A native Californian, Serge Edgar Beltran, was born in Santa Ana to Gabriel and Guadalupe Beltran. He graduated from St. Joseph Elementary School, and from there he was enrolled in the Los Angeles Junior Seminary and then attend the Major Seminar, Our Lady Queen of Angeles. After completing two years as a training and operations specialist for the Army working in Germany, he returned to Santa Ana and completed his education at Chapman College, earning a Bachelor of Arts and two Master of Arts degrees.

Although Serge studied at three different Roman Catholic seminaries for nine years – he decided that he would eventually like to be married. On August 29, 1964, Serge married Mary Crawford, and together the Beltrans raised two children Brooke and Matthew.

Professionally, Serge spent three decades as an educator in the Newport-Mesa Unified School District, as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal, where he made a positive impact on thousands of students. His first public teaching job was in 1964 at TeWinkle Intermediate School in Costa Mesa, where he taught Spanish. Two years later, Serge transferred to Corona del Mar High School to teach Latin and Spanish. He made his first foray into administrative duties in 1975, when he became the assistant principal in charge of attendance and discipline at Corona del Mar High. In 1987, he was transferred as an assistant principal of Newport Harbor High, a job he described as “tough” but full of “many times of joy.” He ended his education career as principal of College Park Elementary in Costa Mesa prior to retiring in 1995. In an interview with the Daily Pilot, he said, “it’s been a wonderful life in education..there’s been some tough times and some happy times and I’m glad to be in the formation of kids’ lives and minds – I think I’ve done my little bit.”

Serge will be remembered by the many people who knew and loved him as curious, loving, full of dry wit and always ready to laugh his big laugh. He was active in his parish as a Eucharist minister. He loved working in his garden, tinkering with technology and just about anything he could get his hands on, fishing, anything related to the ocean, and above all, his family, from his ancestors to the three grandchildren doted on: Anna (13), Lucas (9), and Lila (6).

There will be a Rosary on Wednesday, July 9, at 9:30 am, followed by a funeral Mass at 10 am, both at St. Timothy’s Catholic Church, 29102 Crown Valley Parkway, Laguna Niguel, 92677. The will be a reception following the Mass.