Category: In Memoriam
In Memoriam
March 9, 2026
Dr. Christine Johnson McPhail Remembered for Leadership, Mentorship
"The word trailblazer doesn’t serve justice to Dr. Christine Johnson McPhail. Cypress College is remembering Dr. Johnson McPhail, the college’s barrier-breaking 7th president. Dr. Johnson McPhail is known for developing leaders, "
In Memoriam
January 16, 2026
Remembering Retired Dean Nina DeMarkey
"Cypress College is remembering Nina DeMarkey, retired dean of the Social Science Division. DeMarkey passed on January 1 in North Carolina. A celebration of her life is planned for Saturday, "
In Memoriam
November 18, 2025
Pat O’Brien, 26-Year Faculty Member and Interim Dean, Passes Away
"Patrick O’Brien — a long-time faculty member, active retiree, and chronicler of the campus — passed away on October 29, 2025. O’Brien was known for his affable nature and kindness "
In Memoriam
October 31, 2025
Cypress College Remembers Counselor Tom Nordee
"Cypress College is remembering long-time counseling faculty member Tom Nordee. Nordee passed away Sunday night following lengthy health issues. At Cypress College, he served as a counselor for several divisions: "
In Memoriam
October 24, 2025
Cypress College is Remembering Retired Professor Les Doak
"We learned this week that retired Professor Les Doak passed away on September 2, 2025, at the age of 84. He joined Cypress College in 1990 as an adjunct faculty "
In Memoriam
July 24, 2025
‘Matriarch of Cypress College’ Pat Ganer Remembered by Colleagues
"Pat Ganer wrote the book on Cypress College. Twice, actually. It only seems fitting that one of the college’s first students, who then returned in a faculty role that spanned "
In Memoriam
October 2, 2024
Remembering Charter Faculty Kaleta Brown
"Cypress College is remembering charter faculty member and former dean Kaleta Brown, who passed away on Thursday, September 27, 2024. Dr. Brown was a member of the original faculty at "
In Memoriam
March 28, 2024
Remembering Our Colleague Sergio Leonardo
"Dear Chargers, I am writing to honor and remember our colleague, Sergio Leonardo. Sergio suffered a medical emergency and passed away suddenly at home on the evening of Friday, March "
In Memoriam
October 11, 2022
Remembering Retiree Colette Johnson
"Cypress College is remembering retiree Colette Johnson, one of the campus’ initial cohort of employees who helped open the new campus in 1966. Johnson was an administrative assistant with a "
In Memoriam
June 1, 2021
Remembering Alumnus Mark Eaton
"Mark Eaton’s path to a record-setting NBA career could have been a Hollywood script. But, dig deeper and it also accurately depicts the role of community colleges: an instructor sees "