Juan Cebreiros

Michael Yeong in 2015.

Los Medanos College suffered the loss of a long-time member of the college community following Wednesday’s announcement that English professor Michael Yeong died. The news was received by President Pamela Ralston on the evening of Tuesday, April 2. Yeong was 78, though as of press time, information about his cause of death is unknown.

LMC announced the news in a college employee email early Wednesday afternoon. 

“He served as a colleague, mentor, and professor, and his sense of humor, wit, compassion, and love of writing will live on in his students and fellow faculty and staff,” Ralston said in the email. 

Yeong grew up in Brooklyn, N.Y., and obtained his bachelor’s degree in English at St. Francis College, before attending Antioch University to obtain his master’s degree in education. As he obtained his degree in English, he was drafted into the Army and sent to the Vietnam War while on a break from school in 1967, before returning to St. Francis College.

Yeong was hired at LMC in 1991 and became a faculty veteran after working full-time at the college for 33 years. 

Following the news of his death, appreciation from students and staff was shown with flower bouquets and dog toys lining the door of Yeong’s office in the English Department.

“Michael was an absolutely amazing teacher, colleague, and friend. We are all mourning his loss, and his presence will be deeply missed on campus,” friend and fellow English professor, Tess Caldwell said.

English professor Stacie Beers has known Yeong since she began teaching eight years ago. Just like his students, she always felt supported by him.

“I always saw him talking with students, even ones who weren’t in his class. It shows how engaged he was with the students here,” Beers said.

Support for his colleagues was shown through gift-giving, and by leading a hand in their journey as they navigated their careers. 

English professor Sara Toruno-Conley said that during hard times, Yeong was there to give her undying support.

“Despite the many mistakes I made as [English Department] chair during that time, he always had my back. I had always thought highly of him and getting his approval meant a lot. I will miss him dearly,” Toruno-Conley said.

English professor LD Green also touched on Yeong’s generosity and support. 

“Over the years, he gave other little gifts and tokens, too, but these [wing-toed Oxfords] stand out because he also was a staunch LGBTQ+ ally, and made that known,” said Green. “By gifting me these masculine shoes, I felt seen by him, and celebrated by him, and connected with him in a meaningful way.”

In Yeong’s years at LMC, he was coordinator of the Puente program, taught in the Umoja scholars program, and was a faculty representative of the Academic Senate. 

“He always had been a great contributor to both Puente and Umoja. We have always appreciated his kindness and love for not only learning communities but also for the hard work that part-timers do here,” said English professor Anthony Scoggins.

In 2015, he was honored as Teacher of the Year by the Contra Costa Community College District.

“Michael approached teaching as a calling and a service. He demonstrated this through the care, and love he had for his students and colleagues, truly valuing each of us as unique individuals,” said English professor Caitlin Mitchell. 

“We’re missing a hero,” said Drama Department Chair Nick Garcia. “He fought for the people who were afraid to speak.”

Students in his courses were notified of his absence April 3, and the Unity Center was open for faculty or students who wanted to speak to a counselor in times of grief. Since the announcement, substitutes have been chosen with other English professors taking over his courses for the remainder of the semester, and classes will continue as normal next week.

Dean of Instruction April Nogarr sat in his classes after the announcement of his death and students collectively shared their favorite memories in an informal discussion. 

Current students remember how Yeong inspired them and wanted them to know just how important they were. They added how he always wanted them to be heard, and to focus on the importance of their voice.

Former student Alexis Ramirez commented on her time in Yeong’s class “He would teach his lessons with anecdotes about his family and childhood and I was left with a new feeling in my heart every class,” she said. “Mr. Yeong didn’t just teach, but he felt, and he saw, and he was smart enough to see his pain and emotions in everyone he taught. So in a way, his classes would never just be classes, but a way for him to learn from others.”

Ralston said LMC is interested in celebrating his life on campus, but as of press time, she was unable to provide information on when a memorial will officially take place.