Photography professor John Grzywacz-Gray recently announced his retirement from a career of over 40 years at Moorpark College.   This came sooner than expected due to a mild stroke that he suffered on April 2.  

After a short stay in Thousand Oaks Los Robles Hospital, he is back at his home in Simi Valley and is currently in recovery.   Gray’s daughter, Kyra Grzywacz, said he is improving everyday but sometimes struggles to find the right words.

“He is a little depressed by his inability to make sense all the time, little does he know he’s still makes more sense than most people I know,” said Grzywacz.

In 1971 Gray was hired at MC and built the foundation of the photography department.  At that time the rooms were scattered around the campus – space and equipment was limited; bringing home student’s prints to wash and dry was not unusual for Gray.

Gray’s desire to teach and help others has not diminished.  Depending on his health, he plans to continue teaching part-time.

“John teaches philosophically… and he’s one of those guys you either love him or hate him, but either way you walk away understanding more of reality,” said former student of Gray’s and Professor at MC, Tim Samoff.

A retirement party is being planned in July to commemorate Gray’s career.