Thomas Edward Nicol

July 30, 1920 ~ January 6, 2015

On January 6, in Sacramento, California, Tom Nicol passed away at 94-1/2. He is preceded in death by Lois Nicol, his high school sweetheart and loving wife of 61 years and by his son-in-law, William G. Quinn. Tom is survived by his children, Beverly (Roger) Reed, Camillee Quinn, Morgan (Simona) Nicol, and Karen Nicol. Grandfather to Michael Reed, Kim Quinn-O'Hara, Sheri Reed, Rebecca Quinn, William Quinn Jr., Christy Minor, Stephanie Nicol, and Max Nicol. Great-Grandfather to Karen Wines, Ruthi Reed, Clyde Whitman, Will Quinn, Caroline Reed, Emme Quinn, Leo Whitman, Ashley Minor, Shamus O'Hara, Quinn Ann O'Hara, Shelby Minor, and Anna Quinn. Great-Great Grandfather to Liam Wines. Tom was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on July 30, 1920, to James and Lida Nicol. He was brother to John, Ede, Margaret, James, Billy, Robert and twin sister, Betty. After graduating from high school in Brainerd, Minnesota, he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corp and was one of the few male WWII survivors from his high school class, most of whom died in the Bataan Death March. Tom was stationed in Europe during WWII, where he became a navigator on B-26s. After the war, he flew B-47s and B-36s and was trained on the B-52 before going into the Defense Intelligence Agency. He retired from the US Air Force with 29 years of service and later worked at California State University, Sacramento in the Media Services Department. As well as enjoying his family, Tom loved camping, boating, hunting, birdwatching, and motor-home traveling.
(Note from webmaster, Tom is the father of Beverly Reed, English.)

Sally A. Bolar

May 19, 1939 ~ January 21, 2015

With the death of our beloved Sally, her family and friends have lost one their brightest stars. She was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Dorothy and Henry Fechtmeyer. She received a B.A. degree from Colorado State University in 1961, an M.S. degree from Columbia University, NY in 1966, and a Ph.D. degree from the University of Texas in 1971. After graduating from Colorado State University, she was off to East Africa for three years for her "life changing experience," teaching science and math in a girls' school in Tanzania. Later she taught at the College of the Virgin Islands for five years, spending much of her time under water in scuba gear. She then joined the faculty at California State University, Sacramento, where she met Marlin, a biology prof, and they were married in 1980. In 1993, Sally and Marlin moved to Tucson and lived for a year in SaddleBrooke while they built their "dream home" in Catalina. At the age of 52, Sally swam in her first competitive swim meet, and ultimately was recognized as a "World Top 10 Swimmer" while swimming with the SaddleBrooke Swim Club. Sally and Marlin had a rich and rewarding life, enjoying scuba diving, houseboating, RVing, fishing, birding, and backpacking. Travel included scuba diving in the Caribbean, trips to Southern and Eastern Africa, New Zealand, Antarctica, Peru, Cost Rica, Israel and Egypt. Sally is survived by her brother, Gary Fechtmeyer and his two sons, Kevin and his wife, Holly and their three children, Christian, Maximillian and Serena; Kurtis and his wife, Alison and their three children, Phoebe, Patrick and Theodore; brother-in-law, Norman Davis, husband of Sally' late sister Nancy, and their son, Gary Davis and daughter, Nisa Marshall and her husband, Ben and their sons, Barrett and Tobin. She also leaves behind Marlin's five children, six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, all who deeply loved Sally.

June E. Stuckey

November 8, 1928 ~ February 26, 2015

Passed away Wednesday, February 26, 2015 in Sacramento at the age of 86. Born in Ohio on November 8, 1928. Spent her formative years in Wilmington, Ohio and attended Wilmington College for her B.A. and Ohio State University for her MA and Ph.D in Psychology. Served as Public School Teacher for 9 years, then became Dean of Women at University of Northern Colorado at Greeley. From there, in 1972, she took the position of Vice President for Academic Affairs at California State University at Sacramento, from which she retired in 1991. She is survived by long term friend Claire Quinlan, a sister-in-law, four nieces and nephews, Joseph, John, Mary and Rebecca. She was a loyal member of Grace Presbyterian Church, at which place a Memorial Service will be held on March 28 at 2:00PM, 4300 Las Cruces (and Eastern Ave). After retirement, she traveled widely, visiting China, Australia, Russia, Europe, South America, and Iceland. She lived a good, full life and was loved by many friends.

