BY BETH VELLIQUETTE

bvelliquette@heraldsun.com; 419-6632

PITTSBORO -- Gerald Totten, a member of the Chatham County Board of Education who died Wednesday morning from cancer, will be remembered for his passion to improve schools.

Mr. Totten, 77, of Bonlee, died after a brief battle with cancer, according to a press release from the Chatham County Schools.

Mr. Totten, a retired Marine colonel, was sworn in as a member of the Chatham County Board of Education in December 2006 as a representative of District 4. His term would have expired in 2010.

"He was extremely interested in facilities," said Kathie Russell, chairwoman of the Board of Education.

Some of the school buildings in Chatham County had aged or hadn't been properly maintained, and he fought to rectify some of the problems to create a better environment for the students, Russell said.

"He got a hold of something, and he did not let go," she said.

Mr. Totten was not afraid to challenge school administrators, staff and other board members if he thought something appeared to be inaccurate or if he felt he had not been given a complete accounting of finances.

Even as Mr. Totten grew weaker from his illness, he continued to work on school issues and attend meetings.

"Gerald had a strong sense of duty, which compelled him to attend our meetings despite being weakened and ill," Russell said in a statement. "His time on the board will be marked by the zeal with which he represented his constituents and advocated for the children of Chatham County Schools.

"His door was always open to anyone who wanted to express a concern. He earned the respect of the public because he truly cared about what happened to our schools. He will be missed by many," she said.

School Superintendent Robert Logan reiterated Mr. Totten's courage and will in attending meetings in the last months of his life.

"I have the utmost respect for how he was determined to carry out his duties as a board member even in the midst of difficulty," Logan said in a statement. "He will be missed."

"I am profoundly sad over the passing of Colonel Totten. My heart goes out to his family during this difficult time," Logan said.

"Colonel Totten's passionate advocacy for many issues, including facilities and elementary reading programs, was a hallmark of his service," Logan said.

In a blog, Mr. Totten said he had lived in Chatham County since 1985. He owned a management consulting firm, and grew timber.

He retired from active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps as a colonel after nearly 31 years of service.

In Chatham County, Mr. Totten served as chairman of the school board's bond advisory committee, served on the county's Hazardous Waste Identification and Safety Committee, the Nuclear Waste Storage Site Committee, the Landfill Siting Committee and on a four-county job training Private Industry Council, where he served as the chairman for two years.

Arrangements have not been finalized.