Individual Details
Joseph Fredrick Kornder
(16 Jul 1936 - 21 Jun 2016)
http://www.smartvoter.org/2006/11/07/ca/scl/vote/kornder_j/bio.html
Biographical Information [Ran for City Council in 2006].
I was born and raised in Southern California (mostly San Bernardino). I attended the University of California at Riverside (UCR), earning my BA in Comparative Literature (English and Spanish) in 1960. At Riverside, I played football, basketball, and baseball, sang in the school choir. I put myself through college, working nights and summers.
After a six month active duty stint in the Army (followed by six years in National Guard), I married Dorothy and we moved to Campbell, where she had already begun her teaching career at Rosemary School. I enrolled in graduate school at San Jose State and earned my teaching credential. In the summer of 1962 I was hired by then-principal Don Callejon to teach English and Spanish and coach at Buchser High School in Santa Clara. Son Mike was born that same year. Daughter Kelley arrived in 1966. In 1965 we bought a house on Loyola Drive in Santa Clara. We had to stretch to qualify for that $20,000 house. We are still there.
My 40 year career in the Santa Clara Unified School District has allowed me to work with students and staff at all grade levels. I have loved every minute of it:
English and Spanish teacher, Buchser High School, Santa Clara High School,Wilcox High School - 25 years
Basketball coach, Buchser High School, Wilcox High School - 24 years
Vice Principal, Peterson Middle School - 3 years
Principal, Millikin Elementary School - 5 years
Assistant to the Superintendent, District Office - 3 years
Associate Superintendent, District Office - 2 years
Associate Superintendent, Retired, and Consultant, District Office - 2 years
I have been honored in several ways during my career: as part of two programs won the state Golden Bell Award twice, nominated for Teacher of the Year several times, named Administrator of the Year in 1995, given the PTA Honorary Service Award four times at three schools and District level.
Son Mike, his wife Rosario, and daughter Rachel live in Santa Clara. Mike's career is in Parks and Recreation Administration. Daughter Kelley, her husband Tim, and daughter Charlotte live in Ben Lomond. Her career is in establishing and managing corporate philanthropic programs. My wife Dorothy served as President of the original Triton Museum volunteer organization, the Triton Guild, and was the Charter President of the organization that replaced the Guild, the Triton Alliance. For over thirty years she organized and mounted the SCUSD Student Art Exhibit at the Triton. She has been a member of the Santa Clara Women's Club. She continues to teach elementary school art in SCUSD schools.
Published in San Jose Mercury News/San Mateo County Times on Aug. 14, 2016
Joseph Fredrick Kornder
July 16, 1936 - June 21, 2016
Resident of Santa Clara
Those who knew Joe describe him as a mentor and a true friend. He lived his life with generosity and openness. He had a knack for inspiring those around him to be better, and at the core of every relationship was trust and humor. He was born in Huntington Beach, California to Joseph and Ardath Kornder. His mother died when he was two years old, and his father, a truck driver for Mobile Oil, was away from home for long stretches. Joey, as he was called, lived with aunts, uncles and friends. His father married Lillian Del George right before World War II, bringing him into a large extended family. He spent a lot of time with his grandparents, Adele and Fiore Fiscalini. He learned the importance of family love and loyalty, which stayed with him his whole life. As he grew into an adult, he had tough jobs that allowed him to experience life from different perspectives and taught him the value of hard work. He worked in his Uncle Julius' gas station, his dad's automotive shop, in a lumber mill, a mental hospital, a fruit cannery, and built houses with his Uncle Ted. He was friendly and comfortable with people from all backgrounds which made him a great student of life and a trusted problem solver and confidant later in his career. Joe graduated high school in 1954 and went to UC Riverside to study Comparative Literature, English and Spanish. There he met future wife and love of his life, Dorothy Carroll, at the 'Hello Dance'. Dorothy got a job teaching in Campbell, and after Joe graduated from UCR, he joined the Army. They married in 1960 and moved to Campbell to start their life. Joe received his teaching credentials from San Jose State and in 1962 started his career at Buchser High School as a coach and teacher of Spanish and English. He was lucky now to be able to do what he loved, work with kids. As basketball coach he had many winning seasons and 7 league championships. He also directed the En Soirée talent show, organized the Teacher's Band and Choir, and ran the Buchser Basketball Tournament. In the early 60's Joe and Dorothy moved to their current home in their beloved city of Santa Clara. In 1987, Joe transitioned to Wilcox High School as facilitator and