Citrus College Board of Trustees member Edward Ortell, the longest-serving community college trustee in California, died at 82 over the weekend.
Ortell died Oct. 16 and his cause of death is not listed in the memo.
Ortell provided the college with guidance throughout the past 50 years as the student population gradually doubled, Superintendent/President Greg Schulz said in a memo to staff.
“Though I only had the pleasure of working with Dr. Ortell for a few months, I was struck with how gracious he was with his time to help me become acclimated with Citrus College and his trustee area,” Schulz said in the memo. “He went out of his way to make me feel welcome, and I am grateful to have known him.”
Ortell was elected to the board in 1969 to represent area 3, encompassing Duarte as well as portions of Arcadia, Monrovia, Azusa, Irwindale and Covina.
“I’ve just enjoyed every minute of it,” Ortell said in 2001 in an interview with the Clarion. “I’m just so proud of Citrus College. They’re like family.”
During his tenure, Ortell oversaw the expansion of student services at Citrus, an increasing number of students transferring, the passing of measure g and the construction of multiple buildings, including the Haugh Performing Arts Center.
“He was an advocate for faculty and students and he was very dedicated to being a trustee,” Patricia Rasmussen, board of trustees president said in a phone interview.
In addition to being a trustee at Citrus, Ortell served on the California Community College Trustees Board, the California Master Plan for Education Task Force, the Los Angeles County School Trustees Association and as the executive director of the Pasadena Education Association, the memo said.
Rasmussen said the California Community College Trustees Association also honored him for his long term volunteer work with Citrus College.
In his time as a professor emeritus of business and computer technology at Pasadena City College, Ortell was awarded several National Science Foundation grants. He also received the CBS anchor Ralph Story Service Award, the Community College Association We Honor Ours Award and the Duarte Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Civic Service Award.
Ortell is survived by two fellow Citrus employees and family members: Brenda Fink, who is the staff diversity officer, and kinesiology faculty Cliff Wurst.
“I know everyone on the board is very saddened by this and we send out our regrets and our sympathies to his family,” Rasmussen said.
His death leaves an opening on the five-member board of trustees that will likely be filled by appointment.
This is a breaking story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
