Robert Serros; Educator, Ex-Aide to Supervisor

Oxnard educator Robert Serros died Tuesday after a brief illness. He was 64.

Serros was born July 25, 1933, in Oxnard. He was a popular bilingual teacher at Channel Islands High School in Oxnard and was former chief administrative advisor for Ventura County Supervisor John K. Flynn.

A flag at the Channel Islands campus flew at half-staff Tuesday.

“He was a very, very close friend and an outstanding citizen and resident of Oxnard,” said Flynn, adding that Serros worked in his office for eight years.

Serros was a member of the Mexican-American Chamber of Commerce and the Assn. of Mexican-American Educators. He was also active in La Colonia neighborhood politics, according to Dana Karney, assistant principal at Channel Islands High.

La Colonia was the influence for Serros’ book, “The Language of Barrios,” published in 1973, according to his daughter, Catherine Serros-Myers of Oxnard.

Before joining the faculty at Channel Islands High School, Serros was a professor of Mexican-American studies at Cal State University Fullerton and San Diego State University.

Karney credited Serros with helping to update testing procedures and bilingual education at Channel Islands High. He also developed a procedure for students making the transition from bilingual programs to mainstream classes.

He was co-chairman of the school’s bilingual department and advisor of the New Educational Horizons Club, whose members promote education through tours of universities and libraries, as well as attendance at cultural events.

Serros also initiated the school’s lunch hour intramural soccer tournament and was a sponsor of the All-CIHS Handball Tournament, according to Karney.

In addition to his daughter, Serros is survived by his wife of 40 years, Catalina; daughter Deborah Serros of Oxnard, and two grandchildren.

Visitation will be held between 5 and 9 p.m. Friday at the James A. Reardon Mortuary in Oxnard. A funeral Mass is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Santa Clara Catholic Chapel in Oxnard. Burial will be at Santa Clara Cemetery.