Originally from Iowa, John McNeil has dedicated six decades of his career to UCLA. After 20 years of service in the military, McNeil retired and began teaching high school in San Diego. He developed curriculums for San Diego city schools and went on to earn a doctorate from Columbia University. UCLA sought out John when the university decided to start a new teacher education program in 1956.

McNeil is passionate about community-based learning. One of the first assignments he issued at UCLA asked students to apply what they were learning in schools in two locations: Westwood and an underserved community. John felt it was important for future educators to get out into the field and be comfortable sharing education best practices with any community.

He retired around 1970 but returned to work after being called back as a recruiter for the University of California, Riverside and has not stopped working since!

For the past three years, McNeil has co-taught an honors course with UCLA lecturer and former student Octavio Pescador ’93, Ph.D. ‘03 on entrepreneurial philanthropy. “The concept behind the course (“Doing Well and Doing Good”) is to enrich their own lives while helping others,” explained John. “The students come up with the best ideas.”

McNeil was recognized for his outstanding contribution to the field of education by the City of Los Angeles on Oct. 18, 2019.

John passed away on April 10. He is survived by his daughters, Heather Larkin, Lisbeth Ceaser and Catherine McNeil; son Juan McNeil; grandchildren Cerena Ceaser and Donald and Kyle Larkin; and great-grandchildren Craig Larkin, who will graduate this year with a bachelor’s in economics, and Ryan Larkin.

Kendall Neisess described going to school in the 1940s as, “...fun and fascinating but also involved a lot of hard work.” Neisess attended Fullerton Junior College (now known as Fullerton College) for four years and transferred to UCLA, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in History after two years.

Kendall served in the Navy for two years following graduation since his bachelor’s degree qualified him for Officer Training with the Naval Reserve. Eager to continue learning, he applied his G.I. Bill education benefit at the University of Southern California, where he earned a master’s degree.

Neisess relived his experience in a European History class, a course based on European history from the fall of Rome to the renaissance. He remembered the final exam where students walked in with their blue books to find a single question on the chalkboard: Write a brief history of Europe from the fall of Rome to the renaissance. “We had three hours to do this in the blue book,” Kendall recalled. “He was a very demanding professor.”

He also remembered attending a memorable UCLA football game in 1943, the first time the Bruins qualified for a Rose Bowl game. This event is special to him because he was accompanied by a woman who would later introduce him to his wife. When asked how they’ve been able to remain married for more than 70 years, Mrs. Neisess said, “He’s easy to get along with.”

Kendall is grateful for his UCLA experience. “Because of the fine training I received at UCLA, I was able to work in the teaching field for about 40 years. I was a school principal for 30 years. I owe the ability to do that to UCLA.”

Irving Sherman has the unique experience of attending UCLA three decades apart. Sherman’s UCLA journey started in 1936, where he majored in Chemistry. He eventually transferred to the University of California, Berkeley to study Soil Science as this major was not offered at UCLA.

Soon after earning his bachelor’s degree, Irving began working and started a family. He later enrolled in UCLA’s School of Engineering (now known as UCLA Samueli School Of Engineering) in the 1950s after learning that many people in the soil industry were earning more as engineers. Because he had a full-time job and a family to support, Sherman was only able to take one or two classes per semester. There were times when he was not able to take any courses, sometimes for as long as two years. But Irving persevered through what he described as “a long haul” and completed his degree after 13 years.

When asked about the biggest differences at UCLA from the time he started in the late 1930s to the time he finished in 1964, Sherman describes them as enormous. “When I went to UCLA in 1936, I think there were only eight buildings, and two of them were the gymnasiums,” he recalled. “I remember Royce Hall, of course.”

Sherman’s immediate family has been filled with Bruins. His late wife was a triple Bruin, having earned three degrees - a bachelor’s degree in 1941, a master’s degree in 1961, and a Ph.D. in 1970. Their two sons also earned degrees from UCLA in the 1970s. “UCLA’s impact on my life has been tremendous,” said Irving. “It seemed like the optimal place to go if they would let you in.”

