City College lost two members of its community last weekend. Faculty member Joseph Connell Jr., Assistant Professor in Biological Science and Sherry Hicks, a teacher at Olive Grove charter school who also worked at the City College.

Connell, born in 1953, grew up in Santa Barbara. He worked at City College from 1977 to 1986 as an adjunct biology instructor. In 2005, he returned as a full-time instructor in the biological sciences department.

Despite a battle with malignant kidney cancer he kept teaching.

“He loved teaching at SBCC and dearly wished to continue teaching as long as possible,” said Blake Barron, associate professor of biological sciences. “Joe was a fighter who we fully expected to be around to teach this entire semester.”

The administration and the biology department at City College helped Connell as much as they could during his illness.

“Everyone that knew him, knew the kind of guy he was,” said his mother Charlotte Connell. “They were very kind to him in his department.”

Students helped in the lab and “went overboard for him,” she added.

Sherry Hicks, 52, was hit by a car on Sept. 8, when she was out for a walk with her son and her daughter-in-law in Walnut Creek, California.

“Sherry had a smile that lit up any room and let you know she was happy to be with you,” said coordinator of dual enrollment Laura Wintermeyer.

Hicks worked at Olive Grove charter school since 1998 and specialized in math. She worked with home-schooled students and supported them toward success in City College courses.

“All of my memories of Sherry are of her smiling, speaking words of kindness, sharing her positive outlook on life, her family, education, and her students,”

Wintermeyer said. “I know she will be greatly missed by our campus community.”

There will be a memorial service held for Hicks at 2:00 p.m. Sunday Sept. 22 at the Calvary Chapel.