Day: January 29, 2026

VCCCDRA is catching up on posting notices of colleagues’ passing that had not been posted in past years.

Octavio Sifuentes passed away on April 23, 2013, in Ventura, California. He was born in Jerez, Zacatecas, Mexico, on March 20, 1937, to Juan and Amparo (Castro) Sifuentes.

After the death of his father, he immigrated with his mother and siblings to the United States, where Octavio’s mother believed she would have more opportunities as a single mother. In 1956, he graduated from Cantwell High School in Montebello, California.

Octavio served in the United States Army, 574th Engineering Company, from 1960 to 1962 and in the Army reserves until 1966.

He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in English from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, and a Master of Science in Library Science from California State University, Fullerton. Octavio was the Senior Reference Librarian at Ventura College from 1974 to 2004. He served as President of the local AFT and faculty advisor for Ventura College MEChA. He was an active member of the Mexican American Political Association (MAPA), helped found Clinicas del Camino Real, and served as a board member of El Concilio for many years. Octavio retired in 2004.

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

VCCCDRA is catching up on posting notices of colleagues’ passing that had not been posted in past years.

Ralph Smith passed away on September 20, 2012. Ralph was born February 2, 1940, in Springfield, Ohio. He had been a resident of Ventura County for 37 years after moving here from Santa Barbara. Ralph received Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

Ralph was a counselor, first at Ventura College and then at Oxnard College, where he remained until his death. Ralph also served as the campus Veterans’ Counselor at Oxnard College. Ralph served the City of Ventura on the Parks and Recreation Commission and was also a member of the Juvenile Justice Commission.

Ralph enjoyed growing orchids, and many of his colleagues were gifted with his prized orchids.

Please use this link to read Ralph’s obituary.

VCCCDRA is catching up on posting notices of colleagues’ passing that had not been posted in past years.

Shelley Signor passed away on October 7, 2014, in Fillmore, California, after battling cancer for almost two years. Shelley worked in the district’s Human Resource Office for more than 20 years. Shelley loved her job in HR because she was able to meet prospective employees and assist current employees as well as retirees. She retired from the VCCCD in 2011.

To read Shelley’s obituary, please use this link.

VCCCDRA is catching up on posting notices of colleagues’ passing that had not been posted in past years.

Shelley Savern passed away on June 28, 2017, in Ventura, California. Shelley served as a professor of English and Creative Writing at Oxnard College. Shelley was a gifted poet and the creator of the “Speaker Arts and Lecture Series” at the college. Shelley was also a prolific writer, authoring four books of poetry and two anthologies about teaching poetry. She received several writing awards and grants for teaching poetry. Her work was published over 100 times in numerous literary magazines and poetry anthologies. Shelley retired from Oxnard College in 2017, shortly before her death.

To read Shelley’s obituary, please use this link.

VCCCDRA is catching up on posting notices of colleagues’ passing that had not been posted in past years.

Larry Calderon passed on September 29, 2018. Larry was born in Los Angeles, California, on July 29, 1950, to Helen and Antonio Calderon. Larry was raised in Santa Paula, California, attending local public schools. He then continued his education at Ventura College. Later he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology at the University of California, Santa Barbara. He went on to earn a Master of Arts and Doctor of Education at the University of Southern California.

Larry began his career as an elementary school teacher. He returned to Ventura College as a Coordinator of Student Financial Services. Subsequently, Larry took a position as an Assistant Dean of Student Services at Los Angeles College. Returning to the VCCCD, he served sequentially as Vice President of Administrative Services, Vice President of Instruction at Oxnard College, and President of Ventura College. Larry then, moved to Florida where he served as President at Broward Community College and Vice President of Community and Government Relations at Nova Southeastern University, Florida, where he likewise served as a Doctoral Professor. He later became a Leadership Coach with Achieving the Dream, Inc. Larry retired in 2016.

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