Susan Tynan

January 17, 1948 ~ March 2, 2015

Susan Tynan succumbed to complications of frontotemporal dementia, with courage and dignity, on March 2, 2015. Susan was born on January 17 1948, in Battle Creek, Michigan. She was the daughter of Arline Sell and Don Wyman. Susan was a beloved wife, a dedicated step mother, a loving grandmother, an adoring aunt and a loving sister. She worked at CSUS, as an Academic Counselor in the School of Business, where she served thousands of students over her 38 year career there. Susan also earned a double bachelor's degree and an MBA at CSUS. Among Susan's many attributes, she loved people, the arts, angels, and all things colorful. Susan had a radiant smile, and a quick wit. She was a joyful person, always looking for the humor or the silver lining. Susan was also a prolific photographer. Between pre digital prints and digital files Susan leaves behind approximately 50,000 photos. Thanks to Susan, our families have a photographic chronical spanning four generations. Susan is survived by her husband Tom Richie; step sister Therese Tynan-Sutton; nephew Christian Sutton; step brother Morgan Tynan; niece Jenifer Tynan, and cousin Richard Wyman of Boulder City, Nevada.

Mary Madeline O'Laughlin

January 23, 1932 ~ March 15, 2015

Madeline O'Laughlin age 83 of Macon, Mo, passed away Sunday, March 15, 2015, at the Macon Health Care Center in Macon, MO. She was born January 23, 1932, in Shelby Co, the daughter of John and Agnes Beatrice Caldwell O'Laughlin. Madeline is survived by three brothers, Leo (Elaine) O'Laughlin of Mesa, AZ, Charles (Betty) O'Laughlin of Shelbina, MO, and Bernard O'Laughlin of Kearney, MO, one sister; Betty O'Laughlin of Macon, MO, and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, one brother, J.W. O'Laughlin; and three sisters-in-laws, Elaine Freels O'Laughlin, Frances Bartosik O'Laughlin, and Sharon Adams O'Laughlin. Madeline attended country schools in Monroe County, MO, and graduated from Shelbina High School in 1951. She worked in several businesses in Shelbina and Macon, MO, Denver, CO and Los Angeles, CA, area and retired in 1991 from the California State University System, after working as a budget analyst at both Fullerton and Sacramento State campuses. After retirement she moved back to Macon. She enjoyed watching sports especially the St. Louis Cardinals.

Floyd L. Mullinix

January 27, 1919 ~ Died April 14, 2015

Floyd L. Mullinix, EdD January 27, 1919 - April 14, 2015 Floyd Mullinix, age 96 passed away at Sutter Memorial on 14 April 2015. Floyd was born in Pulaski, Iowa to Morris Mullinix and Ethel Cossell. He attended high school in Downing, Mo. and College in Kirksville, Mo, where he met and married his wife, Marguerite Martin in 1939. She passed away in 1990 after 50 years of marriage. Floyd served as teacher, principal and superintendent in several Missouri schools until volunteering for service during WWII. He joined the Navy and became Commanding Officer of an LCT at the battles of Leyte and Okinawa. He returned to Mo. after the war and served as school superintendent in Browning Mo. In 1949 he moved his family to Columbia, Mo. where he earned his masters and EdD degrees. He was recalled to active Navy duty in 1952 and became a UN briefer in Japan. Returning to the states in 1954 he became the Director of the Laboratory School in Peru, Ne. In 1956 he moved the family to Sacramento where he held a number of positions at Sacramento State College, including Dean of Academic Affairs and later, Academic Vice President. In 1965, he was asked by USAID to assist in developing a secondary school system in Brazil for two years. Floyd was a passionate craftsman who spent endless hours devoted to his hobby of woodworking. With the help of his wife, he built an addition and many other improvements to the family cabin near Echo Summit. He has two sons, Larry and Gerald and a sister Helen Clough. Additionally, Floyd has four grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and one great-grandchild that predeceased him.

Robert D. Edwards

Died May 4, 2015

EDWARDS, Robert Durgin Of Citrus Heights, CA, May 4, 2015, a native of Portland, OR aged 84 years. Loving, devoted husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather and educator. Survived by his wife of 57 years, Leah Jane. Daughters Mary Youngblood, Ann Edwards (Tom), Laurie Nemoede (Paul), and Carol Breslin (JR), ten grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren.

