Santa Ana’s Departing Schools Chief Toasted : Education: Rudy M. Castruita, leaving for San Diego County, is given a send-off by colleagues, friends and family.

At a sunset patio party, community leaders on Monday feted Rudy M. Castruita, the Santa Ana’s schools chief who is leaving to take over the San Diego County Department of Education, as a dynamic speaker and powerful leader who has revolutionized Orange County’s largest school district.

Castruita, 50, collected a large stack of plaques and gifts, handshakes and hugs as friends and colleagues toasted and roasted his six-year tenure running the Santa Ana Unified School District, the ninth largest in the state.

“Santa Ana will always be a special place for you because it is here that you came of age,” said Rob Balen, one of the district’s five trustees. “We will miss your charm, your wisdom and your leadership.”

Several hundred people gathered at the Turnip Rose restaurant for the “ Vaya Con Dios “ farewell tribute, which went to benefit the Santa Ana Education Foundation. Sitting at tables whose centerpieces contained a mini-chalkboard, ruler, pencils and a shiny apple, the audience included district employees, city and county leaders, and Castruita’s friends and family.

As head of the 43-school district, which serves mostly poor immigrant children, Castruita spearheaded business-education partnerships, launched health care programs, boosted test scores and even led Santa Ana to adopt as its motto: “Education First.”

State Sen. Marian Bergeson (R-Newport Beach) offered a plaque, as did a representative from the Orange County Board of Supervisors. Santa Ana Mayor Daniel H. Young even produced the proverbial gold watch.

“If you ever get in trouble, this could carry you for at least a month,” Young joked. Then, more seriously, the mayor praised the superintendent as “one of the treasures in the world,” and noted that it has been difficult to share the podium at community events with such a vibrant public speaker.

“If he went before me, nobody wanted to listen to me. If he went after me, everybody said, ‘Who’s the mayor?’ ” Young sighed. “So, adios, buddy!”

Eddie Hernandez, vice chancellor of Rancho Santiago Community College, presented Castruita with a collage depicting Santa Ana schoolchildren visiting the college campus, and pointed out that 3,000 students have gone straight from Santa Ana schools to Rancho Santiago during Castruita’s tenure. Hernandez, who grew up with Castruita in El Monte, choked up as he made his brief presentation.

“I’m going to miss you, Rudy,” he gasped.