Monday, November 21, 2016
Contact: Timothy Leong, Public Information Officer (925) 229-6823
Jack Carhart
MARTINEZ, CA – The Contra Costa Community College District (District) sadly announces
the passing of retired chancellor John (Jack) Carhart on Friday, November 4, 2016.
Mr. Carhart was chancellor from 1984-1991, and previously was the founding president
of Los Medanos College (LMC) from 1970-1984.
"Mr. Carhart was devoted to LMC, the District, and the communities served by the District," said chancellor Helen Benjamin. "He provided the foundation on which our District stands today, and we are most grateful for his contributions. Our sincere sympathies to his family for their loss."
Hired by the District in 1970, he led the planning and construction of the LMC campus
which became an innovative national model of designing educational facilities that
blended instructional needs with supporting student services.
"Jack Carhart was a truly inspirational educational leader and his vision led to the creation of LMC," commented Richard Livingston, a founding LMC faculty member. "Based on a sound educational philosophy and student-centered approach, the college was designed to improve students' lives and, in the process, our society."
Mr. Carhart's leadership as chancellor guided the District through post-Proposition 13 budget reductions, while expanding student access to the three colleges. He was a mentor to educators, touched the lives of students throughout the county, and is remembered as a person of integrity, ideas and warmth.
The Governing Board will offer a special tribute to retired chancellor Carhart at their Wednesday, December 14, 2016, meeting, beginning at 6:00 p.m.
Los Medanos College (LMC) is one of three colleges in the Contra Costa Community College District. LMC prepares students to excel and succeed economically, socially and intellectually in an innovative, engaging and supportive learning environment. It provides quality programs and state-of-the-art facilities to serve the needs of a rapidly growing and changing East County while enhancing the quality of life of the diverse communities it serves. LMC is located on 120 acres between Pittsburg and Antioch, with an additional education center in Brentwood.