Obituaries

Curtis Stevens, Grossmont Professor Emeritus, Dies in Mount Helix

Stevens, who retired last year, will be honored with a blood drive by his colleagues. He spent more than four decades at Grossmont.

Dr. Curtis Stevens achieved emeritus status in April, capping a 42-year career at Grossmont College, where he served as an administrator, instructor and librarian.

He died June 27 at his Mount Helix home, in hospice care, according to the 
college. He had retired in 2012.

His career included the creation of a U.S. African-America history course and others in the college's defunct library technology program. The college noted that he had chaired or served on almost every campus committee.

The Florida native and prodigy graduated high school at 14 and completed his undergraduate studies at 18, before receiving multiple masters' degrees at 19.

His passion for books was so intense that Grossmont's librarians would  trail him at times to ensure books he'd taken out would not be forgotten. And his interests were varied enough that although his degrees were in the arts, library science and education, he could speak creditably at UCLA and UCSD on quantum physics. He did so in 2012.

He is survived by Delores, to whom he was married for 48 years, two children and a granddaughter.

Blood donations can be made in Stevens' memory at the San Diego Blood Bank by giving his name and code C42. The campus is planning a blood drive in his name in the fall. 


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