In Memoriam

We’ve added this page to Flashback for the first time this year as a place to remember and celebrate the lives of participants in AS who passed away this year.

AS sends its heartfelt condolences to the families and friends of former AS Presidents Michaele “Mickie” Chavez (74/75) and Cervin Morris (04/05), and Armand Vartanian former AS Legislative Council Member and long time student employee of what was then called the AS Notetaking and Publications Service . All three contributed to AS in a multitude of ways and we are grateful for their engagement and dedicated service to students and the larger community.

MICHAELE “MICKIE” CHAVEZ (74/75)

We are saddened by the news that former A.S. Internal President Michaela “Mickie” Chavez passed away on May 20, 2014 age 66.

A self-described Army and Air Force brat, Michaele came to UCSB on a scholarship after spending time working and attending night school. Her goal was to become an activities advisor for student government and clubs. Michaela was one of the first woman presidents of A.S. and served at the time when women’s rights were at the forefront of student activism. After graduation, she did in fact work as an activities advisor at UCSB for about 15 years before moving to the Sacramento area where she continued to serve her community for over 20 years working for the State of California Employment Development Department (EDD). Before she retired in 2011 she had shifted her focus to computers and ultimately worked on the statewide network for the EDD a job that required her to travel all over the state and included doing a lot of training, something she really enjoyed.

Micheala shares her experiences in a You Tube video that can be viewed by clicking here. When asked for one last thought, she talked about being a first generation American and the importance of her Mexican heritage and family. She’s named after a great aunt.

She was known in Sacramento for her vibrant blue hair (yes, it’s really blue!), her sense of humor, and the energy she brought to both her work and her extended family.

When asked what advice she would give to the younger generation, Michaele replied, “Get involved! Find something you enjoy, but get involved. Give your time. Serve. Don’t worry about yourself, because it all comes together. And if you’re involved with others, that became my family [sic].”

This is the spirit she brought to A.S. and to everything else she did in life. She will be missed!

CERVIN MORRIS (04/05)

UCSB Associated Students sends its heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of former A.S. President Cervin Dwayne Morris.

Cervin passed away on June 3, 2014. His aunt Jo Love wrote, “Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steal. . . He fought a battle he felt was impossible for him to win. So many years of ups and downs was too overwhelming for such a beautiful soul.” Cervin was indeed a beautiful soul.

As A.S. President, Cervin motivated and empowered those around him. His natural charisma combined with a fierce devotion to making this world a better place were the gifts he shared with everyone fortunate enough to work with him.

As A.S. President his many accomplishments included a voter registration drive that exceeded all expectations, campaigning for a campus fee initiative to increase A.S. funding; traveling to Sacramento with fellow students to lobby for increased Financial Aid and speak out against fee increases; and working with other students to raise over $6500 for Direct Relief International to send aid to countries devastated by the Indian Ocean tsunami. UCSB Associated Students was also selected as the system-wide Association of the Year by the UC Student Association during his tenure.

Writing in the A.S. Annual report for 2004/2005, Cervin reflected on his year as president, “I started this experience as an average student who wanted to bring a new voice to student government. I hope I have set an example for other students who want to get involved and think they can’t. I hope students can look at the fact that I didn’t have much prior experience in student government and know that they, too, can get involved and make a difference on campus!”

As an “average student” after his tenure as president Cervin and a small group of students championed the cause of families evicted from an apartment complex in Isla Vista purchased by Conquest Student Housing. The students not only helped raise awareness of the issue of mass evictions, but also helped raise $34,000 for the evicted families to assist in their relocation.

While completing his studies, Cervin was also instrumental in the eventual passage of the Students’ Initiative, which not only increased AS funding significantly, but also continues to provide critical funding for several key Student Affairs and Recreational Sports programs.

Cervin definitely made a difference. He was a leader and role model who cared deeply about his community and took the initiative to bring about positive change whenever he could.

Rest in Peace Cervin.

ARMAND VARTANIAN

Armand worked at the AS Notetaking and Publications Service during his undergraduate years. He was endlessly creative and left his mark as the service modernized with the development of the internet and world wide web. Armand also served for a year as an AS Legislative Council Representative. He continued here at UCSB as a graduate student, ultimately receiving his Doctoral Degree in Biochemistry/Molecular Biology in 2011. Here is the official obituary that can also be found on the Forest Lawn Tributes page by clicking here.

Armand S. Vartanian, 30, of Los Angeles passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, January 30, 2014.

He was born in Westlake, California on March 25,1983, to Armond and Patricia J. Vartanian.

He lived his early years in Woodland Hills, before moving up the coast to Ventura where he attended St Paul’s Episcopal Church & Parish Day School and graduated from St. Bonaventure High School. He attended the University of California at Santa Barbara and received his Doctoral Degree in Biochemistry/Molecular Biology in 2011. His studies focused on the structure and function of bacterial flagellar motors using both NMR and X-ray crystallography. His graduate crystallography project was done in collaboration with Jeff Abramson at UCLA, making for a smooth transition to the Abramson Lab for his post-doctoral work.

Armand was an incredibly passionate and positive individual who viewed the world with wonderment and intrigue. He truly took advantage of every moment as evident by his love of the outdoors, ski racing, cycling, shooting, and traveling. His entrepreneurial spirit and intense creativity carried into all aspects of his life including numerous recent business ventures. One should not measure Armand’s life by the number of years he was with us, but rather by his numerous accomplishments and the profound impact he had on everyone around him.

Armand was endlessly curious, smart, articulate, and fun. He loved his family and his friends, and Armand will be so dearly missed. He is survived by his parents Armond Vartanian, Patricia Vartanian, brother Charles (Chase) A. Vartanian, his grandmother Mary A. LeFevre, his Aunt Yvette & Uncle Mimo Baroian, Aunt Lynnis A. LeFevre, Uncle Steven & Maggie LeFevre, Uncle Ronald & Jennifer LeFevre, his cousins Alex & Teddy Baroian, and Max, Christine & Natalie LeFevre.