Remembering
Lois Miller and Tom Martin

Cuesta has lost two long-time supporters and friends. Lois Miller and Tom Martin, both known for their support of the Cuesta College North County Campus, passed away peacefully on March 31 and April 2 respectively.

LOIS MILLER and her husband Gene had made a solid commitment to Cuesta – pledging $200,000 for the new Allied Health, Math and Science building on Cuesta’s North County Campus, the first permanent building on that campus which is scheduled to open this summer.

Gene is retired as CEO of Chemron Corporation, a 25-year-old Paso Robles chemical manufacturing company. It was the idea of a college campus that would serve people who lived and worked in Paso Robles that first attracted the Millers to Cuesta in l998.

That year, they made not one but three funding gifts, and also ensured that Chemron pledge $50,000 toward the campaign to develop a North County Campus. In 2000, Gene and Lois pledged an additional $50,000 to add two more temporary buildings to the rapidly growing campus. In addition, Chemron supported the costs of Cuesta’s Chemistry Carnival, a faculty program for local children that focused on the fun and dynamics of chemistry.

TOM MARTIN also was instrumental in the creation of Cuesta’s North County Campus, donating $50,000 to the cause in 1998. The prominent winery owner and hotelier gave an additional $2,500 in unrestricted gifts to Cuesta in the following years.

Tom was the founder and owner of Martin Brothers Winery and owner of the Paso Robles Inn. He helped establish the Paso Robles Vinters and Growers Association and Paso Robles Wine Festival. Tom and his wife Noreen were in the process of establishing a Children’s Museum in Paso Robles. The museum is slated to open this year.