Dobie Gelles, a life-long advocate of education in Castro Valley, and trustee on the Chabot-Las Positas Community College Board died May 2. He was 80.
The cause of death was congestive heart failure, according to reports.
Gelles was elected to the community college board in 1998 and was just re-elected to the Area 4 seat that represents Castro Valley and parts of Oakland last November.
“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, we are deeply saddened and send our condolences to the Gelles family,” Chabot-Las Positas Community College Board President Edralin Maduli said in a statement. “We will remember Dobie for his two decades of service, dedication and leadership to our students and community.”
Gelles was a Castro Valley mainstay, not only serving as a school administrator, but also on the Eden Hospital Community Board, and president of the local Rotary and Kiwanis Club.
Gelles’ passing comes just weeks after the Chabot-Las Positas board filled an appointment to the seat of another long-time trustee, Carlo Vecchiarelli, the Tri-Valley representative who resigned earlier this year over health issues.
The community college board is scheduled on May 21 to discuss another appointment process for selecting a candidate to serve out the remainder of Gelles’ term through 2022.
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