Barbara Abel
Child Development teacher, 28 years of service
Contributions
“My most significant contribution at De Anza has been to
provide a valuable support service to students and faculty with children.
As a teacher at the Child Development Center, I have fostered positive
self-esteem, a sense of trust and a firm social-emotional foundation
for the children in my program. I have formed partnerships with the
parents and have served many low income and single parents who would
otherwise not have been able to attend school and further their education.
I have also trained many students in the child development field.”
Plans for retirement
“I plan to spend time hiking, practicing yoga, gardening, reading
and taking classes. I will also travel. New Zealand, Italy and the Grand
Canyon are in my plans. I have been the water treatment operator for
the mountain community I live in, and I will be taking on added responsibilities
in that capacity since a new water filtration plant is being completed.”
Dorothy Coltrin
Nutrition instructor, 30 years of service
Contributions
“My most significant contribution at De Anza College would
be the development of a vibrant Nutrition program. When I came to De
Anza, a variety of home economics courses were taught. With time, the
food, clothing and consumer education courses lost their popularity.
So with the help of several part-time instructors, we replaced that
program with various nutrition courses including a very popular general
education course and a more advanced course for our nursing students.
“To make these courses instructive and appealing, I have written
curriculum, produced video-tapes, written a workbook, developed a Web
site and created many PowerPoint slides. Part of the popularity of the
nutrition courses is my commitment and dedication to students and their
success. What I have been able to accomplish is best said by one of
my students. She said that the nutrition class was an ‘excellent
mixture of personal experiences, current knowledge and reliable research.’
It has been a wonderful experience, and I will cherish my time here.”
Plans for retirement
“Soon after graduation, I am moving to Boulder, Colo. I plan
to cross-country ski, hike and enjoy the outdoor life. Because my new
house is a fixer-upper, I will also be doing some remodeling. And in
my spare time, I’ll look for a part-time job. Come and see me
and my cat in our new world!”
Mike Gervasoni
Physical Education instructor and head coach for women’s basketball,
16 years of service
Contributions
“I developed advanced and tournament badminton classes, and
I was first coach of the women’s badminton team. I also kept up
the great tradition of women’s basketball and its good status.”
Plans for retirement
“My wife was just named head coach of women’s basketball
at the University of Nevada, so I’ll be joining her as her assistant.
I’ll be retiring from teaching, but not from coaching.”
Robert Leigh
Automotive Technology instructor, 30 years of service
Contributions
“I helped develop modular scheduling in the automotive program.
Together with my colleagues, I worked to develop the De Anza Automotive
Technology program into one of the nation’s finest automotive
programs.”
Plans for retirement
“I will continue to serve the Auto Tech program through Article
19. I have two project cars to finish: a 1968 Plymouth Road Runner and
a 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle. My wife and I will remain in the area and
continue to spoil our grandson.”
Gary Lewis
Automotive Technology instructor, 35 years of service
Contributions
“I and my colleagues have been instrumental in building one
of the finest Automotive Technology programs in the country. I’ve
also done my best to forward occupational education in general here
at De Anza.”
Plans for retirement
“I will be keeping my textbook up-to-date and will probably
do seminars on performance engines. This will keep me involved in the
technology. I’ll also continue restoration work on my 1950 Oldsmobile.
My wife and I have traveled extensively already, but we would like to
see more of the United States. We’ll also be moving north, to
Sonoma.”
Mark Molander
English instructor, 35 years of service
Contributions
“My goal from the beginning has been to help my students see language
as a tool to unlock all worlds, and especially the worlds of math and
science. Growing up, I was encouraged to see math and science as pinnacles
of one pole, and the humanities as the other. Rather than unifying knowledge,
the two fields were seen almost as antagonists.
“My focus at De Anza has been on the small, the functional units
of discourse. Every course begins with a study of logic. Much time is
spent on the sentence, reducing each to its immediate constituents,
or its pattern — much like a mathematical formula, then extended
out much like a syllogistic proof in geometry or trigonometry.
“Even in EWRT 1B, where our focus is writing about literature,
I have preferred to examine poetry rather than the longer, more abstract
genres, because this focus seems to most resemble the exploration of
the hands-on scientist or the mathematician. It demands real engagement,
and I have preached over and over that if my students will take as much
math and science as they possibly can, and as many classes that demand
that they read and write with precision, they can pretty much do anything
with their lives that they choose. And that, more than anything else,
enlarges their world of possibility.
“Many have returned to thank me, some to nominate me for larger
recognition, and some returning or visiting students have just popped
in to tell me that what I taught them was true. I can live with that.”
Plans for retirement
“I have some writing projects in the works that I am very
excited about, Linda and I plan to travel some to see our children and
grandchildren, and I will be teaching part time on Article 19. But before
we get to any of that, we’re moving. Ugh! We have sold our home
in the Santa Cruz Mountains and are moving back to San Jose. But, I
very much look forward to settling back here in the community among
so many of our family and friends.”
Sharon Nelson
Hope Services vocational instructor, 27 years of service
Contributions
“Over the course of my 27 years with De Anza, a few thousand
students with disabilities have received vocational assessments, work
training, work experience, and/or employment support through our De
Anza program at Hope. None of this would have been possible if we did
not maintain a strong, viable relationship with our partner agency.
“Because of the inherent challenges in maintaining such a close
relationship over time between two entities with different missions
(at times) and different accountability structures, success can come
only with the dedication and hard work of key players on both sides.
Some years were smooth sailing; others were bumpy indeed, nearly swamping
us at times. I’ve been a key player in keeping the ship afloat.
I’m proud to say that even in today’s rough waters, the
De Anza/Hope relationship is strong, healthy and expected to continue
long after my departure.”
Plans for retirement
“I’m going to travel as much as possible, dig in the
dirt as much as possible and put beautiful things there to grow, and
read the enormous piles of books that have been pleading for my attention
for a long time now. When I’ve had enough of being footloose and
fancy free, and when I want more structure in my life, I hope to become
an example, an inspiration and a teacher to others on how to landscape
and garden in ways that are friendly to creatures and that tread lightly
on the planet. And, of course, I shall keep singing!”
Les Schwoob
Automotive Technology instructor, 35 years of service
Contributions
“As the original instructor and executive head of Automotive
Technology, I’ve been privileged to serve on the hiring committee
of every tenured automotive instructor who has served on our staff.
Together we developed one of the finest automotive instructional programs
in the nation. Also, I’ve had the privilege of positively contributing
to the lives and futures of thousands of students over the years. My
students have won more than 60 state, national and international competition
awards. This is more than any other automotive training institution
in the nation. I am grateful for having had these opportunities.”
Plans for retirement
“I am retiring to our home at Lake Tahoe, where I will continue
to restore and refinish fine old mahogany boats, Chris Crafts in particular.
Linda and I plan to travel through the European and North American continents.”
Paula Sink
Counseling and Matriculation secretary, 13.5 years of service
Contributions
“I’ve been the ‘institutional memory’ for
all the many different deans we have had over the years. I started at
De Anza as a student, then worked as a temporary employee, then became
a permanent employee.”
Plans for retirement
“I’m going to play with my grandchildren, finish my
art history degree and build the castle of my dreams.”
Karen Tashiro
Staff and Organizational Development secretary, 13 years of service
Contributions
“I have helped to support and promote the personal and professional
growth of faculty, classified staff and administrators by providing
them with staff development opportunities.”
Plans for retirement
“Some of my plans are to do volunteer work in the local schools,
take frequent trips to visit my mother and continue to enjoy life and
celebrate each day to the fullest.” 
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