Vice president of college services dies after long cancer battle

David E. Mrizek, vice president of college services, gives a campus tour on Employee Development Day Sept. 29, 2009.  File

Moment of silence scheduled at 9 a.m. Tuesday.

By Kyle R. Cotton

kcotton11@student.alamo.edu

David Mrizek, answers question from the faculty members at his interview for the vice president position on April 29, 2003. File

After battling mantle cell lymphoma on-and-off for over a decade, David Mrizek, vice president of college services, died at 7:15 p.m. Sunday.

He was 69.

Mrizek was a highly visible faculty member and administrator at this college after joining the speech faculty in 1974. He moved to the administration as the budget officer in 1995 and was named a vice president in 2007.

Mrizek was diagnosed with mantle cell lymphoma in 2006, but went into remission in 2007. He relapsed in May 2015 but went into remission again in October.

President Robert Vela wrote in an email Monday to college employees, “It is with great sadness that I must inform the college community of the passing of one of SAC’s beloved and devoted leaders.”

Vela said the college community will observe a moment of silence for Mrizek at 9 a.m. Tuesday in the mall.

David Mrizek acts like a pitcher in the rehearsal of the play “Hold on,” in the 1980s. Courtesy

The Rev. Johnny Silva, director of the Methodist Student Center, will conduct a service, and fine arts Chair Jeff Hunt will give a remembrance speech. Then a 10-minute open forum will allow anyone to speak about Mrizek.

Counselors are available for consultation until 11 a.m. in Room 309 of Fletcher Administration Center.

Hunt recalled that Mrizek was faculty-centered when he was chair of the theater and speech department.

“He always tried to see the faculty’s point of view whenever there was a discussion,” he said.

Hunt said Mrizek was a strong advocate fordd the speech team, which he coached for five years.

“He was an excellent public speaker and his students really admired him for that,” Hunt said.

Hunt used to call Mrizek the ‘Voice of San Antonio College’ since he was the voice on the answering machine explaining options for callers.

David Mrizek, his wife Ann and his daughter Emily help put together the set for “Hold on,” in the 1980s. Courtesy

Hunt said Mrizek’s dream job was vice president of college services because he got the opportunity to help shape the future of this college.

Mrizek continued to teach a night class so he could stay engaged with students.

When he was diagnosed in 2007, he had to give up that class for health reasons.

“You could tell it hurt for him to give up that class,” Hunt said. “To have fought cancer like this over 10 years really shows the character of David Mrizek.”

Mrizek was an avid biker, as he closed his emails, “I’d rather be biking.”

Hunt said he used to ride his bicycle to campus and rode miles on the weekend.

Mrizek also helped produce plays at this college in the 1980s.

“It was always fun to have David in attendance at a production,” Hunt said. “He had this laugh; it wasn’t boisterous, but rather it was almost like an embarrassed giggle that almost made the rest of us laugh that much harder.”

Mrizek wasn’t afraid to tackle difficult issues such as strategic planning and budget shortfalls.

“I remember, and this was 15-20 years ago, he would make staff think about strategic planning and trying to budget appropriately,” Hunt said. “I would bring this up to some of my colleagues in other departments, and they wouldn’t know what I was talking about.

Others agree his death is a loss to the college.

Martha Castro, administrative assistant to the vice president of college services, said, “This is a great loss not just for our division but for the entire college.”

Theater Instructor Charles Falcon said, “I will always be indebted to him for the support he has given, both to me and to our department. It is often said that the measure of a person is not in their wealth, in their accomplishments, or in their degrees; the true measure of a person is in what they do for others and the way they impact lives positively. Mr. Mrizek was that kind of person, a true gentleman and humanitarian.”

Former President Robert Zeigler considered Mrizek a dear friend and someone who was passionate about what he does.

“If you walk around SAC and look at the building and renovations around the campus, he was a big part of that.”

Zeigler noted particularly Tobin Lofts and the Scobee Education Center as two projects Mrizek was heavily involved with to make them a success.

“He was one of those guys you could just trust with anything,” Zeigler said. “He was always compassionate and understanding. He was absolutely just a wonderful person.”

Mrizek frequently gave historical tours around the campus during Employee Development Day.

“He knew everything about the campus,” Zeigler said. “He could tell you about underground caverns around the campus, why a building was there or named a certain way.”

“I treasure his friendship, and his death leaves a big void in my life,” Zeigler said.