After graduating from Beverly Hills High School in 1938, Alfred Woodill was excited to be accepted to his local university, UCLA. He attended for two years before being drafted into World War II (WWII). Woodill’s initial time at UCLA qualified him for Officer Training, an opportunity traditionally reserved for those who have already earned a degree. Alfred was accepted into the Air Corps and served for four years.

When his military service was complete, Woodill faced a tough decision - work full time or go back to school. To this day he takes pride in his decision to complete his degree at UCLA because it taught him the value of finishing what he started. This was especially important to Alfred as a first generation student. He recalled a difference in the pace of his classes after returning to UCLA in 1944. According to Woodill, programs were accelerated to help meet target graduation dates for those who returned from WWII. This, combined with two years worth of credits, helped him graduate on time in 1946.

The workload was demanding but Alfred made time for social activities. He became the president of Phi Gamma Delta and collaborated with other fraternities to produce an event that later would come to be known as a campus tradition called Spring Sing. Woodill’s participation in light (card) stunts at UCLA Football games stands out as a particularly special memory. He recalled that it was exciting to arrive at the stadium early for a chance to be in the rooting section. Those who were admitted into the rooting section had high hopes that their seat held the card, lights and instructions. “That was so much fun," remembered Alfred. “Those were the days."

Toshi Ashikaga’s story starts in Japan with her late husband, Professor Emeritus Ensho Ashikaga. While teaching in Japan, Professor Emeritus Ashikaga was recruited to teach at the University of California, Berkeley in 1937. Professor Emeritus Ashikaga went on to teach at universities in California and Colorado after arriving in the United States. While Professor Emeritus Ashikaga was teaching at UC Berkeley, his colleague and friend the late Professor Emeritus Richard Rudolph informed him that UCLA did not have an Oriental Languages program (now known as the Department of Asian Languages and Cultures). In 1947, they took the opportunity to launch the program and the Ashikagas arrived at UCLA later that year. “I have seen the university grow so much," reflected Toshi.

After her husband’s passing in 1984, Ashikaga stayed involved with the university. That same year, members of the UCLA Faculty Women’s Club invited her to join. Toshi remembers participating in group activities such as coordinating welcome picnics for the families of new faculty and writing condolence letters to wives of deceased faculty.

Through the affiliation with her husband, Ashikaga became a member of the UCLA Emeriti Association. Since 2009, she has served as the Chair of the UCLA Emeriti Association’s Book Exchange housed at the UCLA Faculty Center. In 2016, Toshi received the UCLA Emeriti Association’s Distinguished Service Award for her contributions to the organization.

At 101 years old, Ashikaga is in great health. With help from her son, she works out at UCLA Recreation facilities weekly and visits the UCLA Faculty Center a few times a month for lunch with friends and to care for the book exchange. When asked about her long-standing service to the university she replied, “Isn’t it funny? It just seems like a part of something that I would just do."

Toshi passed away in 2020.

Like many of his classmates in the 1940s, Samuel Goldfarb served in the military for World War II (WWII). After returning from service, a cousin of his who went to UCLA told him about the university and encouraged him to apply. Goldfarb described his cousin as a mentor, leading him to programs that complemented his background including the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC).

Samuel studied Business Administration at UCLA’s School of Management (now known as the UCLA Anderson School of Management). He recalled that seating in lecture halls was in alphabetical order by last name, an arrangement that would seem unfathomable today. This led him to meet his future business partner and lifelong friend whose last name followed his alphabetically.

Goldfarb’s favorite spot on campus was Powell Library. He remembered being inside to do his work in between classes or outside on the lawn hanging out with friends.

Samuel’s graduation was a special day. It was the first commencement ceremony to take place after the end of WWII. He clearly remembered sitting in the open air theater (now the Center for Health Sciences) with the cousin who guided him through UCLA and an ROTC buddy. “It was a wonderful graduation," said Goldfarb.

Sam passed away October 21, 2020. He is survived by his daughters Deborah Golden (James) and Nancy Goldfarb Pope, his son Benjamin Goldfarb (Melissa Zukerman), and his grandchildren, Alex, Harry (Jennifer Grabler) and Caroline and his great-granddaughter Zoe Gray Golden. His forever youthful presence will be sadly missed and mourned by all who knew and loved him.

