Issue Date: 5/11/09
Retired child development professor dies on Mother's Day
Margie Ruzich, a retired Palomar faculty member and former professor of child development, died on May 10 after a long illness according to a press release from the office of Palomar President Robert Deegan.
Beginning in 1973 as a part-time faculty member in the child development department, Ruzich spent 29 years of her life at Palomar College. Her positions included chair of the Child Development Department, president of the Faculty Senate, liaison to the Child Care Center and coordinator of the San Diego and Imperial Counties Community Colleges Association's Faculty Intern Mentor Program.
Ruzich taught Child Development courses 100, 115 and 145 up until about four years ago, Diane Studinka, chair of the department, said.
School officials praised her teaching abilities.
"She knew them by name," Deegan said in a press release, "and cared about each of them as individuals."
"Margie is to be commended for the work she had done in developing the courses at Palomar College which relate specifically to the abuse of young children," wrote former Dean of Humanities Gene Jackson in a statement.
Before coming to Palomar, Ruzich specialized in bilingual/bicultural education and migrant education in the Encinitas and Escondido School Districts. She earned an associate's of arts degree from San Diego City College, a bachelor's of arts degree from San Diego State University and a master's of elementary education degree from Cal State Sacramento.
Ruzich was born on Mother's Day, 1947 and passed away on Mother's Day, 2009. She is survived by her nephew Robert Ruzich.
Beginning in 1973 as a part-time faculty member in the child development department, Ruzich spent 29 years of her life at Palomar College. Her positions included chair of the Child Development Department, president of the Faculty Senate, liaison to the Child Care Center and coordinator of the San Diego and Imperial Counties Community Colleges Association's Faculty Intern Mentor Program.
Ruzich taught Child Development courses 100, 115 and 145 up until about four years ago, Diane Studinka, chair of the department, said.
School officials praised her teaching abilities.
"She knew them by name," Deegan said in a press release, "and cared about each of them as individuals."
"Margie is to be commended for the work she had done in developing the courses at Palomar College which relate specifically to the abuse of young children," wrote former Dean of Humanities Gene Jackson in a statement.
Before coming to Palomar, Ruzich specialized in bilingual/bicultural education and migrant education in the Encinitas and Escondido School Districts. She earned an associate's of arts degree from San Diego City College, a bachelor's of arts degree from San Diego State University and a master's of elementary education degree from Cal State Sacramento.
Ruzich was born on Mother's Day, 1947 and passed away on Mother's Day, 2009. She is survived by her nephew Robert Ruzich.
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