Longtime Brea Educator Vincent E. Jaster Dies

Vincent E. Jaster, who began his career in 1929 as an eighth-grade teacher at Brea Junior High School and retired in 1968 as associate superintendent of the Brea-Olinda Unified School District, died of natural causes Saturday at his home.

The 78-year-old educator left teaching to take the principal’s post at the junior high school in 1930. Eleven years later, he was promoted to superintendent of the Brea Elementary School District, and he became associate superintendent when the district merged with three others to form the Brea-Olinda Unified School District in 1966.

He retired in June, 1968, but returned for a stint of substitute teaching at Brea High School from 1972 to 1976. In 1980, the district’s office at 1 Civic Center Circle, Brea was named the Vincent E. Jaster Education Center.

A native of North Dakota, Jaster said in an interview shortly after retiring that students had changed considerably during his 39-year career. “They are sharper. They have the television, more books and larger libraries to assist them,” he said. “But I do think some children are left on their own too much. That allows them to get into a bad environment and can lead to trouble.”

Jaster is survived by his wife, Louise; two daughters, Sharon Fowler of Brea and Connie James of West Des Moines, Iowa, and four grandchildren. Services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the First Lutheran Church, 215 N. Lemon St, Fullerton, and interment will be in Loma Vista Memorial Park, Fullerton. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Vincent Jaster Memorial Fund at the school district.