Jack Elenbaas, professor emeritus of history, died Feb. 22.
Elenbaas joined Cal State Fullerton in 1969 and taught for 35 years before being granted emeritus status in 2005. The educator also served as the Department of History’s graduate adviser for more than a decade.
A celebration of his life is planned for 1 p.m. Saturday, May 27, at DoubleTree by Hilton Claremont, 555 W. Foothill Blvd., Claremont.
His research included urban socialism, Los Angeles and the 1909 election, and the history of the California Domestic Water Co.
In 1997, Elenbaas returned to his hometown of Holland, Michigan, to present his paper “Baptism of Fire, Holland’s Company I and the Battle of Tebb’s Bend, July 4, 1863” at the Association for the Advancement of Dutch American Studies’ 11th biennial conference at Hope College. His paper told the stories of many of the young men who had not been in the country long, but battled the enemies of their adopted nation. He had stumbled onto accounts of the skirmish while researching economic development of Holland and other small towns.
He contributed to the 1991 book “Detroit Perspectives: Crossroads and Turning Points” by writing a chapter titled “The Excesses of Reform.”
Elenbaas earned his bachelor’s degree from Hope College and his master’s degree and doctorate from Wayne State University in Detroit.