Arthur Jensen Obituary

Dr. Arthur M. Jensen, Ed.D, President Emeritus of San Bernardino Valley College and long-time Redlands resident died Monday July 11th at his home in Redlands. He was 89. Born on August 22, 1921 in Chicago, Illinois, Arthur Milton Jensen was the youngest of seven children born to Norwegian immigrants Hobart Jensen and Marie Severson. His family encouraged him to seek his dreams through hard work and education. His sisters taught him to listen and be respectful to others, and his brother introduced him to the love of his life, Marion McBride. Arthur married Marion McBride in 1945, and they spent the next 66 years happily living the American dream; raising three children, traveling the world and providing countless hours of community service. Jensen loved to travel, eat ice cream and take long walks around Redlands. More than anything, he enjoyed spending time with his family and was often found with a grandchild on his knee, singing Home on the Range or telling stories about the olden days. A veteran of World War II and the Korean War, Jensen was lucky to be drafted into the US Navy in 1943, serving as a radar technician aboard the USS Bogue, a small aircraft carrier during WWII. (Jensen used the word lucky in reference to the Navy because, in addition to the GI Bill, he had a hot meal, a shower and ice cream every day!) He was called back to naval service for the Korean War and traveled through the Panama Cannel aboard several ships to Korea only to receive orders to return stateside to be commissioned as an officer, Lieutenant Junior Grade. Jensen served in the US Naval Reserves for thirty-one years retiring with the rank of Captain in 1974. Jensen was an educator for thirty-five years. He utilized the GI Bill to earn a BS in accounting and a MA in counseling at Western Michigan University. He taught and worked for the District in Comstock, Michigan before moving to counseling and administration at San Diego City College. He received his Ed.D in higher education administration from the University California Los Angeles in 1965 where he was a Kellogg Fellow for two years. Dr. Jensen served as Chief of the Bureau of Junior College Education for the California Department of Education in Sacramento prior to accepting the appointment to President of San Bernardino Valley College. Dr. Arthur Jensen served as President of San Bernardino Valley College for nineteen years, the longest standing college president in the 100 campuses of the California community college system. During the years of his presidency (1967-1986), Jensen praised the support of his staff and students as SBVC came out of the turbulent 1960s, through the changes of the 1970s and went well into the retrenchment of the 1980s. He received the title President Emeritus upon retirement in 1986. A dedicated public servant and community leader, Dr. Jensen served on numerous boards and committees throughout his life. As Governor of Rotary District 5330, 1989-1990, the fifty-seven Rotary Clubs in the District raised, $314,770 for the Rotary International Polio Plus effort. Dr. Jensen served as president on several Board Committees including the Fortnightly Club of Redlands, 1996-97; California Inland Empire Council of Boy Scouts of America 1984; Chairman, Campaign Drive for Arrowhead United Way, 1975; San Bernardino Symphony Association, 1972-74; and the Salvation Army Board, 1969-70; he is a recipient of the Boy Scouts of America Silver Beaver Award. Survivors include his wife Marion McBride Jensen, son Arthur Ray Jensen, daughter Patricia Jensen Frost, all of Redlands; six grand- children, one great-grand child, nine nieces, six nephews, several grand nieces and nephews and one great-grand nephew. His daughter Mary Ann preceded him in death in 2005. A Memorial service will be held on Sunday, July 24th at 4:00 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Redlands, 51 West Olive Avenue, Redlands. Military Honors and burial will be Monday, July 25th at Riverside National Cemetery at 12:15 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Jensen Award SBVC Scholarship Foundation, the Salvation Army or the charity of your choice.