Roberta Gail Mahan; Veteran Teacher

Roberta Gail Mahan, a veteran teacher in the Conejo Valley Unified School District, died of cancer May 30. She was 57.

Born in Brooklyn, Mahan moved to the Conejo Valley in 1964 and lived in Newbury Park. She taught in the school district from 1963 until her retirement in February due to cancer.

During her tenure, Mahan taught elementary school and eventually high school. She was the drama teacher at Westlake High School from its opening in 1979 to 1989, and she served as president of the Unified Assn. of Conejo Teachers from 1978 to 1980 and in 1982 and 1983.

Mahan was particularly active in the theater and acted in several productions. “She had a beautiful singing voice and was very fond of old movies and Broadway musicals,” said Mahan’s daughter, Kerri Yim.

Mahan had hoped to make a career switch from teaching to counseling. She earned a master’s degree in psychology from Antioch University’s satellite Los Angeles campus in 1991 and became a licensed marriage, family and child counselor in 1993. Her career move was cut short by the cancer, Yim said.

Mahan is survived by Yim of Newbury Park, grandchildren Miles and David Yim, and companion Harvey Mindess of Los Angeles.

Funeral services were held Sunday at Mt. Eden Cemetery in Mission Hills. Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.