Dr. Victor Grady Edinburgh

Victor Grady Edinburgh was born in Steubenville, Ohio on August 4, 1934, to Rance and Pearl Jane Edinburgh. He was next to the youngest child and the youngest boy of six siblings. He peacefully transitioned to Heaven on April 20, 2022.

In his early years, he resided and attended high school in Steubenville, Ohio. He played basketball, but baseball was his love. His baseball skills earned him a place in the minor leagues, and he was always willing to coach his sons and younger relatives to advance their athletic careers. He also had a musical ear and played the trumpet as a young adult. After graduation, he relocated to San Bernardino, California to join his sister, Ardell, where a brand-new life began.

He was very passionate, determined and had goals to educate children and to become a professor at an early age. Victor committed his life and career to educating children and education, in general.

His educational pursuit and journey began at San Bernardino Valley College, during which time he met and married Verda Marie Holloway. This union produced three children, Vicki, Stephen and Kevin.

He served in the U.S. Army from 1956 to 1964, National Guard and Army Reserve Units. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and promoted to 1st Lieutenant where he received an honorable discharge in September 1964. While serving his country, he held many positions still with his goal to educate others in mind.

Years later, he met Cassandra Robinson while working as a Vice Principal for the San Bernardino School District, and they were married. This union produced two daughters, Shanta and Chandra, and a bonus son, Damond.

Victor was an active member of the Juniper Seventh Day Adventist Church in Fontana and served as a deacon. He started and contributed to the Tutoring and Mentoring Program, along with several other programs as a tutor and mentor to the young students at the church.

He went on to receive degrees in Education; an A.A. degree from San Bernardino Valley College, a B.S. degree from Cal State University (Pomona), a M.A. degree from the University of Redlands and a Ph.D. from Claremont Graduate University. He strived hard to reach his goals and attained them one by one.

He attended college while working at Norton Air Force Base and other part-time jobs to sustain his family and to continue to reach his goals. He worked as a group supervisor, coach and counselor (at various facilities), social worker, teacher, assistant principal, vice principal, principal, dean of students, consultant, instructor and professor at Chapman University and Cal State University. He was a member of the San Bernardino Grand Jury-Elected Foreman Pro-Tempore.

Victor was a dedicated father and strived to ensure his children were well cared for. He was a family-oriented man that cared about togetherness, even if it was only to sit down as a family for dinner at the end of a long day. Togetherness was important when it came to extended family, as well. Victor was very influential in the lives of his children, his brother and sisters, his nieces and nephews, his grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. His mantra was, ‘YOU’VE GOT TO HAVE AN EDUCATION.’ Anyone that knew him or was even a casual acquaintance was aware of this fact and knew this about him. He always kept you abreast of the last book he had read and would ask ‘what was the last book you read?’ No one who met Victor forgot his infectious passion for pursuing higher education. Victor was an educator at heart. He was kind and softly spoken, and always had time to answer a question or solve a problem, no matter how small.

Victor leaves to celebrate his life and cherish his memory; three sons, Stephen, Kevin and Damond; three daughters, Vicki, Shanta and Chandra; grandchildren Jevon, Eyvette, Nikiya, Jamar, Shadaya, Amornai, Ephraim (“E.J.”), Meredyth and Sian; and also Cassandra Moraveck, Pearl Haynes and Arthur Williams. He also touched the lives of a host of great grandchildren, great-great grandchildren and nieces and nephews.

He is missed now and will always be missed by his family, friends and colleagues. Victor will forever live on in our hearts and minds.