President Conoley’s Statement on the Death of Former Gov. George Deukmejian

With yesterday's passing of former Governor George Deukmejian, the state of California, the city of Long Beach and our campus lost a leader, a great public servant and a friend. He died in his Long Beach home at the age of 89.

Our campus benefited from more than his proximity to us. In addition to his visits, we also made great advances because of the vision, wisdom and generosity of the governor and his wife, Gloria. In the early 1990s, he served as voluntary chair for a fundraising committee to support our Disabled Student Services program, and in 2005 the couple donated $107,000 to establish the George and Gloria Deukmejian Scholarship for Students with Disabilities. He also was an inaugural member of the CSULB 49er Foundation, the board that promotes philanthropy and manages our endowment. And from an important historical/research standpoint, Long Beach State University became the home of the George Deukmejian Archives, which is located in our University Library. Dedicated in 2011, the collection encompasses more than 3,000 containers of documents covering his public service.

Today, Governor Deukmejian is being remembered by elected officials and other leaders for his dedication, an ability to make lasting friendships across the political aisle and his selfless service to the public. I echo those sentiments and thank him and his family – in particular, Gloria – for their support and friendship. We are a better Beach because of both of them.