My dear friend Joseph Castro is ill and receiving hospice care.

Darius Assemi

Joe, a one-of-a-kind leader with exceptional qualities, led Fresno State, my alma mater, for over seven years. He later became the chancellor of the CSU system.

During his tenure at Fresno State, Joe led the institution to becoming a leading engine of social mobility while improving graduation rates. “Be Bold!” he said, encouraging our entire community to pursue excellence and innovation in everything we do.

But this is only part of Joe’s story.

He opened doors for talented individuals who were also among the most marginalized members of our community — something never before seen at Fresno State. Without Joe, many of these folks wouldn’t have become accomplished in their fields.

From his own experience growing up in the Valley town of Hanford, he forged a pathway to transcend the low ceiling of poverty faced by marginalized groups and opened doors for them to reach the sky.

That’s what Joe is about. He didn’t just achieve this for himself — he built the path and made it possible for anyone with a dream to follow in his footsteps, to change their life trajectory, overcome challenges, and rise from poverty.

He knows what it means to be marginalized, and he wants others in the community to realize they could break through the glass ceiling.

Mary Castro, his wife, has asked for privacy but welcomes prayers for Joe. The family said they do not wish to be contacted directly at this time.

I know there are hundreds of thousands of folks in the Central Valley whose lives have been positively impacted by Joe’s leadership and who want to pray for him and his family.

In a call with me this morning, Joe reminded me to “fight for justice, fight for love.”

That is Joe Castro!

Anyone who wishes to share comments with the family and the community may do so through this link. 

Community Shares Messages of Support

Through the form above, community members have shared their heartfelt support. Below are some of their messages, which will continue to be updated:

Amie Douglass: Sending love and strength to the Castro family. Thank you for everything you have done for Fresno State University and the CSU system.

Matt and Mali Flood: Sending our prayers your way! The Valley has been blessed because of your contributions to higher Education and community. May God continue to strengthen your family. We are keeping you all in our thoughts and prayers!

Dr. Abraham Ruelas: We continue to pray for Joe and the rest of the family. I had the privilege of working with Joe at Casa Joaquin Murietta at Cal. He was such an inspirational leader and came up with great programmatic ideas like fireside chats with Cal professors at the house after Monday dinner. Joe played a significant part in making Casa a model for all residential programs at Cal. Always humble and caring, Joe has always exemplified what it means to be a servant-leader. Our prayers continue.

Carmen Chapman: Thank you, former President Castro, for helping us get lactation stations on campus.  We couldn’t have done it without you.  I appreciate your willingness to help advocate for important issues.

Lori White: Joe and I go back to Sacramento, classmates at Stanford and longtime colleagues in higher education. I love him dearly like everyone who knows him. Sending love and prayers to Joe and his family.

Adela Jones: I am sorry to hear about Dr. Castro and am praying for peace. I knew Dr. Castro when I was the Superintendent for Sanger Unified. He was an advocate for the valley students and opened the doors to students who otherwise couldn’t go to college. We partnered with Fresno State on The Sanger Promise and Dr. Castro was ready to do what he could. I also will remember the quarterly meetings he had with Superintendents and educational leaders in the valley to keep up informed, as well as to hear from us what was needed from Fresno State to ensure our schools were staffed and prepared to serve the children of the valley. He’s a great man! Please tell him hello from Adela and that I am praying for comfort and peace. Thank you.

Saul Jimenez-Sandoval and Mariana Anagnostopoulos: Mariana, sons, and I send Joe and Mary, and their family, our prayers and best wishes.

Tyler Miller: I met Dr. Castro at Fresno State. He was an inspirational leader who I admired and cared deeply about. I am so sorry for his health. Sending positive energy to the family and Dr Castro. I will always have a special place in my heart for supporting the students at Fresno State!

Christopher Gabriel: I am so very sorry to hear this news. Joe – who I only called Dr. Castro on my radio program – was always so generous with his time coming on with me whenever I asked him to do so. I would see him at various events and for someone who was endlessly pulled in a myriad of directions, he always took time to talk with anyone and everyone who stopped him. He and the entire Castro family will be in my prayers.