Lester Luther

April 19, 1931 ~ June 6, 2015

Dr. Lester Lester Charles Luther was born on April 19, 1931 in Joliet, Illinois and died on June 6, 2015 in Cameron Park, California. Lester was a Korean War Era Veteran serving in the Army. He earned his BA at University of Illinois Urbana-Champagne and a PHD from Arizona State University. He retired as a Professor from CSU Sacramento in 1994 after 26 years of teaching Mechanical Engineering. Lester is survived by his children Diane Luther, Michael Luther, Vicki Revak and stepchildren Gayle Spencer and Garry Eversult. He was preceded in death by his son Gregory Luther, first wife Audrey Luther and second wife Alice Luther. He enjoyed dancing, golf, travel and tinkering in his workshop. He was an active member of the local Elks Lodge and Country Club.

Gwendolynn Smith

June 9, 1948 ~ June 5, 2015

Gwen worked in the College of Engineering and Computer Science Dean's Office. We have received word of Gwen's death but do not have an obituary at this time. I will post when I receive it. Tom Griffith, Webmaster.

Paul Van Horn "Van" Aikman

1935 ~ 2015

Survived by: Barbara Hardy Aikman, Wife of 12 years
Son, Alan Aikman, Daughter-in-Law Maddie Thomas Aikman, Granddaughter Nicole
Thomas, Daughter, Megan Aikman Reger, Son-in-Law Jeff Reger, Grandchildren Kurt Alan Reger and Bayley Reger
Predeceased by: Catherine Whyte Aikman, wife of 43 years Van was born in Spokane, Washington in 1935 and grew up in Seattle, where his parents owned a wholesale furniture business and later a market. Brilliant, active and extremely competitive, Van was a natural athlete and became an avid Outdoorsman in the footsteps of his Grandfather. His parents took him fishing and camping throughout the Pacific Northwest in his youth and teenage years, fostering a love of those wild rivers and lakes that would come to define him throughout his life.

Van earned a BA in History at the University of Washington in 1957, the Alma Mater of his mother. He was an active member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity, making a great deal of mischief as well as some life-long friendships. While at UW he also served as a School Relations Outreach Representative.

After college Van completed a six month service as a Clerk/Typist in the US Army at Fort Ord in Monterey, which produced a number of memorable stories. On a weekend trip to San Francisco Van met Catherine Whyte of Utica, New York. A whirlwind romance ensued, and the couple was married in December 1960, making their home in Seattle while Van finished his Master of Arts in History at the UW.

After college Van took a position in Sales Planning at Ford Motor Company in Seattle, a career mismatch! In 1963 he accepted a position at California State College at Los Angeles, where he became Coordinator of Institutional Relations and was active in Sigma Chi Fraternity, making some more life-long friends. In 1967 Van was offered a career opportunity at California State University, Sacramento, and the growing family, including Alan (4) and Megan (3), moved to Sacramento.

Van worked in Outreach at CSUS for 30 years, eventually becoming the Director of School/College Relations. He was passionate about reaching those students who were disadvantaged or simply came from a family with no college background and no idea how to get there. He especially enjoyed outreach tours to schools in the Redding, Siskiyou and Eureka areas where he could combine his passion for reaching students with some exquisite local fishing! Colleagues from the other Universities, as well as those in his office, became regular fishing buddies. Van was instrumental in developing numerous outreach publications intended to motivate and encourage high school and even elementary school students to start planning to go to college. He created an annual newspaper supplement about college preparation, and even developed a television program and viewer’s guide.

Around 1980 Van became active again in the Sigma Chi Fraternity. He was instrumental in establishing Sigma Chi chapters at UC Davis and CSU, as well as re-establishing the Sacramento area Alumni Association. He enjoyed working with the students and even made some new friends.

After his wife Cathy passed away in 2001, Van was very fortunate to have a second chance at life. He married Barbara Hardy, with whom he enjoyed gardening, taking RV trips to the old (and some new) fishing haunts, and even watching sports together. Barbara remained at his side to the very end.

Submitted by Megan Aikman Reger, Van's daughter

Duane Anderson, Van's longtime friend, submitted a story about Van. You can reat it HERE.

