Longtime donor leaves ‘enduring legacy’ at CSUB

Servant leader Joan Dezember died on Oct. 13 at age 89

By California State University, Bakersfield

October 24^th, 2024

California State University, Bakersfield recently lost a longstanding member of the Roadrunner community. Joan Dezember — who, along with her husband Ray, supported numerous departments and programs over the years — died on Oct. 13 at the age of 89.

Both the Walter W. Stiern Library’s Dezember Reading Room and the Dezember Leadership Development Center are named in their honor.

“On behalf of the entire California State University, Bakersfield community, I wish to extend my condolences to the family of Joan Dezember, whose deep faith, compassion and benevolence made her a force for good in this region,” said President Vernon B. Harper Jr. “At CSUB, the Dezember name is venerated because it is synonymous with ‘opportunity’ for generations of Roadrunners, thanks to the unwavering support and generosity of Joan and her late husband, Ray.”

The library, Kegley Institute of Ethics, Doré Theatre and Athletics Department are just some of the beneficiaries of the Dezembers’ long history of giving to the university.

“Our wonderful university library would not have been possible without the support and generosity of families such as the Dezembers,” said Dean of University Libraries Sandra Bozarth. “CSUB’s past President Horace Mitchell always kindly referred to our gorgeous Dezember Reading Room in the library as our university ‘living room.’ We will be forever grateful.”

The couple also directly impacted students by supporting several scholarships and funds, including the Wendy Wayne Nursing Scholarship, Jimi McGee Memorial Athletics Scholarship, Dorian Fine Arts Fund and the Hispanic Excellence Scholarship Fund.

Joan Dezember was a lifetime member of the CSUB Foundation Board of Directors and was the third woman chairperson. She was awarded the President's Medal in 1999.

Ray Dezember, who died in 2016 at age 85, served on the Cornerstone Campaign Executive Committee, which completed a successful $12.5 million fundraising campaign in 2001 that led to the development of the Leadership Development Center.

While the Dezembers have been active supporters of the Bakersfield community — Ray was known by many as ‘Mr. Bakersfield’ — they were not born here. The couple met at Whittier College in 1951 and, a couple years after getting married in 1954, moved to Bakersfield to work for Joan’s father’s business, Bakersfield Ready Mix.

Katie Werdel, one of the couple’s four children, said her parents cared deeply about Bakersfield and its people.

“They were very rooted in family and in this community. They really loved Bakersfield and believed in it,” she said. “They felt a responsibility to give back and help others. We’re really proud of them and their giving heart.”

Werdel said her parents were also big believers in education and thought it was key to reaching a better quality of life.

“They wanted the best opportunities for the people in the community,” she said. “Cal State Bakersfield is a shining example of that opportunity.”

While the Dezembers will forever be immortalized at the university through the Dezember Reading Room and Leadership Development Center, Dr. Harper said their impact goes beyond just having their names on a building.

“It was their belief in the promise of an educated Kern County and the imperative of service over self that galvanizes us to this day, as expressed in Joan’s favorite quote: ‘To whom much is given, much is expected,’” he said. “May our Roadrunners and the entire community reflect on the power of hope that is Joan Dezember’s most enduring legacy and honor her extraordinary life by following her example.”