James S. Fitzgerald, president of Foothill College from 1973 to 1982, died at his home in Cambria on Nov. 23.
“We owe Jim a great deal,” said interim Foothill College president Penny Patz in a press release. “He was a friend of Foothill and a lifelong advocate for students.”
Many of his colleagues say Fitzgerald’s vision of Foothill was ahead of its time. He was responsible for expanding the college’s independent study and tutorial programs, an uncommon move during the 1970s. Now, tutorial centers are the epicenter of most college campuses.
Fitzgerald was also instrumental in the development of media-oriented courses, satellite centers and distance learning programs. These programs put Foothill in a leadership position for off-campus or “distance” learning and on the forefront of audio and televised programming.
With these innovations, Fitzgerald set the stage for Foothill’s continued success, according to those who came after him.
“Foothill’s involvement in televised video instruction, and in distance learning, was a precursor to the college’s clear leadership position that was established at the turn of the century,” said Foothill’s recently retired fourth president, Bernadine Chuck Fong, Ph.D., in a press release. She said the trend has continued to the present day, as the college expands into online delivery of education.
Fitzgerald brought many celebrities — such as Ray Bradbury, Red Skelton and Ralph Nader — to the Los Altos Hills campus to address or perform for the students. He led the campus-wide history effort in 1981, and helped launch what would become the college’s Japanese Cultural Center.
A talented musician, Fitzgerald was a music instructor and dean of instruction at Orange Coast College in Costa Mesa before he took over at Foothill. He held a bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degree from the University of Southern California.
Memorial services will be held on Saturday, Dec. 2 at 2 p.m. at the Community Presbyterian Church of Cambria, 2250 Yorkshire Dr., Cambria. The family suggests donations be sent to your charity of choice in Fitzgerald’s name, or to the Cambria Music Foundation or the Alzheimer’s Foundation. Call (805) 927-4356 for more information.
E-mail Amber at acleave@mv-voice.com
