As a kid growing up in Castro Valley, one of my first recollections of meeting Donald “Dobie” Gelles was at Canyon Middle School. He was one of our Vice Principals at a time when most of the students didn’t want to be there having been forced from A.B. Morris and Earl Warren Junior High Schools into a consolidated 7-9 grade middle school. I remember marching down to Mr. Gelles’ office in a rage with another student in tow because our science teacher was being grossly unfair regarding science project presentations. I remember Dobie imploring me to “calm down young lady” and reassuring us that he would talk to the Science teacher and investigate the matter. He did talk with the teacher and in the end, we students were vindicated in taking action through Dobie.

Dobie lived and worked many years in Castro Valley and served on staff as a teacher, counselor, Vice Principal, Principal and Director in the Castro Valley Unified School District. My family got to know him throughout the years in many capacities, but will always remember him as a strong student advocate. He loved education and had a lasting impact on generations of Castro Valley students and their families. When my daughter was at Creekside Middle School, he and other chaperones took a large group of eight graders to Washington, D.C. in the annual “Dobie Proud to be an American” tour at the end of the school year. Inside or outside of school, Dobie had a lasting affect.

Dobie was short in stature and a plus size man with a strong personality who was not shy about sharing his opinions. For years he had still been invited to and attended the “Proctor Mothers” monthly dinners. I recall a time when I was sitting in the audience chatting with Dobie before a Castro Valley school district meeting when he gave a blistering tongue lashing to a school district administrator with whom he had a difference of opinion. Although it was apparent that Dobie’s health was declining, his belly was still full of fire. Love him or leave him, Dobie made his mark in Castro Valley through his love of education and our community.

I remember the last time I saw Dobie was at the bank last year during the holidays. He was sitting in a wheelchair, being pushed by a caregiver, waiting to conduct a banking transaction. Every year I sent Dobie a Christmas card and most years I would get a note back from him, but I did not expect a note back from him this time. Dobie held many elected positions including the Eden Hospital Community Board, Castro Valley Unified School District school board, Castro Valley Sports Foundation, Castro Valley Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs. He was elected and served as the Trustee for Area 4 (which includes Castro Valley) on the Chabot-Las Positas Community College District for the past twenty years before his death on May 2. The Board of Trustees will now appoint a new member to fill Dobbie’s seat. Although nobody can truly fill Dobie’s shoes, I hope that someone who loves Castro Valley and education as much as he did is selected for this position.