Valley Star

Issue date: 11/9/05 Section: News

Media Credit: Artak Ayvazyan HAPPY MEMORIES - Museum Curator Austin Conover, who died Saturday, is pictured here, two years ago, celebrating his 90th birthday on campus with his family.

Austin Conover, curator of Valley College's Historical Museum of the San Fernando Valley, died Saturday. He was 92.

Austin is survived by his two sons, Charles and Tom, and; five granddaughters.

"He was a man who lived life to the fullest," said Patrons Association Director Raul Castillo, who worked with Conover. "He was very passionate about the museum."

Conover, who was the volunteer curator of the museum, had been retired for 17 years. Before working in the museum, Conover was the college's publicist during the 1970s. Prior to getting involved with Valley Conover was a reporter for the San Fernando Valley's The Citizen News.

Conover celebrated his 90th birthday at Valley College and on that day he said, "I wish I could go back 40 years. But I don't think anybody has done that before."

Longtime journalism instructor Roger Graham worked with Conover for many years.

"Austin Conover was a wonderful newspaperman," Graham said. "He gave a lot to this community and this college. He will be greatly missed."

The funeral is scheduled for Friday at 9 a.m. at Forrest Lawn Hollywood Hills' White Chapel at 6300 Forest Lawn Drive, Los Angeles 90068.

Austin's sons request that those wishing to pay their condolences make donations to the Patrons Association Museum Endowment, in the Patrons office in the Administration building, Room 100.

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