Peter Shattuck

July 11, 1935 ~ September 27, 2015

Born 11 July, 1935 in Worcester, MD to Roger Whipple Shattuck and Emily Mayo Sutton Shattuck; died 27 September 2015 under hospice care at home in Sacramento from complications after cancer surgery. His family is deeply grateful to Sojourn Hospice and Island Angels. Peter grew up in Providence, RI, graduated from Moses Brown School '52 and Yale '56. After 2 years in the US Army, mostly in Korea, he did his graduate work at the University of California, Berkeley, where he met his wife Elizabeth, also in graduate school. They married in New York City in 1960, and lived in Berkeley until he joined the Department of History at California State University, Sacramento in 1965, where he had a long and distinguished career.

Peter was devoted to teaching and his students, winning the Outstanding Teaching Award in 1994. One of his colleagues said, "He brought a quiet but unmistakable passion to the classroom that couldn't help but convince his students that history mattered and it mattered a great deal."

He was also deeply involved in campus- and system-wide governance, serving on the Academic Senate of the CSU from 1980-88, retiring as Secretary, and many years on the CSUS Faculty Senate (Chair 1972-3 and 1985-1987), as another colleague said, "bringing civility to that institution. "

Among his other university and civic activities, he spent a year as History Department chair, served as campus Ombudsman, wrote with Dr. Suzanne Snively the first University AIDS policy, worked for four semesters in the Academic Advising Center and served on the board of the Sacramento History Museum. After retiring, he spent many years on the board of the CSUS Friends of the Library, some of them as President, and was Vice President of the CSUS Retirees Association from 2001 through 2010.

Peter read widely and deeply, beyond the scholarly works of his profession. His interests, as well, were wide and deep - architecture, art, music, geography, conservation, cultural history and much else. "When I read about a place, I want to know what it looks like, I want to know what goes on there." He saw for himself, on three visits to Greenland over 10 years, the disappearance of glaciers; he saw what it was like to live in a village in Mali with no source of clean water; he saw for himself the Magadan gulag in Siberia, among the very first outsiders to do so. He walked (scrambled, stumbled) twice the last six miles of Shackleton's trek across South Georgia Island. He was always investigating, always learning. He and Elizabeth traveled to, by Century Club Guidelines, 98 countries and islands, with 2 more by himself in Army days.

Peter loved baseball, books, gardening, good food and wine, classical concerts, plays, museums, and his family and many friends. He leaves his wife of 55 years, Elizabeth, sons Arthur (Janet) and John (Julia), grandchildren Jessica, Samantha, Amanda, Peter II, Emily, Peregryn, and William, and 2 great grandchildren.

Remembering Peter, from Bob Curry
Peter Shattuck’s many contributions to the life of CSU Sacramento included his stewardship over the Academic Senate. During the years that he served as its chair, I was in a position to observe how well he organized the Senate’s work because at the time I was Vice Chair. He was a model leader who blended the concerns of individual Senators with what he felt was in the University’s interest keeping in mind the rules and processes that governed how the Senate was to function. Peter was a pleasure to work with—a conviction that was shared by his fellow Senators who at the time represented the faculty, administration and staff. He made life a good bit easier for us because among other talents he had was a knack for carefully putting together a consent calendar and that let us go on to con- sider more contentious and substantive issues.
Peter’s contribution ranged beyond our local Senate: he was active senate participant at the state/system level. Moreover, he performed successfully as History Department Chair and even more importantly, his most significant gift to the University was the one he contributed to his students. He was an engaging lecturer, a thorough scholar and a person who cared about his students and in turn they recognized his dedication to their education. They were the essence of his commitment to CSUS. He meshed his interest in his students with his devotion to the study of history in a way that encouraged many of his students to become history teachers at various academic levels.
Moreover, Peter was devoted to good writing and his wide-ranging reading interests were prelude to his service to the CSUS Friends of the Library on whose board he served as president for a number of years.
I could go on but in lieu of doing so let me ask you to recall all of the wonderful comments that you’ve read about terrific people and assume that I’ve just concluded these brief remarks by repeating them in tribute to the life of Professor Peter Shattuck.
Bob Curry, Professor Emeritus, Economics and International Affairs

