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East Los Angeles College and the education community lost one of its
respected administrators in the early morning hours of Feb. 9, 2007, when
Vice President of Student Services Robert “R.C.” Williams III passed away
from an illness in a hospital at the age of 60.
Though Williams was a distinguished and capable educator, co-workers
remember his quiet humor, outstanding ability to resolve contentious issues,
and his steadfast commitment and accessibility to his students.
“R.C. brought compassion to our student services programs and we will miss
his organization and leadership,” said Robert Isomoto, interim president of
ELAC. “I’ve lost a friend and respected colleague.”
Williams was appointed vice president of student services in 2005 by former
college President Ernest H. Moreno.
“R.C. Williams had a strong personal commitment to strengthen student
service programs,” said Moreno, who is now president at Los Angeles Mission
College. “He was a dedicated administrator with an exceptional commitment to
students and East Los Angeles College. We will miss his integrity, loyalty
and innate goodness.”
Williams worked for the Los Angeles Community College District for more than
three decades, beginning his career in 1973 as a van driver in outreach and
recruitment for Los Angeles City College. From 1975 to 1985, he held various
positions at LACC and Los Angeles Southwest College.
In 1986, Williams was selected to direct the Extended Opportunity Programs
and Services at ELAC. During his tenure at the college, he also served as
director of Disabled Student Programs and Services, director of Financial
Aid, student ombudsman, compliance officer and dean of student services.
Richard Moyer, vice president of academic affairs, will never forget
Williams’ commitment and dedication to the college.
“R.C. was in my office working late a week before he died helping me select
a candidate for a position that needed to be filled,” Moyer said. “He was
really sick and even though he should have been at home resting and taking
care himself, he wanted to stay. That’s what was so special about him, his
dedication to the job.”
Renee Martinez, vice president of workforce education and economic
development, said she had the fortune of working with Williams for over 20
years, but that it was in the last year, that they worked to get more
collaboration between instruction and student services. They directed their
staffs to work together on projects, including the highly successful job
fair in which over 100 employers came to ELAC.
“R.C. Williams and I shared an office complex so we both learned more about
each other’s area of supervision than we probably wanted to learn,” Martinez
said. “We shared our daily trials and tribulations – and we laughed a lot. I
am truly going to miss him.”
Williams’ commitment and dedication to the college also left a lasting
impression on the staff of EOP&S.
“R.C. Williams III was the heart and soul of the Extended Opportunity
Programs and Services department,” said program counselor Joe Sandoval, who
worked with Williams for many years. “He was well known in the EOP&S
programs throughout the state and very well liked and respected by the EOP&S
staff in the state Chancellor’s office.
Sandoval added that Williams touched his life and impacted him personally
and professionally.
“I am indebted to him for life for providing opportunities to those of us
that came from educationally-disadvantaged backgrounds,” he said.
Robert Carvine Williams III was born Oct. 14, 1946, in Philadelphia. He
graduated from Germantown High School in Germantown, Pa., in 1964. He moved
to Los Angeles to attend LACC and received an associate degree in 1967. He
served in the Army from 1969 to 1971. Williams, who majored in psychology,
went on to earn a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from California
State University, Los Angeles.
Williams is survived by his wife, Mattie, whom he started dating in 1964;
daughter, Ayanna Williams; son, Kyle McCray; and three grandchildren, Erin
Williams Tyler; Jordan Williams Tyler and Adrian Williams Pena. He is also
survived by his father, Robert Williams II; mothers, Dolores Freeman and
Mary Dee Williams; sisters Marguerite Williams and Deborah Savage; brothers,
Herbert Smith and his wife Jean, Ronald Williams and his wife Kimberly. He
is also survived by aunts, Marguerite Hodge and Edna Hymes; and uncle, Sammy
Williams.
Services for the longtime resident of Altadena were held Feb. 17 at First
AME Church, Pasadena. Eulogies were given by Isomoto, Moreno and Jay
Bayette, Williams’ lifelong friend.
Instead of flowers, the family requested that donations be made to Susan G.
Komen for the Cure, 5005 LBJ Fwy., Suite 250, Dallas, Texas, 75244.
Donations can also be made to the East Los Angeles College R.C. Williams III
Memorial Scholarship Fund c/o of the ELAC Foundation. The donation will be a
tax deductible contribution and donations will be matched from the Title V
Federal Grant. The scholarship will be awarded at the foundation’s
scholarship banquet in May. For more information, call (323) 265-8901.