Valerie Goines

1953 - 2016

Valerie Sartor Goines

September 7, 1953 – August 13, 2016

Val Goines, our cherished mother, grandmother, aunt, friend, and colleague, died suddenly on August 13, 2016, at the age of 62. She is survived by her loving husband of 39 years Michael, daughter Kate, grandson Dominic and son-in-law Derek, son James, siblings Michael and Leslie, and countless other extended family members and longtime friends.

Val received a Bachelor of Arts in Child Development from California State University, Chico, and a Masters of Arts in Early Childhood Education from Stanford University. She was the recipient of a Kent Award from the San Mateo County School Boards Association and recognition by the California Community Colleges Foundation for services to foster youth and foster care providers.

From 1976 to 1978, Val was a lead teacher at the Redwood City Child Development Program at Fair Oaks. For the next 23 years, she worked at the Child Care Coordinating Council of San Mateo County, (4-C's). During her years at the 4-C's, she assumed many leadership roles. Val guided this non-profit agency in its efforts to increase vital resources needed to deliver services to more child care providers, parents, and children in her community. While working at 4-C's, Val was also a part-time faculty member at Cañada College. For the past 16 years, she served in a full-time faculty position in the San Mateo Community College District and had great influence over the lives and careers of students at both Skyline and Cañada Colleges. She was the Coordinator of the Early Childhood Education (ECE) Department at Cañada for the past 10 years. In this capacity, she was responsible for all aspects of planning and coordinating the ECE Career program, which grew exponentially under her guidance. Val leaves a powerful legacy, with an outstanding record of over thirty years of service, deep relationships, and profound respect from countless faculty, staff, students, and community members whose lives she touched.

Val's professional career was impactful and she took pride in bettering the lives of others. Yet her most powerful impact was the one she left on her family and loved ones. She was the glue that bound two families as she relentlessly placed her family before herself. Nieces, nephews, siblings, lifetime friends, her husband and children looked up to Val for guidance and support, and she provided it without fail. Most importantly, Val not only supported, she built people back up. Val's professional career left a powerful legacy, but her greatest legacy was her husband Mike, her children Kate and James, and her grandson Dominic. Val always put them before everything else and was exceptionally proud of her family.

Val's family, friends, colleagues, and the thousands of students she influenced, have lost a strong force in their lives. Val did not demure or dominate, but skillfully questioned so as to influence one's thinking. She will be missed tremendously.

A memorial honoring Val will be held on Sunday, September 25th at Cañada College. Please email us at: valgoinesmemorial@gmail.com for details.

In lieu of flowers, please feel free to donate to a community resource near to Val's heart where she started her career: Redwood City Child Development Program (RCCDP), ? Fair Oaks Community Center, 2600 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, CA, 94061. Please note your donations as "in memory of Val Goines."