Edward Grastorf remembered passing wild oak trees and empty lots as he took the bus down Wilshire Boulevard to Westwood as a commuter student. “Now those empty lots have since been occupied by skyscrapers," said Grastorf. “The view in the ride to UCLA on the bus today would be different from what it was in 1949."

Edward, a draftsman who worked in a boiler factory in Ohio, moved to California at the age of 21 to pursue a job opportunity. Upon arriving Grastorf enrolled in a UCLA Extension course. Shortly after he was drafted to serve in World War II and served three years in the army. He subsequently enrolled at UCLA and earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics in 1949 at the age of 29.

One of Grastorf’s most vivid memories was his experience on the UCLA Crew team (now known as Men’s and Women’s Rowing). Grastorf remembered that practices took place in Ballona Creek in Playa Del Rey. This practice site was an estuary so members could only practice every two weeks when the tide was in making it difficult to become a competitive team.

After graduating, Grastorf earned a Master’s degree from California State University, Northridge and pursued a career in education. At Revere Junior High School he was honored to teach some children whose parents were Grastorf’s former UCLA professors.

Grastorf took UCLA Extension courses almost consecutively for the next 27 years. “I probably have more than 100 UCLA Extension units if you count them all up," explained Grastorf. “The motto lifetime learner is quite appropriate."

After graduating from Roosevelt High School in the 1930s, Sophia Poster attended what was then known as Los Angeles Junior College. Today it’s Los Angeles City College, where UCLA’s campus was located before moving to Westwood.

When Poster was young she expressed interest in helping those in need. “My mind was always to be a psychiatric social worker," she said. Sophia was excited at the possibility of continuing her studies at UCLA until she discovered that the university did not offer a social welfare program. Committed to her career goals she applied to the University of California, Berkeley but she was not admitted as she did not meet the minimum age requirement. Poster remembered telling the administrator, “But I’m married!"

Sophia decided to take time away from her studies and find a job instead. She soon began working in the architecture department at Boeing where she was the only female employee. During her time there Poster became pregnant and had a daughter. After a couple of years at Boeing she reapplied to UC Berkeley and eventually earned a Bachelor’s degree.

In 1947, UCLA launched the Department of Social Welfare. Sophia wasted no time and applied to her dream school as soon as she could. “My daughter had polio at the time of the epidemic. I had to take her to the hospital," Poster recalled. “I remember going to UCLA to register for the School of Social Work after I admitted her to the hospital."

Almost two decades in the making, Sophia earned a Master’s degree from the school she has always had her eyes on. “I enjoyed the classes so much," she reminisced. “I always was a fan of UCLA."

A native Angeleno, Mendel Rittenberg attended UCLA after graduating from Roosevelt High School in East Los Angeles. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in Economics in 1936.

“There weren't too many buildings when I went there. I think only four," recalled Rittenberg. Of the four buildings on campus at the time, he took many of his classes in Royce Hall. It remains his favorite to this day. Mendel described UCLA as pretty bare in the 1930s, but there was lots of construction and that muddied campus when it rained.

Like many students during the Great Depression, Rittenberg worked full time attending school in the morning and working for his father in the afternoon. Although very busy he made time for his fraternity, Alpha Epsilon Pi, in which he fostered many friendships and attended several dances. Mendel also attended UCLA Football games and recalled watching iconic players including Jackie Robinson and Kenny Washington.

These days Rittenberg is not the only Bruin in his family. All four of his children followed in his footsteps and earned degrees from UCLA. Mendel shared an even bigger vision and proudly declared, “I hope my great grandchildren will go to UCLA!"

Mendel passed away June 21, 2020. He is survived by his children, Phillip ’66, David ’68 and Diane ’74, his son-in-law, Mark, his brother, Jerry and his sister-in-law, Phyllis. He leaves five granddaughters, Elisabeth (Tony), Jennifer (Jalal), Alison (Jason), Rebecca and Kathryn, and four great-grandchildren, Owen, Evelyn, Peter and Rami.