Nancy Kobata: So sad to hear about your illness.  My thoughts and prayers are with all of you hoping you have comfort and peace in this difficult time.

Cesilia Acevedo: I feel fortunate to have met Dr. Castro when he first arrived to Fresno State as president and to have been a student during his time. His leadership was not only motivating for Central Valley students but also inspired me personally to be bold. I will always remember his warm smiles and kind helloes as he walked around campus during lunchtime. He truly cared about us students. Please know that I am keeping your family in my thoughts and prayers during this time.

Karla Orosco: Dear Joe and Family, you are in my thoughts and I am sending good vibes. I have so admired all you have achieved as an educator and leader. Sending a big hug and a Go Bears from Hanford.

Karina Rodriquez: When I was a counselor at Sunnyside, you kept your word and gave us a shoutout when we broke Fresno State’s record with the highest enrollment. Not only that, but I personally wrote to you about a student who had accidentally applied to the wrong CSU. Even without responding, you made it happen — today, that student is a junior at Fresno State. She is the first in her family, as an African American female, to pursue a career in law enforcement. That was because of you. One thing I have always carried with me from your example is the courage to be bold and to stand in the face of truth. I could go on and on, but please know that my prayers are with you and your family. Your legacy is forever in our hearts. Come on, President Castro — be bold, and fight.

Ashleigh Rocker Greene: My heart goes out to you Mary, and your entire family! Joe is a wonderful leader and I had such a great time working with you both when I was on staff at Fresno State! In 2012, my father Richard had to be put on hospice care as well, and shortly after he passed away from stage 4 cancer… so I know what it feels like to go through something like this… my hugs and my prayers are with you!!

Rogenia Cox: Joe and I attended High School together.  My prayers are with you and my the peace of God rule  in your hearts.

Emy Lopez Phillips: Sending my prayers to the Castro family during this time. I had the great fortune to work at CSU Fresno as a new associate professor when Dr. Castro was our President. He was a wonderful leader! “Well done, good and faithful servant…” Matthew 25:23

Paula Vinzant: Your kindness, spirit and mentorship was always appreciated.

Rick Whitten: Prayers for you Joe. You were a visionary who brought transformational change to Fresno State and the community. I feel blessed to have called you a friend.

Tosha Giuffrida, EdD: Dr. Castro, it was an honor and a privilege serving under you at Fresno State. You embodied servant leadership and lifted the Valley with your leadership. Thank you for always greeting me with a genuine smile and gracious heart.

Tamsen Munger and Bruce Koligian: Dear Mary and Joe, our dear friends. We send our love and all our prayers. You are such special people and our hearts go out to you. May the Lord keep you in His loving care.

Claudia Lopez: My heart goes out to your family with great hugs in support for such a hard time. Thank you President Castro for your smile and pillars of community!

Leslie Mosier: Joe my prayers are with you, Mary and your family. Thank you for the support and kindness you showed my husband and I after meeting us. It meant a lot to us as we struggled through Doug’s diagnosis. You have such a big heart and we were so very lucky you opened it up to us at a time when we felt lost and overwhelmed. Forever grateful to you.

Martin Chavez: I’m so sorry to hear this. President Castro has been a huge inspiration in my life, and his impact on the Central Valley will never be forgotten!

Annette Doucet: I ran the alumni band at Fresno State while you were there and you both were absolutely wonderful to me. You graciously accepted me into your home. Sending love and prayers for you. Thank you for being great people. God bless.

Christopher Vieira: Mary, I’m keeping you and Joe close in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time. Joe’s vision and dedication to student success have had a profound impact on my life — I truly would not be where I am today without his guidance and leadership. The doors he opened at Fresno State changed the course of my journey, and I know countless others feel the same. He has made a lasting difference, and I will carry his example with me in the work I continue to do. Sending peace and healing to you and your family.

Dr. JC Gonzalez: I had the privilege of working with Joe and his son Isaac. Joe was always a fair person, and always treated everyone with care and respect. I’m praying for him and his family that loves him more than anything.

