Very few people skip their college graduation.

“Patrick Furey.”
His name was called.
No one responded.

In 1984, Torrance mayor Furey skipped his EC graduation ceremony. After being in school for 10 years, Furey said that day felt just like any other. He received his diploma in the mail and he was content.

Furey is known by many names. EC students call him an alumni, his grandkids call him Grandpa, his wife calls him hers and, to the community of Torrance, he’s known as Mr. Mayor.

Furey was born and raised in Philadelphia. After serving in the U.S. Army, Furey left the icy weather in the 1970s for something more his style: California.

Furey described California in the ’70s as T-shirts and cut offs. After moving here, Furey immediately went to the EC Admissions office. He attended EC for 10 years, from 1974-1984.

He said his most impactful adviser was Bill Kamrath, his journalism professor. Furey said he got into journalism by accident. Being a veteran, Furey needed to keep his G.I. Bill, so he quickly enrolled in Journalism 1, a class that he said “whet his appetite for writing.”

Furey said he hated math, calling his bookkeeping and economics courses “horrendous.”

Furey graduated with an associate degree in journalism. From EC, he went on to UCLA and to UWLA, where he received a juris doctor degree.

Furey used his background in journalism and law when he ran for Torrance city government in 2008. He was elected as a city council member and then he ran for mayor in 2014.

Torrance councilman and EC administration of justice instructor Geoff Rizzo spoke highly of Furey’s community college beginnings.

“I think attending community college introduces one to a broad range of individuals from the South Bay, and by extension, access to the community,” Rizzo said in an email.

Longtime friend and EC alumni Monica Fredericks said that EC is a way for people to get back into school.

Furey has two children and two grandchildren with his wife, Terry. Furey met his wife in 1977. His eyes lit up when he described that March day when he saw her at a Redondo Beach restaurant.

“I flirted, she flirted,” he said. “The rest is history.”

Furey spends most of his days interacting with the community of Torrance. His newest project will be partnering with the Torrance high schools in speaking to them about the importance of community and government.

“That’s my whole concept – to get the youth inspired,” Furey said.

Furey stuck around Torrance after his schooling. His favorite part of his job is making people happy, and he says that getting the job done is the most important thing.

The city of Torrance “is just big enough, yet small enough,” Furey said.

Furey was awarded the El Camino College Distinguished Alumni Award in 2011 and has a flag on the alumni walk outside Schauerman Library.