Kyle Bracewell
Larry Humphrey, Industrial Technology (IT) Department Chairman, died Thursday evening at the Kaiser-Permanente Hospital in Woodland Hills after suffering a heart attack early Wednesday.
Humphrey was an instructor at Pierce College for more than 20 years, and played a major role in securing funding for Pierce’s $2 million welding shop.
“He was a very proactive department chair, often putting his own money into projects,” said Donna-Mae Villanueva, dean of academic affairs.
“His attention to detail, selfless giving of his time and money, and his genuine passion for his department’s programs marked him as the hardest working, and perhaps the best, department chair that IT has ever had,” Villanueva noted in an e-mail prepared for Pierce staff.
Ron Smetzer, IT faculty adviser and long-time friend and co-worker, ran against Humphrey in 1998 for department chair and lost.
“The best thing that ever happened to IT was Larry getting elected department chair,” said Smetzer. “He was always encouraging, always positive. He was a dedicated worker.”
On the topic of awards, Smetzer said, “I can’t think of any specific awards Larry won. He was not a limelight kind of guy; he was more about promoting those he worked with.”
Humphrey was survived by his mother Gloria, of Reseda, and a sister, Toni McFadden. There will be an on-campus memorial Wednesday, March 28 at 4:30 p.m. in the faculty dining room.