IN MEMORIAM

Charles "Chuck" Rhinehart

Charles "Chuck" Rhinehart, professor emeritus of education, passed away Oct. 26 at his home in Santa Rosa. He was 86.

Rhinehart was born outside of Yosemite National Park in a logging camp and was raised in California's Central Valley. He served in the Army and the Merchant Marine during World War II, before returning home to study at San Jose State College and Stanford University. Rhinehart obtained a fine arts degree, a teaching credential in music and a master's in education and administration.

After accepting an invitation to teach at the Santa Rosa Center of San Francisco State College, Rhinehart and his family moved to Santa Rosa. On a rural property, he built the A-frame home which he would occupy for more than forty years. Soon, he had joined the faculty at SSU as a professor of education and remained with the university for 35 years. Along with Red Thomas, he coauthored the Sonoma State Hymn nearly five decades ago.

Aside from his accomplishments in the classroom, Rhinehart was also a dedicated conservationist who fought to protect California coastlines and co-founded the group, Californians Organized to Acquire Access to State Tidelands (COAAST).

Rhinehart had been battling Alzheimer's for more than a year before his death. He is survived by his wife Lillian, his sons Keith and Dale, three grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. A celebration of life is being planned for the spring, and memorial contributions can be made to Environmental Traveling Companions, Fort Mason Center, Landmark Building C, San Francisco, CA, 94123.