Remembering Helen Rucker

The Cal State Monterey Bay community is paying the highest tribute to teacher, librarian, activist, mentor and community leader Helen B. Rucker, who passed away the morning of Wednesday, Nov. 19. 

Helen was a champion of education as a way of uplifting lives and was a devoted supporter and ally of Cal State Monterey Bay and its students. 

She and her late husband, James Rucker, an Army veteran who served at Fort Ord, donated annually to a scholarship fund beginning in 1998, and later established a permanent endowment to ensure continued support for future generations of students: the Platoon Sergeant James Rucker and Helen B. Rucker Scholarship.

Helen supported the creation of the Helen Rucker Center for Black Excellence in 2020, and the student center is a tribute to her extraordinary impact and enduring partnership with the campus.

In 2022, CSUMB awarded Helen an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters in recognition of her tremendous contributions to education, equity and community service. 

“Personally, Helen was not only a mentor but also a profound influence in my life,” said CSUMB President Vanya Quiñones. “Through her words and actions, she showed me how one person can make a lasting difference simply by living with purpose and compassion each day. I looked up to her as both a guide and a role model, learning from her warmth, wisdom and unwavering strength. She had a rare ability to bring out the best in others, and her presence touched all of us in meaningful ways.”

Anyone wishing to honor her memory and support us in continuing her work is welcome to make a contribution to the Helen Rucker Center for Black Excellence.