Lasting Memories

Daniel A. Vinson
March 2, 1947-Oct. 11, 2009
Mountain View, California

Daniel A. Vinson, a career educator with more than two decades of service in Mountain View, died on Oct. 11, 2009, at the age of 62.

Vinson was diagnosed earlier this year with two inoperable brain tumors, not long after retiring from his final job as superintendent of the Woodside Elementary School District near Menlo Park. He died only four months after the diagnosis.

Vinson served for 22 years in the Mountain View School District, before it merged with Whisman, in various capacities: as principal of Graham Middle School, as director of personal and special education, and as assistant superintendent.

He went on to hold other positions in school districts around the region. He also served as superintendent of the Rancho Santa Fe School District, as principal of Loma Prieta Middle School, and as a teacher, counselor and principal in the Berryessa School District.

Fellow educators said Vinson brought family values and a genuine kindness to his many leadership positions in the field.

"He was an incredible man, he was just a great person," said Josette Villasenor, who worked as Vinson's administrative assistant for 12 years in the Mountain View School District. "He was all about being a good person and doing the best he could in the jobs he had."

Born on March 2, 1947, in Alameda, Vinson eventually became highly degreed in the field of education, receiving a bachelor's in the subject at CSU Chico, a master's at San Jose State, and a doctorate at the University of San Francisco.

Administrators in the Mountain View Whisman School District who worked with Vinson remember him as a gentleman who brought humanity to human resources and special education. He loved to have fun, play games and to celebrate events with his staffers, they said.

"I was superintendent of Mountain View School District when he left to become superintendent of Rancho Santa Fe," said Trish Bubenik, who described Vinson as both a colleague and a friend. "I greatly admired him as a caring and discerning educator and as one of the kindest gentlemen I have ever known."

"Not only was he someone who paid great attention to detail," she added, "he could make a wonderful party atmosphere so quickly that he was our go-to person for special events."

"Dan hired me to reopen Huff School," remembered Craig Goldman, the current district CFO. "I will always be grateful that he took a chance on a brand new principal with a brand new school. Frankly, at the time I was a bit overwhelmed, but Dan had a way of encouraging you so you believed everything would be OK."

Kathi Lilga was executive assistant to the superintendent when Vinson worked in the district office. She remembered him for his kindness, and for how much he valued all staff members, including the secretaries, for whom he threw an appreciation breakfast every year.

"His mother was involved in public education so that very much endeared him to the working class," said Villasenor, adding that his strong family values allowed him to be a particularly sensitive administrator in special education and human resources.

Bubenik said she was lucky to have visited with him several times over the past few months.

"Always he was interested in other people, taking the focus off of himself," she said. "He wanted to know how we were doing."

"There were many, many people at his service that knew him well over the years," Villasenor said, estimating that over 250 people attended the memorial, which was held on Oct. 19.

Outside his career in education, Vinson enjoyed gardening, spending time outdoors and with his grandchildren. He often traveled to Twain Harte, and to Europe and Mexico, with his wife of 40 years, Sara Jane Vinson.

He is survived by his wife; son Drew Vinson, daughter-in-law Robin and their daughter Avery; daughter Alison Gaconnet, son-in-law Cory Gaconnet and their children Madeline and Noah; brother Tim Vinson and his wife Nancy; sister-in-law Vickie Woolery, her husband John and their son William.