Arlene Staich, a two-term school board member, suffered a heart attack last Thursday and remained in critical care after undergoing a quadruple bypass surgery Monday.
Characteristically, Staich’s attention has remained on the Redondo Beach Unified School District even from the Intensive Care Unit of Little Company of Mary hospital.
“She had a heart attack on Thursday, they did testing on Friday, and she is such a trooper she called me on Sunday and asked me about things on the agenda,” said fellow board member Jane Diehl. “That’s Arlene. And she even caught a mistake.”
Staich, a former teacher at Mira Costa High School and longtime Redondo resident, recently survived a bout with cancer. But despite undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatment, she devotedly attended meetings throughout her long but successful fight with the disease.
Superintendent Steven Keller expressed optimism that Staich would likewise prevail in this fight.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with Arlene and her family,” Keller said. “Arlene is a fighter, and she’ll get through this.”
Staich has served on the school board since 2003 and will finish her second and final term next month.
A statement released by the district this week said that her family reports that heart surgery was successful and Staich is feeling well. Cards (but not flowers, as Staich’s husband is allergic) can be directed to RBUSD headquarters at 1401 Inglewood Ave., Redondo Beach CA, 90278. ER
