Santa Maria Educator, Jack Garvin, Dies at 90

Dr. Jack Garvin, a longtime public servant and beloved educator in Santa Maria, died at home on Sunday at 90. Garvin retired from his career in education in 2024 after serving on the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District Board for two decades. Community members have described his contribution as having a lasting impact on education, small business, and civic development across the county.

Highlights

• On Sunday, Dr. Jack Garvin passed away at his home in Santa Maria.
• Garvin served in the Orcutt Union and the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District.
• Funeral plans have not been announced to the public yet.

Garvin Was a Beloved Longtime Community Leader

Jack Garvin was 90 when he died at his home in Santa Maria. He served the Orcutt Union School District for 19 years after his tenure began in 1979. He retired in the late 1990s and taught at Chapman University. Soon after, he was elected to the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District (SMJUHSD) board in 2004. He spent a total of 5 terms, or 20 years, on the board prior to retiring.

Dr. Garvin held a B.A. in Education and an Ed.D. from Brigham Young University and started his career in teaching in 1957. Garvin spent a total of 67 years teaching, educating, and mentoring the students, staff, and board members of Santa Maria. During his time on the SMJUHSD board, Garvin held routine breakfast meetings for local educational leaders in Buellton.

The SMJUHSD website states that Dr. Garvin ran for the county school board “to apply the same standards of sound decision–making and accomplishment that developed the Orcutt School District into an outstanding school system.”

Garvin was also a co-founder of the Santa Maria Soccer team, served as the chairman of the Citizens Committee that created the Orcutt Community Plan, held the post of Vice President of the Righetti Boosters Club, and was a former President of the local Kiwanis club. He was also elected Director of the Santa Maria Chamber of Commerce.

He was recognized for all his contributions to the community. He received the inaugural Retired Administrator of the Year Award from the Association of California School Administrators in 2012. He was also awarded the Ferd Kiesel Award.

Dr. Jack Garvin is survived by his son, Jack Garvin Jr., who reflects on his father’s legacy and hopes that his father will be remembered as someone straightforward and plain-spoken. The community continues to honor Dr. Garvin’s contributions. Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.