Long to Quit After 29 Years With College

Ventura College President Robert W. Long announced Thursday his intention to resign his post effective next year after more than 35 years as an educator, 29 of them with Ventura College.

“Thirty-five years is enough,” said Long, 56. “I want to do something else now.”

Long was recently offered a contract extension but has decided to leave the college in June, 1992.

Long, who started his Ventura College career in 1963 as a football and tennis coach, said he plans to travel with his wife, Alicia, a dean at Moorpark College, who is also preparing to retire.

He said he wants to spend more time with his seven children and seven grandchildren.

Raymond DiGuilio, director of student financial services, said Long has talked about starting a consulting business to help school districts set up retirement programs.

“I think he’s been a very solid influence during very turbulent times,” DiGuilio said.

Indeed, the Ventura County Community College District, of which Ventura College is a part, is beset by unprecedented turmoil.

Community college trustees are moving to fire Moorpark College President Stanley L. Bowers in the wake of questionable financial dealings with the college’s nonprofit foundation. They also intend to reprimand Lawrence Lloyd, a college vice president, for his role in the transactions.

College district Trustee James T. (Tom) Ely and his wife, Ingrid, are on trial for conspiracy and fraud for allegedly filing false claims for travel expenses with the district.

DiGuilio said, however, that Long’s decision to retire was based on personal reasons and had nothing to do with the district’s problems.

“It’s just like the coach of a team,” he said. “You can only go so far and then you have to go look for new challenges.”

Earlier this year, Long was named among the top nine candidates to replace college district Chancellor Barbara A. Derryberry, who will retire next month. But Long was not among the four finalists for the job.

Derryberry said Long made his announcement a year early to qualify for a retirement bonus for giving the district early notice of his plans.

“I’m sure he’ll be missed,” she said.

The announcement caught some faculty members by surprise. “I think the general reaction is surprise,” said Diane Volze, the college’s journalism adviser. “I mean, he’s so young.”

The barrel-chested, gray-haired Long spent his first eight years with the college as a football and tennis coach. In 1970 he was named dean of students and in 1970 was promoted to vice president in charge of administrative services. Two years later, he became president of the college, which has an enrollment of about 12,000 students.