Sarah Lam: Dearest Joe, Mary, and family: Dr. Castro is always endearing to me during my tenure as the AVP for International Affairs. I went to China with Dr. Castro. He visited my hometown Hong Kong with the group. I value his leadership, his compassion, his inspiration. I wish him the best. Sending prayers and loving thoughts your way.

Kevin Arias-Romero: It’s sad and difficult to hear that Dr. Castro is in hospice and I’m sorry to hear the news. I had the pleasure of meeting with him when I was walking around campus spending time before a football game and he took time to join me on my walk and we talked about how the team was doing and he asked me when I would become a student and I said one day soon so I’ll always be thankful for his words and advice. I send prayers to him and his family during this difficult time.

Chris Vitelli: Sending our love and prayers. He was a friend to many and cared deeply about our communities within the Central Valley. His heart, sincerity, and compassion will be remembered.

Pauline Sahakian: I worked with Joe during the opening years of UC Merced. His calm demeanor and level-headed personality encouraged all who worked under him to collaborate for the good of the university. I will never forget the genuine kindness he extended to me and all who worked with him and under him. This news breaks my heart.

Sally Tannenbaum: This is such sad, tragic news. Joe was a kind, thoughtful leader who was an inspiration to so many in the Central Valley. I will treasure his friendship and counsel. God bless Joe and his family.

Richard Matoian & Dr. Linda Thomas Matoian: Joe is an inspirational leader, visionary and incredibly personable. He always remembered your name and had something that he recalled to talk to you about. Our thoughts and prayers go to Joe and his entire family.

Christine Smothers: My prayers will be with your family and for you especially Joseph Castro. I remember you and your family are so friendly, loving and caring as you would enter our school with your little boy. I’m so sad to hear that you are greatly ill. May you remember to fight and to stay strong and to look to Jesus for comfort and care and salvation. He is your greatest comforter and loves you so much. Thank you for all the care you shared with us at our center. Your family was a blessing

Dana Lucka: Dear Joe and family, please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. My heart is broken but I am blessed to have spent time with you both. Joe, there isn’t one single person that I could point to who has changed my life the way you did. You were on my dissertation committee (the first when at Fresno State). You were kind, patient and opened your heart…..and your contacts to me. These connections opened doors and inspired me to (as you would say) BE BOLD.

In December shortly before Christmas I hit a huge road block in my research. First, I had run out of money and needed to dig into my savings to pay for lists to run my surveys. …… and at this time ….. it was nearly moot since 2 of the 3 CSUs I was surveying refused to part with their alumni names. I sat in my office having a melt down and sent a text to Joe asking if he had any pull with these two presidents. He graciously said he would try and then over Christmas break contacted them and I finally had my names. Shortly after the first of the year I received a call from his office saying that he was willing to help fund my research with the caveat that he would have full access to my data. If it weren’t for him my entire research would have been dead in the water! After my defense, I was collecting the binders and Joe turned to me asking if he could keep it. I laughed and said what for you’ve been writing all over it and I will get you a nicely bound copy. He said he would like to keep it because there was information in there that he could use when working with alumni. I can’t tell you how proud it made me sitting in the stands during one of his many speeches hearing my statistics woven into his speech. Both he and Mary were the kindest and most genuine servant leaders that I have ever seen and it was my honor to work alongside them during that time. In my 20 years at the University I had never seen such selfless leadership…. it was all inspiring.

His challenge to be bold led me to my next career and if it wasn’t for that inspiration I don’t think I would have even gotten there. Working alongside he and Mary were my best years. Joe your courage, compassion, and leadership truly changed my life and I know that I am probably one of many. You have my unending gratitude and my heartfelt prayers. God bless you all.

Rick Wan: We are incredibly grateful to have professional paths cross with Joe. In all the time we’ve know him he is incredibly generous with his time, knowledge, and wisdom. He is respected & admired for all that he had accomplished professionally and with his family. I for one will forever remember the care, compassion, and passion that emanated from him. Joe, you are forever in the hearts of the Blandizzi Wan family.

Jill Rubalcava: Thank you for serving and leading in education. I’m praying for you and your family!

If you would like to share your comments, please find the form here. 

About the Author

Darius Assemi is the publisher of GV Wire and the CEO/president of Granville Homes.