“John graduated from high school with honors from St. Andrews School in Delaware, continuing his education at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). It was there he received both his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English.
“He was also a teacher’s assistant at UCSB for a year while working on his teaching credential. John spent a year in Greece working at the American Community School of Athens as the administrative assistant to the superintendent. It was during this time when he fell in love with Greece.
“John returned home to finish his schooling, and in 1971 began his new career as a professor at Moorpark College in Moorpark, California. He taught English and humanities for 32 years before retiring and moving to Hawaii with his wife, Donna. John spent a one-year sabbatical in Costa Rica and took many trips to Mexico, which kept him fluent in the Spanish language.
“John had many roles during his time at Moorpark College: faculty academic senate president, department chair of Language Arts, and his favorite role, professor. He loved teaching and mentoring his students, and he was well loved by them. John started offering student summer trips to Europe in the 1980s. It was a labor of love for him, ending them 17 years later.
“During his life, John served on many boards, committees, and even on the planning commission in Carpinteria, California. While living in Carpinteria, John joined a grassroots effort in the mid-1970s to protect the Carpinteria Bluffs from development by Chevron Corporation. Three years later, Chevron was prevented from developing on the Bluffs, allowing them to stay a natural habitat and become the nature preserve it is today. It was one of John’s proudest achievements.
“Besides traveling and classical music, John loved ancient history, jogging, scuba diving, a good book, and an occasional cigar. His greatest love was going to the Greek islands every summer, filling his soul with the magic he said they possessed.
“John is survived by the love of his life of 32 years, Donna, with whom he celebrated 22 years of marriage. He is also survived by two brothers, Edward Keller and Morgan Davie; one sister, Pamela Nash; one nephew, two nieces, and one stepson. A private celebration of life for John was held in Carpinteria, California, at the Rincon Beach Club in April 2026.”
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Retired (February 2015); Dean, Career and Technical Education, Oxnard College (2008-2015); Professor, Business, Oxnard College (1992-2008); Adjunct Professor, Business, Business Information Systems, Moorpark and Ventura Colleges (1976-1992); Intermediate Steno Secretary, Moorpark and Ventura Colleges (1970-1974).
