In memory in Ethan Castor
By Vanessa Luis
On Nov. 15, 2017 Las Positas unexpectedly lost a dear family member, Mr. Ethan Castor. He was 38 years old.
Castor had been with Las Positas in some capacity for nearly 20 years—first as a student, then as a volunteer, and in his most recent position, a Computer Network Specialist.
According to Stephen Gunderson, Las Positas’ Senior Instructional Network Systems Specialist and a close friend and colleague of Castor, “You cannot find any place on campus where Ethan Castor has not left a part of himself, where he helped to implement a solution or a design.”
Those who knew Castor remember him as kind, helpful, and friendly. In his spare time, he acted as a volunteer to the Livermore First Presbyterian Church, made delicious BBQ, and nurtured a strong interest in guns.
Gunderson explained the impact he had on the campus, “All who knew him experienced his thoughtfulness, his great smile, his laughter, and his friendship. He worked tirelessly for the college and the district providing technical solutions that supported our students and staff.”
Ron Johansen, Fire Service Technology professor recalls his experiences with Castor, “He always was helpful and went out of his way to meet all of our needs whenever called upon by all of us! I too will miss his jingling keys and seeing him driving around the campus in his golf cart always giving me a wave and a smile as he passed.”
The campus community has truly felt the loss of Castor and has elected to start a scholarship in his honor, the Ethan Castor Memorial Scholarship.
The scholarship will be open to any Las Positas College student in good standing, with at least a 2.0 GPA. Students can apply online beginning in Spring 2019 and will be asked to write a short essay.
So far, the fund has raised $12,000 and will begin to distribute to the recipients for the Fall 2019 semester after open applications. Anyone interested in donating can go to http://lpcazure.laspositascollege.edu/ethan/index.php for more information.
A public memorial service was held in his remembrance at First Presbyterian Church, Livermore, and 2020 Fifth Street at the corner of L, at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018.