Rick Piercy, founder of Lewis Center for Educational Research in Apple Valley, remembered

The community is mourning the death of Rick Piercy, the founder of the Lewis Center for Educational Research and its flagship school, the Academy for Academic Excellence in Apple Valley.

Lewis Center officials on Tuesday announced the death of Piercy, who many called a “man of faith” and a “visionary leader,” who served as a “guiding light” to those who knew him.

The 71-year-old Piercy died on Saturday morning, July 8 after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last winter, Lewis Center President/CEO Lisa Lamb told the Daily Press.

“Rick Piercy was one of the strongest pillars in our community,” Lamb said. “He was a true leader, whose integrity and wisdom helped to establish the foundation of the Lewis Center and encouraged countless numbers of people in the High Desert and across the nation."

In Lamb’s email to her Lewis Center family, she said “In every conversation I had with him after his diagnosis, he never wanted to talk about himself. Instead, he always wanted to hear about what you and our students were doing.”

Lamb continued by saying that after his diagnosis, Piercy continued to visit and participate in as many Lewis Center activities as his health permitted, and on each occasion, expressed how proud he was of the staff’s continuing work.

“I feel incredibly honored to be part of this Lewis Center family and to have the opportunity to continue the tremendous legacy Rick established,” Lamb said. “His life’s work has already impacted thousands of students, staff, and community members and will continue for many years.”

Rick and Linda Piercy were married for nearly 51 years. They have two daughters, Carrie Sellers and Mandy Moler, and six grandchildren.

Services for Piercy are scheduled at 1 p.m. on August 15 at Jess Ranch Community Church at 11537 Apple Valley Road in Apple Valley

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Deacons Fund at Jess Ranch Community Church, or to the Scholarship Fund for the High Desert Partnership in Academic Education, attention Teresa Dowd, 17500 Mana Road, Apple Valley, CA 92307

Piercy’s vision

In 2014, Piercy, who also served as chief executive officer of the Lewis Center, announced that he would step down at the end of the school year.

Piercy was pivotal in founding the nonprofit LCER and the Academy for Academic Excellence, which at one time had parents placing their newborns and toddlers on the school pre-enrollment list.

Piercy was a kindergarten teacher at Mojave Mesa Elementary School in Apple Valley nearly 29 years ago, in charge of the Young Astronauts program when he began raising funds to open a science and technology center.

Piercy helped raise $1.2 million in five years to open an observatory at the Lewis Center's original Thunderbird Road site.

In 1990, the Apple Valley Science and Technology Center, with a fully operational optical telescope, was opened. The observatory still functions today under the direction of the local nonprofit High Desert Astronomical Society.

From there, Piercy said, he was encouraged by the Apple Valley Unified School District to open a charter school. In 1997, the school opened with 200 students.

In addition to the observatory, AAE students now have the opportunity to work with NASA scientists through the Goldstone Apple Valley Radio Telescope (GAVRT) program and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Recognized by NASA

In October 1998, NASA Administrator Daniel S. Goldin awarded a NASA Public Service Medal to Piercy for his outstanding dedication to utilizing NASA's mission, programs, projects, and research to support mathematics, science and technology education at the Lewis Center, the space agency said.

The GAVRT project enables school children throughout the U.S. to operate this telescope via the internet in a variety of astronomical research and exploration activities.

Piercy’s final commencement ceremony

In June 2014, 90 seniors from the 17th graduating class of AAE received diplomas inside the High Desert Church Auditorium in Victorville.

“You are going to change the world, either for better or worse,” Piercy said. “The mere fact that you were born changed a family, changed your school, changed the population of this world. So you’re not going to change the world; you already have.”

Piercy gave each graduate a copy of the book titled, “The Butterfly Effect: How Your Life Matters,” and said the real question was, “Will your life matter?”

Piercy told the graduates that faith, hope and love were the basis of a fulfilling life, and that love was the most important.

After his last day on July 4, 2014, Piercy continued to volunteer, serve on the board of directors and coach cross country at AAE.

Over the years, Piercy served on the board of many organizations, including Providence St. Mary Medical Center Foundation, Town of Apple Valley's Historical Advisory and the Apple Valley Fire Protection District.

Born in Victorville

Piercy’s grandparents moved to Victorville in 1945, and his dad went to Victor Valley High School, graduating in 1948.

The following year, Piercy’s wife Linda’s parents arrived and her father took an industrial arts teaching job at VVHS.

Both Rick and his wife, Linda, as well as their siblings and some very close friends, were born at Onofrio’s Maternity Home located near VVHS.

Rick and Linda knew each other since she was 5 and he was 6, he said.

Piercy told the Daily Press that out of everything in life, he was most proud of his two daughters, calling them amazing people, wonderful mothers and strong leaders, with a deep faith that directs their lives and leads them to help others.

Park ranger and teacher

Before becoming a teacher, Piercy spent nearly seven years as a California State Park Ranger at three different parks.

At Santa Monica State Recreation Area, Piercy was head of the cliff rescue team, he said.

In 1971, Piercy attended Southern California College, where he earned his bachelor's in arts and physical education.

In 1983, he attended California State University, San Bernardino, where he earned his master's in special education. He also attended Vanguard University of Southern California, where he earned his master's in special and physical education.

‘Character and patriotism’

In a previous interview with the Daily Press, Piercy expressed his passion for educating the nation’s children.

“I am convinced that we can change the 19th-century assembly line school model into a system that will prepare students for the demands of the 21st century and empower parents to be consumers of educational opportunities with schools of choice,” Piercy said.

Piercy expressed his desire to see teachers empowered and elevated to a level of professionalism consistent with the importance of their calling.

“I want to tear down the burdensome and expensive bureaucracy that permeates the state and federal government and put the power back into the hands of parents and the local community,” He said.

Piercy added that he believes that schools will not only raise their academic scores higher than any other nation but that schools will once again be institutions that promote high standards of character and patriotism.

Meeting Roy Rogers and Dale Evans

A big fan of Western stars Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, Piercy recalled the time he met his childhood heroes in Apple Valley.

“When I was pretty young, my grandmother and I attended Church of the Valley, and Roy Rogers and Dale Evans sat down next to us,” Piercy said. “I watched Roy’s Television show every week and I remember how surreal it was.”

As the congregation began singing a hymn, Rogers put his arm on Piercy’s shoulders and held the hymnal for both of them.

“Years later we were active members of Church of the Valley and got to interact with the Rogers family on a regular basis, but I’ll never forget our first meeting,” Piercy said.

Role model

Piercy said his grandfather, Elmer Piercy, was his role model since his father wasn’t around much when he was growing up.

“He let me use power tools, gave me great advice and was always there for me,” Piercy said. “I am a hands-on learner and he was a hands-on grandpa.”

Piercy said his grandfather Elmer built his own television set in the late 1940s and would love the Mission Control Center at the Lewis Center.

His values

Piercy said his values came from his maternal grandparents who lived in Pomona and who he would spend a lot of time with.

“My grandmother made it fun to memorize Bible verses and told me stories of my great-great-grandfather, Orceneth Asbury Fisher, a traveling evangelist who preached in San Francisco during the gold rush,” Piercy said. “I have been so blessed to have had strong Christian mentors in my life.”

Piercy said the late Rev. Bill Hansen and his wife, Mary Ellen, had a tremendous impact on him and his family as they attended Church of the Valley.

Piercy said the secret to living a happy and satisfying life is to “Work hard, give without expecting anything in return, forgive those who have hurt or offended you and love others as you would want to be loved.”

Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz

This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Rick Piercy of Apple Valley, Lewis Center founder, remembered