Mike Caston, Former PVPUSD Superintendent, Dies

Mike Caston, the superintendent for the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District from August 1990 through April 1994, died Sunday after battling Lou Gehrig's disease, the Palos Verdes Peninsula News reported. He was 65.

After his time in Palos Verdes, Caston moved to Santa Barbara to become superintendent of the city's school district. He also served as the superintendent of the Escondido Union School District and the Charter Oak Unified School District, according to Santa Barbara news website Noozhawk.

Caston was honored as the 2004 American Association of School Administrators' California Superintendent of the Year and the 2008 USC Rossier School of Education Superintendent of the Year.

A graduate of USC and a die-hard Trojans fan, Caston was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis—known more commonly as Lou Gehrig's disease—in 2011, according to a Los Angeles Times report.

Noozhawk reported that a celebration of Caston's life will take place from noon to 3 p.m. on Nov. 17 at the California Center for the Arts, located at 340 N. Escondido Blvd. in Escondido.

Read more: 

• Former Superintendent Passes Away [Palos Verdes Peninsula News] 
• Former Santa Barbara Schools Chief Mike Caston Dies at Age 65 [Noozhawk] 
• Mike Caston Is Living to See USC Win Another Rose Bowl [Los Angeles Times]