coach. He became Vice Principal at Peterson Middle School and Principal at Millikin Basic+ Elementary School, working with every age group in the Santa Clara Unified School District and loving them all. He led Millikin to a distinguished school award and gained attention for his school challenge, where he worked an entire day from the roof when the kids met their reading goal. In 1996, Joe moved to the District office as Assistant to the Superintendent and then to Associate Superintendent with emphasis on School Operations. He oversaw construction of the Mission City Center for Performing Arts Theatre at Wilcox High, the Santa Clara High Theatre and Science Building, and Callejon School. After retirement he consulted for several years at the District. During his career his influence as educator affected generations of students. Joe was often stopped by an old student with a hug and a genuine appreciation for his kindness and support. Joe loved Santa Clara and all it offered his family, so he wanted to spend his retirement giving back to the community. He volunteered on the Planning Commission and was later elected to City Council. Joe had many passions. He was a prolific writer, worked in his garden, made amazing pomegranate jelly, was Master of Ceremonies for local celebrations, fished, took long walks, got his pilot license, and loved reading. He was a continual learner. Music was a constant in Joe's life. He played piano, trombone and vibraphone. His first band, "The Red Hots", won a Southern California T.V. talent contest. In college he co-wrote music and performed with "The Harmonaires". For his wedding, he and his long-time collaborator, Gil, co-wrote a love song called "With This Ring". Joe's biggest passion was his family. He was an encouraging and supportive dad and "Papa", infusing family events with fun and silliness. After years of being the strong patriarch, his family returned that love by taking care of him through his illness until his death. He has left behind his wife of 56 years, Dorothy, children Mike (Rosario) and Kelley (Tim), and his incredible grandchildren. He will also be greatly missed by his second family, the Fiscalinis and Del Georges. A celebration of his amazing life will be held August 20, 2016 at 1:00 pm in the Santa Clara High School Theatre. In honor of his passion for teaching and his legacy as a mentor to thousands of students, his family would like to direct donations to the Santa Clara Schools Foundation.
Biographical Information [Ran for City Council in 2006].
I was born and raised in Southern California (mostly San Bernardino). I attended the University of California at Riverside (UCR), earning my BA in Comparative Literature (English and Spanish) in 1960. At Riverside, I played football, basketball, and baseball, sang in the school choir. I put myself through college, working nights and summers.
After a six month active duty stint in the Army (followed by six years in National Guard), I married Dorothy and we moved to Campbell, where she had already begun her teaching career at Rosemary School. I enrolled in graduate school at San Jose State and earned my teaching credential. In the summer of 1962 I was hired by then-principal Don Callejon to teach English and Spanish and coach at Buchser High School in Santa Clara. Son Mike was born that same year. Daughter Kelley arrived in 1966. In 1965 we bought a house on Loyola Drive in Santa Clara. We had to stretch to qualify for that $20,000 house. We are still there.
My 40 year career in the Santa Clara Unified School District has allowed me to work with students and staff at all grade levels. I have loved every minute of it:
English and Spanish teacher, Buchser High School, Santa Clara High School,Wilcox High School - 25 years
Basketball coach, Buchser High School, Wilcox High School - 24 years
Vice Principal, Peterson Middle School - 3 years
Principal, Millikin Elementary School - 5 years
Assistant to the Superintendent, District Office - 3 years
Associate Superintendent, District Office - 2 years
Associate Superintendent, Retired, and Consultant, District Office - 2 years
I have been honored in several ways during my career: as part of two programs won the state Golden Bell Award twice, nominated for Teacher of the Year several times, named Administrator of the Year in 1995, given the PTA Honorary Service Award four times at three schools and District level.
Son Mike, his wife Rosario, and daughter Rachel live in Santa Clara. Mike's career is in Parks and Recreation Administration. Daughter Kelley, her husband Tim, and daughter Charlotte live in Ben Lomond. Her career is in establishing and managing corporate philanthropic programs. My wife Dorothy served as President of the original Triton Museum volunteer organization, the Triton Guild, and was the Charter President of the organization that replaced the Guild, the Triton Alliance. For over thirty years she organized and mounted the SCUSD Student Art Exhibit at the Triton. She has been a member of the Santa Clara Women's Club. She continues to teach elementary school art in SCUSD schools.
