San Bernardino Valley College mourns the loss of one of its most dedicated alumni and volunteers, retired electronics professor Edward "Ed" Szumski, of San Bernardino, who passed away on November 18, 2021 at the age of 72.
Ed graduated from SBVC's electronics program and returned to teach in the same program, dedicating his career to helping train generations of SBVC students who have gone on to establish their own careers and businesses in the field. During his time as an instructor, Ed was instrumental in the development of SBVC's annual "Spotlighting Our Success" celebration, which has become firmly rooted as a campus tradition since 1984 and is unique to SBVC. Ed made it his mission to ensure that his colleagues were recognized for excellence in their work, helping to build an atmosphere of mutual encouragement and support among his colleagues. Ed's famous saying when helping to organize events and recognitions for his co-workers –which he borrowed from psychologist Cecil Osborne–was, "Perhaps once in a hundred years a person may be ruined by excessive praise, but surely once every minute someone dies inside for lack of it."
In addition to establishing the annual Spotlighting celebration, Ed organized "Retiree Appreciation Day" luncheons, worked with the SBVC culinary program to bake birthday cakes to celebrate "Everybody's Birthday," organized the recognition of SBVC administrative support staff during "Administrative Professionals Week" every year, authored the newsletter of the SBVC Faculty Association with announcements of news and personnel birthdays, sent birthday cards to personnel on campus, the SBCCD district office, Crafton Hills College, and to the many retirees and friends from his time on campus, and organized "meet and greet" new employee breakfasts.
Ed's extensive efforts to recognize and motivate his colleagues helped to foster an atmosphere of camaraderie and mutual support on campus for decades.
Ed was very active on campus both during his academic career and after retirement, serving as President of the SBVC Academic Senate, the SBVC Faculty Association and the SBVC Alumni Association. He most recently served on the SBVC Foundation Board as the SBVC Alumni Association representative.
Ed is survived by his wife, Bonnie, who he met while studying at SBVC; his son, Eddie; daughter, Rebecca; brothers Stephen and George; and sisters Denise and Diane, as well as many nieces and nephews.
Ed Szumski is already dearly missed by many of his SBVC friends and former colleagues and will forever be remembered for his incalculable contributions to SBVC's campus.
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