Memorial Trees at CSUCI

After teaching at Camarillo State Hospital for 18 years, I felt like Rip Van Winkle attending the ribbon-cutting events Sept. 27 celebrating the conversion of the hospital to Cal State Channel Islands.

State Sen. Jack O’Connell (D-San Luis Obispo) in particular has spent many years battling in Sacramento to get a state university located in Ventura County.

It was strange walking on the grounds without seeing patients sleeping on the lawn or out for their afternoon walk, in a line with a technician. I was surprised to see the hospital’s business office building with a “for sale” sign.

It was exciting to see the bookstore and the admissions office in the Bell Tower building and to visit several classrooms ready for students. One classroom had several large TV screens positioned at the front. We were informed that students would be able to hold conversations with authorities near and far via these screens.

We enjoyed the mariachi band and the young Latinas in colorful costumes who danced a series of Mexican dances for the visitors.

I was also relieved to see the trees my Scout troop had planted on the hospital grounds through the years. My group--Troop 239 and, later, Post 9962--consisted of hospital residents. We planted trees to memorialize the astronauts who lost their lives in the space shuttle Challenger. We planted trees to honor hostages who were held captive in Lebanon and a tree in memory of Bill Cosby’s son Ennis, who was a special education teacher. The tablets in front of them are discolored, but the trees have grown and are doing very well.

Several trees were planted to memorialize Scouts who died during the troop’s history and one in honor of Phyllis Gilbert, one of the former presidents of the Green Line Parents group, which sponsored the troop. Ms. Gilbert was killed in a train-auto collision on her way to attend a meeting at the hospital one Sunday morning.

On behalf of my former troop and post and the Green Line Parents group, our sincerest thanks to President Handel Evans for saving these trees. They do represent a legacy in the hospital’s history.

SAMUEL M. ROSEN

Newbury Park