Ed & Sue Stile: Athletics Profile
MENTORED TO MENTOR
For Ed and Sue Stile, supporting the students of Ventura College is as rewarding as getting a hole in one in golf. “It’s so nice to be part of young people’s lives, helping young people be great adults,” said Ed, an avid golfer who played on the Ventura College golf team as a student. “It makes all our lives that much better. It makes all the difference, not only to the community, but to their families as well.”
“We love seeing good kids work hard and do well,” added Sue, who attended Ventura College and received her AA in liberal studies from Oxnard College.
The couple, who’ve been married 34 years, have a long relationship with the Ventura College Foundation, helping students achieve their educational goals through the Ed and Sue Stile Scholarship for returning students. This year they joined the Ventura College Promise Taskforce, too.
The retired Camarillo couple also donates to the VC Athletic Department, earmarking the funds for the golf team.
Golf’s impact on Ed’s life goes beyond his time at VC in the mid-1970s. It was while on the team that he made lifelong friends with whom he still plays golf, and where he was coached by Brian Marshall. It was Coach Marshall who motivated Ed to get an education.
Getting his AA from VC made financial sense for Ed and his parents, who always talked about when you go to college, not if. It enabled him to graduate debt-free from California State University, Long Beach with majors of finance, financial investments and marketing. He later pursued his MBA from the University of La Verne.
When Ed owned his convenience store in Oxnard, he would pay for his employees to attend a community college, but they had to be serious about their studies. After each semester, Ed sat down with the employee, who told him one thing they learned in class and showed him their report card with a C or better. Ed estimated that at least 20 employees received their AA degrees, about five pursued their master’s degrees and two became dentists, thanks to this program.
When Ed sold the store in 1994, he returned to VC as a volunteer assistant golf coach under his mentor Brian Marshall. He volunteered until 2003.
A highlight for Ed and Sue is interacting with the students at the Foundation’s scholarship award ceremonies. “It’s so inspiring to see the young people at the luncheons getting their scholarships,” Sue said.
“I’ve received a lot more over the years than I’ve ever given,” said Ed. “I want the young people to know that we believe in them, sometimes they don’t have anyone to do that in their lives.”