Retired Fontana High School history and Driver’s Education teacher (Victor) Gene Jozens with his wife Faith. (Photo credit: Inland Valley Daily Bulletin)

Many fine classroom teachers are also veterans of the United States Armed Forces. One of these was Victor (Gene) Jozens, a history teacher from Rialto, California.

Gene was born on Feb. 15, 1932, in Hammond, Indiana. He left home when only a teenager, and relocated to Southern California, where he supported himself and continued his education. There he enrolled at San Bernardino High School in San Bernardino County.  After he graduated from high school, Gene enrolled at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree in History. He then returned to San Bernardino County, where he earned his Master’s degree in United States History at the University of Redlands in the city of Redlands.

In a career that spanned 40 years, Gene taught history, US government, and Driver’s Education at Fontana High School in the small rural community of Fontana, California. He also coached the boys tennis team and served as the advisor for the school’s Leo Club.

Gene was a popular teacher who made a positive mark on many students over the course of his career. “Mr. Jozens was my favorite teacher,” remembered former student Melanie Bush Garber. “I had him for Government and Driver’s Training. I took Driver’s Training during the summer and we would go on great adventures, to the beach, the mountains, stopped and toured interesting places. Every day was something new!” she continued. “I never saw him without a smile, and he was so patient with us,” she concluded.

In his spare time, the energetic teacher played tennis, worked on classic cars, and created mosaic tile tables and other carpentry projects. He also earned a private pilot’s license. He was half-owner of a Piper Archer aircraft, and enjoyed treating family and friends on plane rides over the  the San Bernardino Mountains and Valley.

Victor also served his country as a US Army veteran. He was deployed to Korea during the Korean Conflict. But service to his country didn’t end once he was discharged. Later in life, Victor joined the Civil Air Patrol, a civilian auxiliary of the US Air Force. He served in Squadron 25 at Cable Airport in Upland, California.

In addition to his work as an educator and military man, Victor was involved in many community service projects, particularly during his later years. After his retirement in 1996, he became involved with the Marine Toys for Tots campaign. He was known to pick up donated toys, pack them into his plane, and deliver them to the marine base located in Twentynine Palms, California.

This amazing Chalkboard Champion passed away on Sept. 24, 2020. He was 88 years old. He will be interred at Riverside National Cemetery with military honors in the coming spring.

To read more about Gene jozens, see his obituary at the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin.