A remembrance for longtime De Anza College history professor Thelma R. Epstein will be held  Tuesday, Jan. 31 at 3:30 pm in De Anza’s California History Center. Epstein, who taught more than 24 years at De Anza, died on Dec. 6, 2011.

Tom Izu, executive director of the California History Center Foundation Board of Trustees, met Epstein nearly 18 years ago when she joined the board. The two spent much time together working to raise funds for the history center.

Izu remembered that during a time of budget difficulties, Epstein urged him to both be assertive and relax.

“Look, you’re our director. So you need to tell us what you think we should do, thoughtfully and clearly,” Izu recalled Epstein telling him. “I support you 100 percent. Really! So, you need to do this. But that doesn’t mean I have to agree with you 100 percent. And besides, stop worrying so much, because it makes me worry about you.”

Izu said sometimes he could feel frustrated with her persistent testing and questioning, but those traits are he misses most about her. He said Epstein was an “an old-time teacher,” someone who urged him to work harder and never quit regardless of circumstances.