VCCCDRA BLOG

The VCCCD Retirees Association has learned of the passing of the following colleagues.  Because we are unable to provide additional information on them, we invite the membership to provide any memories you may have of these departed colleagues in the comments below.

• For Connie Drusen (passed on 12/24/2014), retired from VC; her obituary was published in the VC Star but is now archived and no longer accessible.
• For Antonio Mariscal (passed on 06/30/2016), retired from OC; a notice was published in the Santa Clara Mortuary website, but no obituary was found.

For those listed below, no obituaries have been been found in a local mortuary nor in the VC Star.

• Carl Burkert
• Lucille Edgar (passed on 05/08/2016)
• Marijane Farley
• Betty Hill
• James Pardee
• Daniel Rios
• Virginia Sommerhauser (passed on 10/25/2017)
• Carmen Taylor

To visit the VCCCDRA website, click here.

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)