DR. LENELLE U. CITTADIN (mother of Kyle Wayne Cittadin, FUHS

DR. LENELLE U. CITTADIN

(mother of Kyle Wayne Cittadin, FUHS 1970)

Cittadin, Dr. LeNelle U., passed away on January 9, 2014 after a brief battle with Esophageal cancer. LeNelle was born Ruth LeNelle Underwood on Oct 28, 1926 in Davenport, Oklahoma, a small oil field town. She grew up in Tulsa, OK and the east Texas towns of Van and Mexia. She graduated from Texas Women's University in 1947 with a BS and BA in Chemistry, Cal State at Long Beach in 1953 with a MA in Education, and lastly, Western State University College of Law with a JD in 1982.

LeNelle married Joseph Francis Cittadin in 1949 and they moved to Southern California to start their married life together. He was a veterinarian and she worked as a chemist for Glidden Paint Company in 1950. They moved to Fullerton 1951, where they raised one son, Kyle Wayne Cittadin.

In 1954, LeNelle began teaching science in the Fullerton School district. Later she served as a Vice Principal and the Principal of the award winning, Parks Junior High in 1988 when it was selected as the most distinguished middle school in California by the Blue Ribbon Schools Program. She was invited to accept the award on the school's behalf from President Reagan at the White House.

Upon retiring, she gave of herself, volunteering at the Muckenthaler Cultural Center, the Los Angeles County Court system as a mediator, First Lutheran Church and the Arboretum at Cal State Fullerton. It was at the Arboretum that she combined her love of learning and all sciences to design educational programs that united teacher training and child-based learning. The programs at the Arboretum continue to provide these wonderful educational opportunities to our local children and teachers.

LeNelle was always interested in other people and places. To learn their stories, she traveled extensively around the world. Her travels even included Antarctica and the edge of space on the last flight of the Concorde between NY and London. She loved music, joining performing recorder ensembles, Windsong and the Orange County Recorder Society.

Preceded in death by son, Kyle Wayne Cittadin; husband of 51 years, Dr. Joseph Francis Cittadin; and her parents, Erma Holmquist and Wayne Shurlock Underwood. LeNelle is survived by a world of extended family and friends, in Fullerton and across the country.

A celebration of life will be held at Fullerton Arboretum February 1st at 1pm. In lieu of flowers, consider a donation in LeNelle's name to the Fullerton Arboretum, 1900 Associated Rd., Fullerton, CA 92831. McAulay & Wallace Mortuary

Published in Orange County Register from Jan. 19 to Jan. 26, 2014
Available until Jan 19, 2015

The Guest Book will remain online permanently courtesy of The Orange County Register. - See more at: http://www.legacy.com/guestbooks/orangecounty/lenelle-cittadin-condolences/169172671?cid=full#sthash.mxuaNcuq.dpuf

- See more at: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/orangecounty/obituary.aspx?n=lenelle-u-cittadin&pid=169172671#sthash.VZ3KRDnJ.dpuf

 

From John Garcia, FUHS 1963

Yesterday I attended the celebration of life for LeNelle Cittadin at the CSUF arboretum. It was held at the outdoor area donated by them in memory of son Kyle. She was an educator that received many awards as principal of Parks Junior High. She also was my Wilshire science teacher. I worked for her husband that had the dog & cat hospital on Harvard (Lemon) north of the RR tracks. I started helping out when I was 8 years old feeding the dogs. I later graduated to helping with operations, etc and learned dog grooming that help pay my way thru college. They they taught me so many things including the value of education and hard work. To this day I hate painting and picking dandelions from a lawn! I loved and appreciated what they did for me.