Remembering Peter, from Alan Wade
I arrived at Sacramento State College in July, 1967, as first dean of a vibrant but struggling new School of Social Work. I met Peter soon after my arrival from Chicago, and was delighted to find a supportive colleague from another discipline who shared my academic and professional goals for our new program. (I later learned that Peter’s mother had been a social worker!) As our years on the evolving campus continued, Peter’s and my academic lives intersected frequently.
I succeeded him in the ’70’s as Academic Senate Chair, and a decade later, he succeeded me in his second term in that position. We also served together in the CSU Academic Senate, where he served admirably and in a leadership position for several terms. Peter and I shared a mutual passion for faculty participation in university governance and in the world outside. For many of our retirement years, Peter served with me as a board member of the CSUS Emeritus Association (later, CSUS Retirees).
During my years in the ‘90’s as editor of the now defunct SILVER BULLETIN, Peter could always be counted on for a scintillating report on his travels with his wife Elizabeth. He was always there when we needed him—including those times when we required his expertise in drinkable wines.
Peter served as a role model for me in his urbanity (in the best sense of that term), and his steady but firm commitment to our mutual goals. He provided a welcome and supportive antidote to my tendency toward hyperbole and even occasional shrillness in our mutual search for a fairer and more progressive world.
Alan D. Wade, Professor Emeritus, Social Work

James "Jim" Jones

Died October 4, 2015

On October 4, 2015, James "Jim" A. Jones passed away quietly in his home in Sacramento, California at the age of 83. James was born in Williamsburg, Virginia to James and Clara Jones (deceased) and was the oldest son among five siblings. The eldest sister, Edythe Dandridge, is also deceased. James served in the United States Army during the Korean War and was awarded the Purple Heart after being wounded in service. He was honorably discharged in 1958. After serving in the Army, he moved to Sacramento and worked at the State Division of Highways for several years. He later joined the Computer Center at California State University in Sacramento where ultimately he became a computer analyst and supervisor, retiring in 1985. He united with Shiloh Baptist Church in 1958, and served faithfully in many capacities. In his years of service at Shiloh he was Director of Recreation and also acted as coach of the basketball team and led them to many victories. James served faithfully for many years on Shiloh's Board of Trustees. James loved baseball and worked diligently in his spare time with his sons, Darrell and Marc, and the boys in the Airport and Pocket Little Leagues and led them to local championships. The mothers of these young boys especially the single mothers loved Jim because he refused to let them play on the team unless they had good grades, did their homework, and had good reports from their mothers. James is survived by his wife of 54 years (Loleta); sister, Elnora Jones; brothers, Wilbur (wife Barbara) and Preston Jones; daughter, Karen (Charles) Cooper; sons, Darrell (wife Janine) and Marc (wife Manaja) Jones; seven grandchildren; and six great-grand-child-ren. James was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin and friend who will be missed by all.

Robert G. Mogull

July 12, 1939 ~ October 28, 2016

He was a professor in the College of Business Administration. No obituary was found.

Leo Dabaghian

Died 2015

We learned of his death in October.

Gregg M. Campbell

Died November 28, 2015

On November 28, 2015, at the age of 80, Gregg Campbell passed away at home with his beloved wife Mary by his side. Gregg was preceded in death by his parents Fred and Irma, and his brother Gary. His family lived in Marine on the St. Croix, Minnesota, where they first attended Marine Elementary-- a two room school; Gregg went to Stillwater for his first three years of high school. The family next moved to St. Paul where Gregg attended Central High for his senior year, then enrolled at Macalister College, graduating from the University of Minnesota. He entered graduate school at the university where, advised by Prof. David W. Noble, he majored in history. Moving to Sacramento, he began teaching in 1966, received his Ph. D. in 1968, and retiring in 2002 from California State University Sacramento (CSUS). At CSUS, he taught American Cultural History and developed a Popular Culture course that began with Robinson Crusoe, included Huckleberry Finn, Bob Dylan, the Beatles and more. In 2004 Gregg was diagnosed with cancer at the base of his tongue; declared cancer free, he lived the remainder of his life with complications from radiation. But these were rich years surrounded by family and friends. Gregg fought hard to live a healthy life when at times even the strongest would have given in. He will be remembered for his humor, his love for the American & Croix Rivers, yoga, his men's group, love for the Franciscans and Bishop Quinn, his passion for teaching, his writing talent, and his dedication and love for his family, friends and students. Gregg is survived by his beloved wife Mary Bellefleur, his daughters Lisa and Kristin (John), his step-daughters Michele (Christine) and Mindy (James), his grandchildren Meagan (Ryan), Sean, JR, Cory, his great granddaughter Ava, his nephews Scott (Melissa) and Marty and niece Anna (Dave). Gregg is also survived by his many friends, students and colleagues. A Memorial will be held at St. Francis of Assisi located at 1066 26th Street, Sacramento CA at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, December 18, 2015.

