Former Digital Design teacher Richard McGee passes away

Chelsea BrandweinManaging EditorRegional Occupational Program (ROP) Digital Design teacher Richard McGee passed away on Oct. 13 after an extensive struggle with cancer.According to McGee's Digital Design class website, McGee served as the art director for an advertising agency before he came to Samo. McGee also founded a casting magazine called The Talent Spotlight, and his designs for General Electric and RT Magazine have received much acclaim from the design world.According to the website, after achieving this success in the digital design field and retiring, McGee's wife and M-House Assistant Leslee McGee encouraged him to become a teacher.Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District (SMMUSD) staff received an email breaking the news on Monday, Oct. 15 and praising Richard McGee for his contributions to Samo.“Richard was dedicated to Samo," the email said. "As an instructor, he was focused on his students' success, inspiring them with his creativity, compassion and ingenuity.”Timothy Warren, a member of the graduating class of 2009 and one of Richard McGee's former Digital Design students, shares similar sentiments.“Mr. McGee was a great man and teacher,” Warren said. “He would tell us what a project would need to look like in the end, but let us figure things out on our own and play with the various programs so we could actually learn our own way.”English teacher Jenna Gasparino said that Richard McGee designed the annual t-shirts for her senior California Literature class.“Aside from being my dear S-House friend and colleague, Mr. McGee helped California Literature students with the t-shirt designs each year,” Gasparino said. “In many ways, Mr. McGee's memory will forever be connected to the work in these shirts. He was an amazing teacher and a beautiful soul.”According to ROP Department Chair Rebel Harrison, Richard McGee will be missed.“Mr. McGee was so typical of our wonderful cadre of ROP instructors,” Harrison said. “He was passionate about his students, took joy in the opportunity to share with them his professional experiences, provided unique learning opportunities for his students and was proud of their individual and collective success.”The McGee family has asked that in lieu of flowers, please send donations in Richard McGee's memory to:Angeles Clinic Research Institution Foundation (a nonprofit organization)2001 Santa Monica Blvd. , #560 WestSanta Monica, CA 90404Links for donations: http://theangelesclinicfoundation.org/donate/ cbrandwein@thesamohi.com