Boxes of books, photos and keepsakes nearly submerged Lynnette Wilson in her office at the Grossmont College Graphics Department. She was packing up on her last day of 43 years of work at the college. When her co-worker, Jamie Gassert, stepped into the office, Wilson peered at her from around the stacks of books.
“It’s time, Lynnette,” said Gassert. “Come with me.”
Boxes of books, photos and keepsakes nearly submerged Lynnette Wilson in her office at the Grossmont College Graphics Department. She was packing up on her last day of 43 years of work at the college. When her co-worker, Jamie Gassert, stepped into the office, Wilson peered at her from around the stacks of books.
“It’s time, Lynnette,” said Gassert. “Come with me.”
Wilson giggled as Gassert led her down the hallway into a meeting room. Dozens of friends and co-workers awaited her. They took turns hugging Wilson, including La Mesa City Councilmember Ernie Ewin.
“I’ve truly enjoyed working at Grossmont College for nearly 43 years. I would not trade my experience here for anything,” she said.
Co-worker Cheryl Staples started cutting the cake. “The office is going to be so quiet here without Lynnette,” said Staples, who had worked with Wilson on coordinating the campus-wide Science Festival in 2009.
“Everyone loves Lynnette. And her peanut butter cookies, the best cookies in the world,” added Gassert.
Wilson’s career and college education started in 1970 when she was just 17 years old, right after graduating from Helix High School. She chose Grossmont College with the goal of a major in Business Administration. “I wanted to be a fashion designer or a secretary at a large industry or for lawyers,” she said.
Back in the 70s, Wilson remembers, the students usually dressed the part of what their degree was. Wilson always wore skirts and blouses or dresses and heels. The men wore slacks and shirts, sometimes with ties; never did they wear jeans.
“The instructors wore suits and you addressed them as Mr. or Mrs. In some classes they would call on me the same way,” she said. “And the employee at the registration table in the Student Center would write your name and your entire social security number on the section roster.”
When she scored well on a speed-typing test, Wilson moved from being merely a student in a typing class to her eventual career at the college. She had clocked in at typing 90-plus words per minute on a non-electric typewriter. Miss Messina, her business instructor, pulled Wilson from class.
“I was sent to the IMB business office,” Wilson said, her eyes crinkling up into an impish grin. “For training on a Composer typewriter.”
Wilson’s job then was to type the Community College Social Science Quarterly, a project of some Social Science instructors. She began working part-time in the evenings on the Composer and continued to take a couple of classes. Soon after, she took the reception position in the Deans’ Office where she was able to meet the entire faculty.
In 1974, she became a full-time substitute in the Steno Pool, typing exams, syllabi, handouts and other material for the instructors. “The women in the Steno Pool helped me grow in professionalism and in work ethics,” Wilson said.
In 1979, Wilson graduated with an A.A. in Business Administration. She was still going forward in her career, as well, with her sights set on the Graphics Department. Later, in the mid-80s, Wilson also received a certificate in Tailoring and Design.
In the meantime, she was doing many more creative layouts and other projects in Graphics. The department received new typesetting equipment and Wilson had free training through ROP at Valhalla High School.
By 1987, Wilson did full-time work at Graphics, where she worked until she retired on September 30.
“Basically, we stole her from the Steno Pool,” joked Staples.
Through the more than four decades that Wilson worked at Grossmont, she witnessed many of the signs of the times. During the Vietnam War, the campus filled with the noise of protest rallies. Wilson remembered seeing students lying under trees with beer cans in brown paper bags. Big-name bands like the Moody Blues, Credence Clearwater Revival, and Three Dog Night performed on campus.
President Reagan once walked through campus when he was running for governor.
“Bill Cosby was supposed to be keynote speaker at graduation one year, but had a better offer, I heard, at the last minute, and we had to scramble to find a speaker,” Wilson said.
Until the early 1980s, classes at Grossmont College were actually free, and textbooks never cost more than sixty dollars.
For the last 43 years, Wilson has gained a family of friends at Grossmont College.
“She’s been the ‘go-to’ person when I needed a name. She knows practically everyone on campus,” said Stephen Harvey, the campus photographer.
Now that she is retired, Wilson does not plan to let life pass her by. She will research her ancestry, visit relatives, garden, and sing in her church choir. She will continue attending cooking classes.
“We will miss Lynnette. And her cookies,” said Gassert.
Wilson smiled. “I thank God I had the opportunity for a career here at Grossmont College,” she said, choking up. “Come on, it’s time for a group hug!”
