William J. Kasza; Retired Art Professor

William J. Kasza, a retired Cal State Northridge art professor who created the university’s seal and helped design its Fine Arts Building, has died in a Granada Hills hospital. He was 70.

He died Thursday of heart failure, said his wife, Angelene Kasza.

Born Dec. 3, 1920, in Barton, W. Va., he served as a dental assistant in the Navy during World War II. A graduate of UCLA and Cal State Los Angeles, Kasza earned a doctorate in art education from Pennsylvania State University in 1961. He served as director of art at University Elementary School at UCLA in 1951-54 and art professor at Cal State L. A. in 1954-57 before coming to San Fernando Valley State College, now CSUN.

He created the university’s seal and helped design the Fine Arts Building in 1957, university officials said. Kasza, who taught several classes, including art education, served as associate dean of the School of Fine Arts and Professional Studies in 1964-67 and graduate coordinator for 13 years.

He was president of the Southern California Art Education Assn. in 1965, two-term president of the National Watercolor Society in the mid- to late-1970s, and helped start the first student chapter of the National Art Education Assn. in the 1960s. He preferred painting in watercolor and often did abstract paintings on ethnic themes.

He is survived by his wife of 44 years; son, Gregory Kasza of Bloomington, Ind.; daughter, Toni Kasza of Brussels, Belgium; brother, Tony Kasza and sister, Mary Poscik of Cleveland, Ohio, and two grandsons.

Visitation is planned from noon to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday at Gates, Kingsley & Gates Mortuary, 6909 Canoga Ave., Canoga Park. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Our Lady of Loudres Catholic Church, 18400 Kinzie St., Northridge. Visitation will follow at the mortuary until 9 p.m. A graveside service is scheduled at 11 a.m. Thursday at Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City.

Donations can be made in Kasza’s name to an art scholarship fund at CSUN, in care of Art General Studies, FA-103, California State University Northridge, 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge 91330.