Docia Humphrey Clisbee Zavitkovsky
1913-2009
Docia Zavitkovsky, beloved leader in the field of early childhood education, died peacefully on December 24, 2009 at the age of 96. Her particular passion was putting play at the heart of the early childhood curriculum.
Key events in Zavitkovsky’s professional career uniquely paralleled landmark events in the history of early childhood education in the United States: the parent-cooperative movement of the 30’s (her first job); national, federally-funded child care centers under the Lanham Act during World War II (volunteer, teacher, head teacher); efforts to create and sustain quality preschool and school age child care programs (Director of Santa Monica Unified School District Children’s Centers 1950 – 1983, nationally recognized as the gold standard of child care excellence); Head Start and Title I in the 60’s and 70’s (consultant and trainer); the launch of accreditation for early childhood programs and developmentally appropriate practice guidelines for teachers and caregivers (President of NAEYC - the National Association for the Education of Young Children –1984 - 86); and professional recognition and credentialing for teachers in the 80’s and 90’s (founding member of the Council for Professional Recognition which administers the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential).
A tireless and inspiring advocate for recognition of early childhood as the foundation for a rich and satisfying life, Docia also taught child development classes at Santa Monica College, co- taught an educational television program on KABC, co-edited a national journal, now matured as NAEYC’s “Young Children” magazine, and was a regular contributor and story-teller for Exchange magazine. Even as a nonagenarian, Docia continued her advocacy for children, as founding mother of Play Matters, a not-for-profit organization supporting early childhood programs in placing play at the heart of children’s lives.
Docia was born in Colon, Panama in 1913, to parents working on Panama Canal construction. She played on the Canal locks as a child and remembered swimming in both the Atlantic and the Pacific on the same day. She left the Canal Zone to attend Trenton State Teacher’s College, and in New Jersey met her husband-to-be, Charles Zavitkovsky, on a blind date. Docia finished college at the University of Southern California, and in California recognized her life work while observing three and four year-olds at play at the 1935 San Diego Expo.
Among many other awards and recognitions, Docia received an honorary doctorate from Bank Street College of Education in New York City, was Woman of the Year for the Santa Monica YWCA, received the 2008 CEASE Peace Award, and 2009 was honored by the California Association for the Education of Young Children for her lifelong contributions to the field.
Perhaps her greatest accomplishments, however, were the countless lives she touched as a mentor and friend. Summing this up at the NAEYC Heroes on the Horizon panel in 2007 she said, “As I have moved from my first small circle to ever widening ones, I have learned that working and playing with all the different people in this early childhood field creates lifelong friendships and bonds of enjoyment, pride and meaning that are immeasurable… and that we are the shoulders that our colleagues, young and old, can stand on."
During the final weeks of her life Docia was lovingly cared for by her daughter Ann Zavitkovsky, Ann’s partner, Parker Lindner, and a host of devoted friends, still playing exuberantly with Nigel, Sophie and Emilia (ages 6, 5 and 3) on the last full day of her life.
Memorial services will be held January 15 at University House in Seattle, and on February 28, 2009, in Los Angeles. Memorial gifts may be made to Play Matters, Group Health Hospice, or Mercy Corps children’s health kits.