Dr. Herbert Zakary Zeitlin

Herbert Zakary Zeitlin, founding President of Triton Community College in River Grove, Illinois, 1964-1976, died Tuesday, March 2, at his home in Woodland Hills, California after a struggle with colon cancer. He was 91.

Zeitlin believed that being a president of a college was like being the quarterback on a football team. "You have the choice of running with the ball and taking some bruises or passing it to someone who should score. I was lucky most of the time in selecting some very fine receivers," wrote Zeitlin.

When the first board of trustees appointed Zeitlin founding president in 1964, Triton had no staff, student, campus, office supplies, or even a name. After first going to the local stationary store to buy pencils, pens, paper, and other basic supplies, Zeitlin proceeded literally to build a college from scratch. He assembled the most qualified and skilled administration to build what was later to become the state's model community college. In 1965, Triton opened temporary quarters at West Leyden High School, and in 1968, with enrollment of 4,600 students, Zeitlin presided over the college's move to the River Grove campus. The college grew faster than any other higher educational institution in the state, an expansion from 1,200 students in 1965 to over 22,000 students in 1975. Six separate building projects with a value of more than $30 million were completed.

It was during the "Zeitlin Days" that Triton gained an excellent reputation for quality and accountability. Triton received a 10-year North Central accreditation and was labeled the model community college by the Chicago Sun-Times. In 1973, Times magazine featured Triton as one of the nation's outstanding community colleges and cited Triton as "a new type of college that is redefining the concept for many Americans: the public community college..." From 1970 until 1976, Triton and its staff received more honors than any other college in the state. Triton was considered by many as one of the most innovative and efficiently run colleges in the nation.

During these early years, Triton's reputation was largely established because of Zeitlin's remarkable ability to choose good people, his vision, vigor, energy, innovative ideas and commitment to making higher education accessible to all socio-economic and ethnic groups. In describing this policy Zeitlin once stated, "We have been able to open our doors to members of the community who never thought about college before..."

Zeitlin's wife, Eugenia, stated "His commitment to making higher education accessible to thousands of residents is perhaps his greatest accomplishment for it touched so many people."

Born in 1919, Zeitlin came from a family of nine and grew up in Brooklyn and Queens, New York. As a young boy, he worked as a mail clerk, a purchasing agent, grocery clerk, theater usher, soda jerk, newspaper carrier, and a New York Times Square messenger boy. He eventually saved enough money to enroll a New York University, but when the war began, he dropped out of college and enlisted in the Army Air Force. After his service in the Army Air Force ended, he finished college and graduated from New York University in 1949, with a bachelor and master degrees in vocational education and guidance. Later, in 1956, he earned a doctorate in school administration from Stanford University.

Zeitlin met his wife, Eugenia, an English teacher, at North Merrick School in North Merrick, New York. "The PTA sponsored a school play and asked the two of us to take the lead roles. It was very romantic. We fell in love and married. We wanted to be pioneers so we decided to move out West," said Mrs. Zeitlin.

They moved to Arizona where Zeitlin became a vocational counselor at Phoenix Union High School and College. Later, he accepted the position of Dean of the Evening Division and Director of Adult Education at Antelope Valley Union High School and College in Lancaster, California. He then served as principal of Antelope Valley High School for five years before moving to San Diego where he became Dean of Instruction at Southwestern College. He accepted the position of founding President of Triton College in 1964 and served the college for twelve years. In 1976, he became President of West Los Angeles Community College. In his retirement, he worked as an educational consultant, author, and real estate agent.

Throughout his professional career, Zeitlin was involved in a number of organizations and boards. He was an active Rotarian for over 50 years and served as President of the Antelope Valley Rotary Club in Lancaster,California and the Maywood Rotary Club Illinois. While living in Woodland Hills, he attended the Wednesday meeting of the Woodland Hills Rotary Club regularly, even throughout his illness, until just months before he died.

Survivors include his wife of 60 years, Eugenia Florence Pawlik; his children Mark(Jill Poppleton) of Ottawa, Illinois; Joyce (Henry) Zeitlin Harris of McLean, Virginia; Ann Victoria of Encino, California;Clare Katherine of Winnetka, California; a brother, Leonard of Boca Raton, Florida; and four grandchildren: Adam Zeitlin,Janine (Marc) Zeitlin Damon, Valeria Harris, and Clare Harris.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Tierra del Sol Foundation, 9919 Sunland Boulevard, Sunland, California 91040 or to Valley Village, 20830 Sherman Way, Winnetka, California 91306.

Arrangements under the direction of Gates, Kingsley & Gates Praiswater Mortuary, Canoga Park, CA.