Day: January 30, 2026

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Obituaries

Monte Abbath’s Passing

Monte Abbath
Monte Abbath

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

Monte Abbath passed away on May 14, 2014, in Fair Oaks, California. Monte retired from his position at Moorpark College as the campus carpenter. Monte also served as a volunteer firefighter with Moorpark Fire Station 42 for 16 years.

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

Categories
Obituaries

Cheryl Shearer’s Passing

Cheryl Shearer
Cheryl Shearer

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

Cheryl Shearer passed on July 8, 2008, after a lengthy illness Cheryl was a founding faculty at Oxnard College where she was hired as a professor of business. She retired as dean of business and technology in 2005 after 32 years of service.

Please use this link to read Cheryl’s obituary.

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Obituaries

Ken Ainge’s Passing

Ken Ainge
Ken Ainge

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

Kenneth “Ken” Ainge passed away on December 4, 2005, in St. George, Utah. Ken was a founding faculty member at Moorpark College and a professor of business. He was elected to the Conejo Valley School District Board of Education in 1977. Ken retired from Moorpark College as the Dean of Business and Technology in 1987.

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

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Obituaries

Gary B. Morgan’s Passing

Gary B. Morgan
Gary B. Morgan

VCCCDRA is catching up on posting notices of colleagues’ passing that had not been posted in past years. On the “List of Deceased Retirees” page, we invited retirees to forward information on departed retirees. Tom Stough has provided the following for Gary B Morgan:

Gary B. Morgan was born on November 5, 1943, in San Diego, California, the son of Howard Wilson and Loyola Elizabeth (Heiberger) Morgan. Gary passed on April 30, 2015, in Camarillo, California.

Gary retired in 2003 from Oxnard College as a professor of journalism

Gary graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from New Mexico Highlands University, Las Vegas, 1966; with a Master of Arts degree from Colorado State University, 1968; and with a doctorate from University Northern Colorado, 1990.

Gary’s career began as the Southern California prep sports editor for the Los Angeles Examiner, 1959-1961, and then as the sports editor for the Star-News, National City, California, 1960-1961. Subsequently, he then moved to broadcast journalism as an announcer at KFUN Radio, Las Vegas, New Mexico, 1963-1966. He then took a position as the sports information director for the New Mexico Highlands University, 1964-1966. He was a graduate teaching assistant in the English department at Colorado State University, 1966-1968. H then served as the information director at Mount Plains Intercollegiate Athletic Association, 1968-1971 and 1974-1976.

Gary moved into education as an assistant professor in journalism at Metropolitan State College, Denver, 1977-1984. In 1984, Gary accepted a position as a professor in journalism at Oxnard College, California. The following year he received the Mark Dever Award for Excellence in Teaching, 1985-86. Gary Retired in 2003.

Additional information about Gary’s career can be found at https://prabook.com/web/gary_b.morgan/800299.

Categories
Obituaries

Frank Salazar’s Death

Frank Salazar
Frank Salazar

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

Frank Salazar passed on June 24, 2000. The Salazar family provided the following:

Frank Anthony Salazar
“My joy in life is performing this music,
My pleasure in life is sharing it with you”

Frank Salazar could hardly remember a time when he wasn’t interested in music. Born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Frank was educated at the University of New Mexico, the Music Conservatory of Rome, and the Julliard School of Music in New York. Frank graduated from the University of Southern California with bachelor’s (1950) and master’s (1956) degrees in music.

Frank taught music at Oxnard High School. Then in 1956, he became a member of the faculty at Ventura College, where he shared his love of music with thousand of students and mentored many young professional musicians. He delighted in watching them develop their talents and find joy in the world of music. For so many of his students, Frank’s encouragement and support was a powerful influence in their lives.

In 1962, Frank founded the Ventura County Symphony and was the conductor and music director until his retirement in 1992. Frank was active in bringing fine music to the County of Ventura through many music festivals, such as the Midsummer Music Festival (1965 to 1977), and by featuring many nationally known artists in performances with the Ventura County Symphony. He also conducted and performed numerous concerts in Southern California, Mexico, Spain, and Switzerland.

In recognition of such an accomplished lifetime, Frank received such honors as the first Latino Achievement Award from Gente magazine in 1983; was named Outstanding Community Contributor by the Oxnard City Council in 1984; was named “one of the area’s 10 most influential citizens of the last half century” by the Ventura County Star Free Press in 1985; was named Citizen of the Year by the City of Ventura in 1986; received the Ventura College Academic Senate Community Award in 1987; and was entered into the Congressional Record for enhancing “the cultural resources of Ventura County” on March 24, 1992.

Favoring all types of music, Frank said that his favorite piece was that being performed at the present moment. He was a great artist and a generous and faithful friend to many. His love of music enriched the community and the lives of everyone with whom he came in contact.

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