SIMI VALLEY : Lew Roth, Ex-School Board Member, Dies

Lew Roth, who served 22 years on the Simi Valley School Board before losing his reelection race in November, has died of kidney cancer. He was 58.

Roth died at 9:20 p.m. Sunday at Encino Hospital after more than a year of battling the disease, said his wife, Rollie Roth.

In addition to his wife, Roth is survived by his daughter, Miriam, 30, and two sons, Paul, 33, and Barry, 24.

Roth was remembered by his former colleagues on the school board Tuesday as having an unwavering commitment to improving educational services to the district’s 18,000 students.

“His commitment to serving young people, to seeing that they had the very best opportunities to meet life, was his greatest contribution,” said school board member Ken Ashton, who served 20 years on the board with Roth.

Board member Judy Barry agreed.

“He always considered what was best for the kids in every decision he made,” Barry said.

Roth was responsible for developing a policy requiring a C or better average for students participating in extracurricular activities, his colleagues said. He also spearheaded the Simi Valley Education Foundation, a nonprofit organization devoted to raising funds for school programs. After his defeat by challenger Carla Kurachi in the November school board election, Roth continued his efforts to raise money for the district.

In December, the board honored Roth with a resolution, citing many of his achievements.

“It’s probably been the most incredible experience of my life,” Roth said then of his long tenure on the board. “The greatest reward was seeing the accomplishments of the kids.”

Funeral services for Roth are scheduled for 4 p.m. today at Eden Memorial Park in Mission Hills. Burial also will be at Eden Memorial Park.

Roth’s family requested that donations be made to the Simi Valley Education Foundation at P.O. Box 1439, Simi Valley, 93062.