Gerald Gene Safford, PhD, died Dec.30, 2013 of COPD and Congestive Heart Failure. He was born Dec. 14, 1932 in Douthat, Okla.; grew up in Picher, Okla.; lived his career life in the Long Beach, Calif. area and retired in the Palm Springs, Calif. area. Gerald was a Professor at Long Beach City College for 31 years, teaching Mechanical Drawing, Engineering, Mathematics, and Computer Science, and retiring in 1999. He served in the U.S. Army, retiring with 27 years' service: 10 years as enlisted and 17 years as an officer, achieving the rank of Colonel. He was a quick wit, liked exotic cars, liked flying fixed-wing aircraft, and loved traveling/cruising.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Helen Safford Manley, formerly of Picher, Okla. and Cherry Valley, Calif., and his father, Charlie Safford, former Fire Chief of Picher, Okla., and his brother Earl.