Serna always considered teaching his first job

Early on Sunday morning Sacramento lost its leader, Joe Serna Jr., to cancer. At that same moment a part of the CSUS campus also passed away.

Not only was Serna the mayor of the City of Sacramento, he was also a government and ethnics studies professor for three decades at CSUS.

On more than one occasion Serna said that his position at CSUS was his “real” job and being mayor was “just a part-time gig.”

“Mayor Serna treasured his classes and always intended to return to Sac State as soon as he could,” said Chuck Dalldorf, spokesman for Serna.

Last Wednesday Serna slipped into a brief diabetic coma and was returned home at his request on Friday morning. At 3:47 a.m. on Sunday Professor Serna passed away peacefully with his family by his side.

“Professor Serna expected a lot; but he gave just as much back as he wanted out of his students,” said former student Cathleen Beld, a senior majoring in criminal justice.

Last fall Serna fell ill with pneumonia. A January biopsy confirmed that the cancer he had fought nine years before had returned and had spread to his lungs. In 1990 Serna had a kidney removed due to a form of renal cell carcinoma.

In April Serna took a medical leave of absence from CSUS. At the time Serna was teaching three courses in the government department.

“It was a big loss when he had to leave in the middle of the semester,” said Lane Kasselman, a former student of Serna’s and current Associated Students Inc. officer. “He was so excited to share his knowledge with others. Students recognize that sort of thing and want to be around professors that really care about what they teach.”

Carole Rutledge, a philosophy major, was a student in Serna’s state and local government class last semester when he took a leave of absence. What she remembers most about Professor Serna was his vibrancy.

“When he walked into a room he just filled it up,” said Rutledge. “It’s hard to believe that’s gone forever.”

Serna is survived by two grown children, one grand child and his wife of nearly 20 years, Isabel Hernandez-Serna, whom he met at CSUS.

Hernandez-Serna, the Assistant Vice President of Educational Equity, has recently taken a medical leave while battling breast cancer.

President Donald Gerth visited with Serna on Saturday afternoon, just hours before his death.

“His spirits were high until the end,” said Gerth. “He was an outstanding faculty member and this is a grave loss for the CSUS campus.”

Jean Torcom, chair of the government department from 1985-98, remembers the many years she spent working with Serna.

“Professor Serna worked tirelessly for the things he loved, he was passionate and a most compelling man,” said Torcom.

“That was just his nature.”