Mount Tamalpais College held its first annual ‘Remembrance Wall’ memorial celebrating the lives of 24 faculty members, students, and alumni.
The event involved a flower ceremony, memories, and passing out paper roses to commemorate the lives of the deceased. Residents and staff were also encouraged to place origami butterflies, hearts, and swans on the memorial.
“We are here to share that special bond of remembrance,” said resident Chan Park, who co-facilitated the event with MTC staff member Kirsten Pickering. “All of them were participants and members of our community.”
Pickering and resident Idalio Villagran conducted the flower ceremony as MTC students and guests formed a circle for a flower presentation. The first rose was then passed around the circle and placed on the remembrance wall.
Resident band El Unico Elemento performed during the opening ceremony and after a moment of silence, the first name was called, “Levelt Duverne,” as pictures of the deceased were on display in the background.
Attendees talked about past encounters or their personal experiences with the departed.
“I knew this person. We took classes together and I would see him in the visiting room. It was such a shock to me when he passed,” said resident Eddie DeWeaver, who also spoke somber words about former GRIP outside facilitator Bernard Moss.
Resident Donald Thompson, who did not know Moss, said, “When I heard of his passing, I could see the impact on those who were impacted by him and seeing their reaction had an impact on me.”
Thompson also said a few words about Larry “Doc” Histon.
“I met Doc in 2015 in Chapel B. He was truly a man of God,” Thompson said. “He ran a tight ship as he lead a team of ushers during church services.”
When Pickering called the name of former San Quentin News editor-in-chief Arnulfo Garcia, many people talked about Garcia’s large presence and his impact and contributions to the newspaper.
Pickering also mentioned alumnus German Yambao and spoke about his contributions and dedication to the incarcerated population. He worked from the outside to help peoplpe released.
“He was one of the people providing rides at the gate for people while working with Bonafide,” said Pickering.
Several residents commented on the life of Anthony Starks, noting his great personality and kindheartedness.
Andrew Gazzeny, who lived next-door to Starks for four years, noted how he would see Starks always on the move doing things and how sad it was to not see him around anymore.
DeWeaver, about Stark’s basketball skills, said, “He had a crazy shot. He would make it 90% of the time and I would be like, ‘Wow!’”
The college campus has had many names, from Prison University Project to Patten University to now MTC, which is an accredited college. No matter what the name changes are, since 1996 there has always been a community of college-level education here, noted Park.
A few years ago, Park learned that his teacher was volunteering his time to drive and teach in prison. That experience made him commit to showing up for his education. He was salutatorian in 2022.
“The first day I decided to come down here in 2017. The one thing I’ve learned is that we are often bound by [our] experiences.”
In Memoriam
Kenneth Musa Bailey, student
Nancy Bourne, faculty member
Judy Breen, faculty member
Jeff Brooks, alumnus
George Burns, student
Marcus Crumb, alumnus
James Bryant “Shorty” Dunbar, student
Levelt Duverne, student
Arnulfo Garcia, student
Darrell Anthony Gautt, Sr., student
Alfonso Garcia-Saz, faculty member
Charles Gross, faculty member
Larry “Doc” Histon, alumnus
Hal Martini, student
Kathryn Miller, faculty member
Bernard Moss, alumnus
Matthew Solomon, alumnus
Anthony Starks, student
Monta Kevin Tindall, alumnus
Frank Valdivia, student
James Vick, student
Eric Williams Warner, student
James Bennett “JB” Wells, alumni
German Yambao, alumni
