibility to those
who entrust their lives to them.
Bob is a wonderful example of a life well-lived. Memories of Bob are treasures — living life with gusto and a compassionate heart will keep his spirit alive. Bob is survived by his wife, Virginia (Ginny) and his 3 children, Robert Camarillo (Mary), Michele Kipp (Michael) and Teresa Norton (Tony); his grandchildren Christopher Camarillo, David McGrath (Danielle) and Stephanie Demar (Scott) and great-grandchildren Ariana and Christopher Camarillo, Mackenzie McGrath and Olivia and Rowan Demar.
The family is very appreciative of the incredibly compassionate care and support Dr. Bruce Woodling and Tanya Balden provided to Bob during his illness.
Family and friends are invited to a Funeral Mass of Christian Burial to be officiated by Fr. Daniel O’Sullivan at Noon on Saturday, November 21, 2020 at Sacred Heart Church, 10800 Henderson Road, Ventura.
The church is prepared for social distancing. Masks are required. Outdoor seating with a large screen television will be available for those who prefer not to enter the church. In addition, the service will be streamed at: www.facebook.com/michele.camarillokipp.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Caregivers, Volunteers Assisting the Elderly (Ventura).
