San Jose-Evergreen Community College District administrator dies while vacationing in Mexico

SAN JOSE – A top official with the San Jose-Evergreen Community College District died during a recent vacation to Mexico, the district announced Tuesday afternoon.

“It is with profound sadness and grief that I share the unfortunate news that SJECCD Vice Chancellor Jorge Escobar has passed away after a tragic accident while on vacation in Mexico,” Interim Chancellor Raul Rodriguez said in a statement.

“My deepest condolences go out to Jorge’s family and friends, including his many friends and colleagues in our district,” Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez did not provide any other details about the accident. Escobar’s family, he said, has requested privacy.

The Tribuna De La Bahia reported that Escobar drowned Sunday afternoon at a beach in front of the Vidanta tourist complex in Jarretaderas, Mexico. He reportedly was pulled from the water and taken to a private hospital in Nuevo Vallarta, where he was pronounced dead.

As vice chancellor since 2019, Escobar oversaw administrative units and services including budgeting, contracts, risk management, public safety and emergency preparedness, according to his LinkedIn page. Escobar also served as the district’s chief financial officer and was responsible for preparing and presenting the annual budget.

“Those who worked closely with Jorge or had experience with him know that he was an extremely talented administrator who embodied a rare combination of professional and interpersonal skills,” Rodriguez said.

“Great at bringing people together and building coalitions, he was a steadfast supporter of students and had a knack for creative problem solving,” he continued. “Beyond his professional acumen, Jorge was known for his kindness, generosity, and sense of humor.”

Escobar also played a “significant role in the broader community” and “was involved in many organizations doing vital work to make San Jose and the Silicon Valley a great place to live, learn and work for everyone,” Rodriguez said.

In a Facebook post Tuesday, Trustee Wendy Ho said it had been a “very sad day” for the district.