James E. Van
March 18, 1932-Jan. 13, 2016
Palo Alto, California

Dr. James E. Van died on Wednesday, Jan. 13, of natural causes. He was 83.

He was born in Longview, Texas in 1932. When he was 10 his family moved to San Francisco where he would eventually attend George Washington High School. He majored in chemistry and worked as a research chemist for Tenneco Corporation until finding his true calling in education. He enrolled at UC Berkeley and was placed at Oakland High School. After a few years of teaching he was recruited into administration and was appointed vice principal. Seeking a principalship, he reluctantly left Oakland High for Ravenswood High School, a magnet school in East Palo Alto.

Later he moved to Palo Alto High School after being unanimously chosen by the several committees. This was possibly his most rewarding assignment and was the source of innumerable stories over the ensuing years. While at Paly he completed an education doctoral program at UC Berkeley and successfully defended his thesis in 1982. Soon, he advanced to the district office as assistant superintendent for instruction.

However, a 1989 stroke led to a priorities reassessment, and he decided it was time to realize a long time goal of completing his career at a university where he could share his vision of school leadership and train new administrators. Consequently he moved to Cal State Hayward, where he worked until his retirement in 1995.

His education career trademarks were his love and respect for all kids, a belief in the transformative power of education and an eagerness to mentor.

He loved his family, golf, travel, being a grandfather and mentoring others throughout his life.

He was preceded in death by one son and is survived by his wife, five children and eight grandchildren.

Tags: teacher/educator