Published in San Jose Mercury News/San Mateo County Times on Aug. 14, 2016
Joseph Fredrick Kornder
July 16, 1936 - June 21, 2016
Resident of Santa Clara
Those who knew Joe describe him as a mentor and a true friend. He lived his life with generosity and openness. He had a knack for inspiring those around him to be better, and at the core of every relationship was trust and humor. He was born in Huntington Beach, California to Joseph and Ardath Kornder. His mother died when he was two years old, and his father, a truck driver for Mobile Oil, was away from home for long stretches. Joey, as he was called, lived with aunts, uncles and friends. His father married Lillian Del George right before World War II, bringing him into a large extended family. He spent a lot of time with his grandparents, Adele and Fiore Fiscalini. He learned the importance of family love and loyalty, which stayed with him his whole life. As he grew into an adult, he had tough jobs that allowed him to experience life from different perspectives and taught him the value of hard work. He worked in his Uncle Julius' gas station, his dad's automotive shop, in a lumber mill, a mental hospital, a fruit cannery, and built houses with his Uncle Ted. He was friendly and comfortable with people from all backgrounds which made him a great student of life and a trusted problem solver and confidant later in his career. Joe graduated high school in 1954 and went to UC Riverside to study Comparative Literature, English and Spanish. There he met future wife and love of his life, Dorothy Carroll, at the 'Hello Dance'. Dorothy got a job teaching in Campbell, and after Joe graduated from UCR, he joined the Army. They married in 1960 and moved to Campbell to start their life. Joe received his teaching credentials from San Jose State and in 1962 started his career at Buchser High School as a coach and teacher of Spanish and English. He was lucky now to be able to do what he loved, work with kids. As basketball coach he had many winning seasons and 7 league championships. He also directed the En Soirée talent show, organized the Teacher's Band and Choir, and ran the Buchser Basketball Tournament. In the early 60's Joe and Dorothy moved to their current home in their beloved city of Santa Clara. In 1987, Joe transitioned to Wilcox High School as facilitator and coach. He became Vice Principal at Peterson Middle School and Principal at Millikin Basic+ Elementary School, working with every age group in the Santa Clara Unified School District and loving them all. He led Millikin to a distinguished school award and gained attention for his school challenge, where he worked an entire day from the roof when the kids met their reading goal. In 1996, Joe moved to the District office as Assistant to the Superintendent and then to Associate Superintendent with emphasis on School Operations. He oversaw construction of the Mission City Center for Performing Arts Theatre at Wilcox High, the Santa Clara High Theatre and Science Building, and Callejon School. After retirement he consulted for several years at the District. During his career his influence as educator affected generations of students. Joe was often stopped by an old student with a hug and a genuine appreciation for his kindness and support. Joe loved Santa Clara and all it offered his family, so he wanted to spend his retirement giving back to the community. He volunteered on the Planning Commission and was later elected to City Council. Joe had many passions. He was a prolific writer, worked in his garden, made amazing pomegranate jelly, was Master of Ceremonies for local celebrations, fished, took long walks, got his pilot license, and loved reading. He was a continual learner. Music was a constant in Joe's life. He played piano, trombone and vibraphone. His first band, "The Red Hots", won a Southern California T.V. talent contest. In college he co-wrote music and performed with "The Harmonaires". For his wedding, he and his long-time collaborator, Gil, co-wrote a love song called "With This Ring". Joe's biggest passion was his family. He was an encouraging and supportive dad and "Papa", infusing family events with fun and silliness. After years of being the strong patriarch, his family returned that love by taking care of him through his illness until his death. He has left behind his wife of 56 years, Dorothy, children Mike (Rosario) and Kelley (Tim), and his incredible grandchildren. He will also be greatly missed by his second family, the Fiscalinis and Del Georges. A celebration of his amazing life will be held August 20, 2016 at 1:00 pm in the Santa Clara High School Theatre. In honor of his passion for teaching and his legacy as a mentor to thousands of students, his family would like to direct donations to the Santa Clara Schools Foundation.
Events
| Birth | 16 Jul 1936 | Los Angeles Co., California |  | ||
| Marriage | 21 Aug 1960 | Riverside Co., California - Dorothy Lee Carroll | | ||
| Death | 21 Jun 2016 | Santa Clara Co., California | |||
| Burial | Unknown | |
Families
| Spouse | Dorothy Lee Carroll (1936 - ) |
| Child | Michael J. Kornder (1963 - ) |
| Child | Kelley M Kornder (1966 - ) |