A Proud Bruin on the East Coast Passes

Juan Silvio Lopez may have lived most of his life in Connecticut, but he saw himself as a proud Bruin of the East Coast, where he helped to lead efforts to develop and support teachers through his work with the North East Region of UCLA Center X.  He was instrumental in the founding of the Northeast Region Office in 2006 and worked with UCLA for more than 16 years. Sadly, Lopez passed away this past July at 77, but his Bruin spirt and legacy live on through the hundreds of teachers he helped to mentor and coach as part of the ExCEL National Professional Development Project with Center X at the UCLA School of Education and Information Studies.

“Juan was a mentor and friend to everyone he encountered and there are hundreds of teachers who credit him with being their inspiration,” said Laureen Avery, Director of the UCLA Center X Northeast Region
ExcEL Leadership Academy.  “Once he met you he never forgot you, and you never forgot him either.  He offered a helping hand to anyone who needed it.”

Lopez immigrated from Cuba as a ten-year old boy, joining the boy scouts, playing Little League baseball and leaning English in school.

He never lost sight of what it means to be in a new country, a new culture, and learning a new language.  The experience shaped his life and his passion for helping support teachers who work with English Learners.  

“Not a day passes when I don’t speak with a teacher or administrator who tells me how much Juan influenced their practice,” Avery said.  

Lopez began his career in education as a teacher in the Trumbull Connecticut school system before becoming a teacher, principal and assistant superintendent in Bridgeport.  He also served as the Superintendent of Vocational Schools of Connecticut, the Managing Director at Brown University, and most recently as the Program Specialist at the UCLA Graduate School of Education. Lopez earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Bridgeport, a Master’s Degree from Fairfield University and obtained his EdD from the University of Bridgeport. Lopez was also a lifelong baseball fan and proudly passionate of his Cuban heritage.

“Juan was a visionary educator with a warm smile and a big heart.   He made tremendously important contributions to our work with teachers in the Northeast and across the nation,” said Jody Priselac, Associate Dean for Public Engagement at the UCLA School of Education and Information Studies. “He was a true Bruin.”