Katherine Pulliam Crowder

September 22, 1928 ~ November 28, 2015

Katherine Pulliam Crowder passed peacefully at home in her sleep November 28 at 87. She is most remembered as passionate, gracious, elegant and generous mentor to her children, grandchildren, countless students and especially as a role model for African American women. Katherine was born Sept. 22, 1928, in Gary, Indiana. She graduated in 1950 from Howard University with a B.A. in drama and political science. Katherine traveled the world with her husband, Marcus Crowder, whom she met at Howard and married in 1951. During his Air Force career, they were stationed in Nashville, Tenn.; Croughton Air Force Base in Northhamptonshire, England; McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey; JUSMAG in the Philippines; and McClellan Air Force Base, North Highlands. She also traveled to Jamaica, Hong Kong, South Africa, Kenya, Europe, and China. Katherine studied graduate Speech and Drama at Tennessee A & I State University, and earned an M.S. in Counselor Education from California State University, Sacramento. A lifelong educator, Katherine taught English, drama, history and debate at Don Julio Junior High School, where she developed innovative curricula and was the community liaison for human relations in crisis situations. She worked for a year as a counselor at the Women's Center at Sacramento City College before coming to CSUS, where she spent 17 years at every level of the Educational Opportunity Program, including acting director. A lover of the arts and travel, Katherine performed with the groundbreaking Sons and Ancestors Theater Company at CSUS and was in the cast of the legendary production of "Lost in the Stars" at the Eaglet Theater in Sacramento. She also witnessed performances by Duke Ellington, Marian Anderson, Paul Robeson, Billie Holiday, Marlon Brando, James Earl Jones, Ruby Dee, Audra MacDonald and many others. Katherine was active in civic af fairs, serving as a treasurer for the Human Rights Commission of City and County of Sacramento. She was a member of the NAACP, the Urban League, Delta Sigma Theta, the Red Hatters, San Juan School District Affirmative Action Committee and the Patrons Club at American River College. She was preceded in passing by husband, Marcus Crowder Sr.; mother, Myra Ayers Pulliam; father, Marcellus Pulliam; sisters, Inez Edwards and Irashel Smith Fitzgerald and brother, Maurice Pulliam. She is survived by her sons, Marcus Crowder Jr. of Sacramento, Charles Pulliam Crowder of Oakland; grandchildren, Michael Crowder, Chaya Crowder, Chelsea Crowder of Brooklyn and Manhattan, Kattie Crowder and Barak Crowder of Oakland; nephew, Fred Smith of Los Angeles; daughters-in-law, Skylier Crowder and Laura Compton, and many friends and colleagues including Carol Barbee, Sumatra Kirkland, Donnie Machen and Phyliss Marshall.

Remembering Kathy, from Kakwasi Somadhi
Katherine Crowder served in the CSUS Educational Opportunity Program for seventeen years before retiring to spend more time with her family and her numerous community projects. During her tenure with EOP, she held a variety of roles that demonstrated how dedicated she was to the program’s purpose and to the students. “Kathy” as she was affectionately called by co-workers and “Mrs. Crowder” as she was respectfully called by the students she mentored, seemed to specialize in spreading good cheer and mixing wise observations for living along with her smiles and laughter.
One of her roles was as counselor, guiding and mentoring the students as they reached for the goal of obtaining a college degree. She engaged with them again in the classroom, teaching college study strategies as well as Basic English before the CSU System instituted the statewide English Placement Test. As former colleague and retired EOP Director, Dr. Harriet Taniguchi recalls, “Kathy was very committed to serving students and worked tirelessly to ensure their success.”
But she brought more than her professional expertise to the university and the program. She brought her zest for life. She loved the theater; she loved music, and she loved to dance. Another one of her former colleagues noted that she’d seen Kathy at a party a year ago where she danced the evening away. Kathy encouraged students to step beyond their perceived boundaries, find their passion and try new adventures just as she had. She freelyshared stories about plays she had performed in, famous people she had met and other lands she had traveled to and the people in those lands who had become her friends.
If a photograph of Katherine Crowder were to be included on the EOP website along with the photographs of current staff for present-day students to see, one could imagine her motto might be, “Set your goals high and have fun on the journey toward achieving them.” And, one could imagine her college success tip would be, “Have faith in your ability to learn everything the university has to offer.” Kathy is missed and her legacy is cherished.

