FEATURE ARTICLE
January 2004

The Passing of Jean McIllyar
By Judi Grutter, CCDA Past President

I was sad to hear of the passing of Jean McIllyar in November. A founding member of both CACD and CCDA, Jean was a fixture at our conferences and all important events.

Jean served on the CCDA Board for many years, and was our link to vocational education in the days when career education, career counseling, and vocational education didn’t speak. Jean and Pat Curtis were my mentors in career development. Jean’s work in Arcadia USD showed me that career curriculum development, career counseling, and vocational skill building could and should be intertwined. She did it, and showed me how. I have used her model for years in my teaching and consulting.

Like many of us who are passionate about our work, Jean didn’t lose touch with the profession at "retirement." She continued to keep current and to contribute, by visiting CCDA Board meetings, keeping in touch with those who followed her in Arcadia, and by always being available for conversations and consultations. My heart goes out to her family and to her life-long friend Pat. We will all miss her, as we continue to honor her life with our work in career development.