Attendees and retirees held back their tears with laughter at this year’s Santa Rosa Junior College Retiree Reception on April 26 in the Bertolini Student Activities Center.
SRJC President Dr. Frank Chong honored the retiree’s contributions to the SRJC campus and community and presented each of the retirees with a farewell package. Most of the 36 staff to retire have contributed to the college for over a decade.
Dr. Chong spoke of the retiree’s favorite SRJC memories and accomplishments and their future plans; a common intention of all is to travel or enjoy time with their families.
The reception was a celebration and time of acknowledgment to bid these honored SRJC staff commencement to the next stage of their lives.
Susan “Jo” Morohashi contributed to the administration department on the Petaluma campus for 25 years. One of Morohashi’s fondest memories is “Stone Soup Wednesday,” where staff from her department would all contribute ingredients to a soup they would all share. Now retired, she hopes to travel the world.
Laura Vallejo has work as a child development staff member for 14 years, and says her favorite SRJC memory is walking across campus knowing she is part of what makes this school great. Vallejo hopes to fill the rest of her days with travel, practicing her Spanish and visiting with friends and family.
Ricardo Navarrette has worked for student services for 30 years and is proudest of helping SRJC focus on open access to students, social justice and diversity. Navarette wants to occupy his future with travel to sacred places and investigate why people are drawn to these spots.
Paula Burks, library and information resources, has worked at SRJC for 25 years. Now that she is retiring, she plans to move to Arkansas to be closer to her friends and family. Burks recalls one of her fondest memories at the school was seeing the astonished faces of students as they walked in to Doyle Library when it had first opened.