Note from Webmaster Tom Griffith - Kathy Crowder's love for the theater lives on in her son Marcus Crowder, theater reviewer for The Sacramento Bee.

John Leland Wulff

March 19, 1932 ~ December 26, 2015

Dr. John Leland Wulff, age 83, passed away Saturday, December 26, 2015 in his Sacramento home. John was born March 19, 1932 in Oakland, CA, the son of Leo H. Wulff and Ruth J. Wulff. John grew up in Hayward, CA with his folks. After high school the Wulff family moved toa farm in Elverta, CA. The value of physical labor along with discovering his love of leather work started on this farm. Aside from his regular duties on the farm, John also raised prized hogs which helped pay for his college tuition.

At the age of 23 John started working on his graduate and doctorate degrees at UC, Davis while simultaneously teaching mathematics as adjunct professor at CSU, Sacramento. In 1966 he was amongst the first class to graduate with a doctorate of Mathematics at UC, Davis. It was here that he was chosen to be a member of the nonprofit honor society comprised of scientists and engineers, Sigma Xi. John became known as one of California's leading mathematics professors. Hispassion of teaching opened the minds of many students which helped them to recognize and nurture their own talents which ultimately lead many into careers of mathematics and science.

In July 1968, John married the love of his life, Ruth Ann Tortora. Their union took place at Saint Marks Church in Sacramento. John and Ruth started building their life together in 1967 by remodeling the home they later expanded upon with their own two hands in order to accommodate their soon-to-be growing family of four children. In this house they remained married until Ruth's death from cancer in August of 2015. Ruth and John spent many happy years together, sharing their love of travel and entertainment.
In addition to spending time with his family, John maintained a large variety of hobbies. He was a perfectionist and excelled at them all. Aside from creating boutique items from leather (purses, wallets, belts, holsters, etc.) his hobbies over the years included building small-scale real versions of cars, planes and various sceneries, reel-to-reel movies, photography, stamp collecting, coin collecting, boating, fishing, camping, and construction which later turned into a fruitful second job for nearly two decades. After
teaching at Sac State for 40 years, Dr. Wulff retired and decided to focus on his business, Wulff's Stamps, full-time with his son, Leland Wulff. For 26 years father and son sold stamps to collectors around the world while cultivating relationships with people that had become to be some of his closest friends.

John will always be remembered as an honest man with unshaken integrity and loyalty not only to his family, but also to every person he met through his journey in life. John is survived by his four children; Leland J. Wulff with wife Tanya Wulff, Nancy Francis with husband Joe Francis, Susan Wulff, and Karen Ruggiero with husband Paolo Ruggiero along with ten beautiful grandchildren; Travis, Casey, Baylee, Brandon, Kaylynn, Aaron, Lucio, Cameron, Joey and Alessia.

Sandra J. Pope

October 15, 1947 ~ December 27, 2015

Sandra J. Pope, 68, of Pekin, IL and formerly Sacramento, CA passed away at 12:30 PM Sunday, December 27, 2015 at her home. Sandra was born on October 15, 1947 in Peoria, IL to Wilbur Noell and Mary Elizabeth (Stoecker) Marfell. She married Arthur T. Pope on November 19, 1983 in Reno, NV. He passed away on September 19, 1997 in Sacramento, CA. Also preceding in death are her parents, one sister, Kathleen Marfell and two brothers, Richard and Mark Marfell. Surviving are: one brother, Robert ( Maggie Tiffin) Marfell of Ingram, TX; a special aunt, Addie Stetzler of Morton, IL; one neice and two nephews; her Shih tzu, Namisue which was her constant companion. Sandra graduated from Green Valley High School in 1965 and graduated from Midstate College. She was secretary to the Professor of Anthropology at Sacramento State University for thirty years retiring in 2000. Following her retirement she moved back to central Illinois where she worked at the Womans Junior League of Peoria. She was a member of the Bethel Bible Church in Washington, IL. She enjoyed watching movies and soap operas.

Edward H. Sato

Died in 2015

He taught in Recreation and Leisure Studies from 1964 through 1983. No obituary has been found.