Deborah Osen Hancock

Debbie Hancock passed away September 17, 2024 in Fullerton, CA. She was born October 19, 1935 in Bakersfield, CA to Robert Francis and Dorothy Chenoweth Klausner and is a third generation native of Bakersfield.

Debbie graduated from Garces Memorial High School in 1953, attended Michigan State University and earned her BA from Long Beach State College in 1959. Upon graduation, Debbie began what was to become a deep and impactful career in education. For ten years, she taught at public schools in Bakersfield and Orange County. While teaching high school in Bakersfield, she was inspired and encouraged by a USC professor to pursue a graduate degree at USC. As a single mom, she completed her Masters and PhD in Education and continued to be a avid lifelong fan of the Trojans.

For the next ten years, Debbie was on the faculty at California State University, Fullerton (CSUF) as a professor and chair of the Reading Program, training Reading Specialists. One of her signature achievements was creating the ‘9-90’ program at Fullerton College which provided reading tutoring for the whole family on Saturday mornings.

Recognized as a leader and innovator in education, Debbie was offered and accepted the position of Dean of Education at CSU, Bakersfield in 1979. She became the first woman to hold that position in the CSU system. Seven years later she became the director of the statewide California Academic Partnership Program (CAPP) in the CSU Chancellor’s Office in Long Beach, creating academic partnerships with community colleges, state universities and UC campuses. Following her retirement from work with the Chancellor's Office, Debbie was welcomed back to CSU, Fullerton where she taught classes for the Secondary Education Department and renewed her ties with the Reading Educators' Guild Alumni Association. She is fondly remembered by the countless students, teachers, administrators and community leaders that she mentored and inspired.

Upon retirement In 1993 Debbie brought her love of learning, teaching and program development to the First Southern Baptist Indian Church where she was an active parishioner. She partnered with her husband Lewis Hancock, the pastor, to develop curricula for pastors, Sunday school teachers and worshipers. Always drawn to leadership roles, Debbie served a four-year term as president of the California Baptist Historical Society. She also served as a member of the Executive Board of the California Southern Baptist Convention.

She enjoyed spending numerous summer vacations with Lewis at Seeley Lake, Montana and with family at yearly reunions in Carmel. She loved nature and never forgot those summers she spent as Director of the Camp Fire Girls summer camp in the Greenhorn Mountains outside of Bakersfield. A lover of music she was a talented pianist and opera enthusiast.

She will also be remembered for her generous spirit and lifelong commitment to supporting numerous mission driven causes including religious, environmental, social and the arts.

Debbie was married to Lambert O. Osen in 1954; divorced in 1964. In 1975 she married Lewis McClellan Hancock, teacher, pastor and full blooded Native American, who preceded her in death in 1998.

She is survived by her son Lawrence Olof Osen and his wife Marie Coburn, Dixon, NM; Brother Karl Klausner and his wife Maureen, Danville, CA; Sister Mary Ann Klausner and her wife Karen Howell, Eugene, OR; Sister-in-Law Kathleen Klausner, Williamsburg, VA; Stepdaughter Holly Mercadante and

her husband Dominic, Highland, CA; grandchildren Tommy Mercadante and Susie Wyant, and eight nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in her memory to the Lewis and Deborah Hancock Scholarship in Reading Education Fund: CSFPF Attn: College of Education, PO Box 843730, Los Angeles, CA 90084-3730. (657) 278-7547.

https://give.fullerton.edu/deborahhancock

A memorial service for Deborah will be held Saturday, October 19, 2024 at 11:00 AM at Green Hills Baptist Church 2200 W. Imperial Hwy, La Habra, Ca 90631.