Popular High School Official Dies

Mike Whittington, a popular La Quinta High School administrator affectionately known on campus as Mr. Clean because of his tall stature and bald head, died this week of a heart attack. He was 50.

Grieving colleagues and students created a memorial outside Whittington’s office Tuesday with flowers, a photograph of the beloved assistant principal and hand-written condolence notes addressed to his family.

“Mr. Clean always had something positive to say, and he really cared,” Jennifer Pfeifer, 17, said. “We saw him at the swim banquet Friday night, and, as a group of us swimmers were leaving, he told us, ‘Buckle up, be safe, and I’ll see you Monday morning.’ ”

Whittington was an avid swimmer who attended swim meets and other athletic competitions to cheer the students, La Quinta Principal Jim Monahan said: “Mike was a real big guy, low-key and soft-spoken, really gentle with the kids. He was really interested in getting students involved in school activities.”

Whittington, who was in charge of campus supervision, student discipline and teacher evaluations, organized a campus program designed to raise awareness of the consequences of drunk driving.

Whittington, who died after suffering a heart attack while jogging in Mile Square Regional Park on Sunday, is survived by his wife, Charlotte, a daughter, Carin, and two brothers.

His funeral will be Thursday at 11 a.m. at Harbor Lawn Cemetery, 1625 Gisler Ave., Costa Mesa.

A memorial trust has been set up at the school, and donations are being accepted.