In memory of Dr. Angela Courtney: A passionate and cherished educator
Dr. Angela Courtney was a dedicated professor at Santa Monica College. Her journey at SMC began in the spring of 2017. Anyone who knew her saw the unwavering passion she had for teaching, and it didn’t take her long to become cherished by the SMC community.
Dr. Courtney’s colleagues remember her as a compassionate and kind person who put her students first. In her tribute for Dr. Courtney, Dr. Alexandra Tower, Life Science Professor/Department Chair, said, “(Angela) was so kind and loved teaching at SMC so much. We will miss her positive energy in the department . . . two years ago, when I was still department chair, she came to tell me that she had Stage 4 cancer. (She’d been) in remission for approximately 10 years. A miracle happened and she bounced back . . . the first thing she wanted to do (was) come back to teach. She (loved) teaching so very much. Before she got sick, the only time I ever heard from Angela was when she was asking about resources to help students. She had a huge heart and the students loved her.”
Summer Thomas, Angela’s daughter, also recalled how much her mother was committed to her students. Thomas said, “There’s nothing in this world that my mom loved more than teaching. Even when she was really sick, she didn’t want her students to miss out on anything she had to offer. She was always trying to give 110% of herself.”
Thomas continued on saying that even when her mother was sick, she wouldn’t want to miss a single day. Thomas would take Dr. Courtney to school herself so she could get to campus.
What made Dr. Courtney special wasn’t only her devotion to her students, it was the way she was able to inspire people around her. “She always had a smile on her face, she was my everything,” Thomas shared. “She was funny, adventurous, and curious about the world. She loved learning, especially anything related to science. But no matter how busy or overwhelmed she was, she always made time for us. She was always there for me and my brother.”
Beyond teaching, Dr. Courtney had a rich life full of professional and personal achievement. She was an inventor, writer, business owner, world traveler, and veterinarian. There are so many valuable qualities and professions to describe her that it was hard for her family to recall everything she did.
Teaching was the most important to her. Her career began in the U.S. Army, after which she got a doctorate in veterinary medicine, and later, a Ph.D. in Integrative Pathobiology.
Thomas shared her fondest memory of her mother to show that she had many interests and talents: “I remember when I was really little, my family would go camping by a lake. We used to weave baskets from reeds that grew along the shore, and it was my mom who taught me how to do it. There’s a picture of her making one too. It’s one of my most cherished memories.”
Dr. Courtney always lived her life the deepest, always giving back to others. “She believed in the impossible,” Thomas said. “She never let anything hold her back. She would always say, ‘There’s no such thing as can’t.’ It’s something that she goes by and that I’m trying to go by too. She pushed me to be the best version of myself, and I try to remember that every day.”
Thomas concluded, saying, “I think what she’d want people to remember most is that life is meant to do things for others. She always gave everything she had to everyone around her. She never asked for anything in return — just that people take the lessons she taught and carry them forward.” She continued, stating “I think that what she would want people to remember about her is the fun that they had together, what she taught them. To let go of any hard feelings, or sadness and to embrace the positive, the laughter they had, that’s what is important.”
Dr. Angela Courntey leaves behind her a legacy of love, curiosity, and teaching. She was a mother, a friend, a mentor, and an inspiration to all who knew her. Her memory will live in the hearts of the individuals who had the privilege to get to know her.