City College Bookstore's Rose Twyman Retires After 40 Years

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Ingleside residents who attended City College of San Francisco over the years no doubt considered the main campus as a familiar stomping ground with frequent visits each semester to the CCSF Bookstore.

Many people who know the bookstore well had a chance to express their gratitude to longtime manager Rose Twyman who retired Feb. 2 after 40 years.

“The woman is a legend,” Susan Berston, a business instructor, said. “The bookstore will not be the same.”

In observance of COVID-19 protocols, a socially distant reception took place honoring Twyman for her last day at work in the bookstore. Well-wishes and goodbyes filled not only the reception but were posted on social media.

For the past few years of her four-decade career she has been serving as Course Materials Manager. Much more than a familiar clerk, the accolades and gratitude expressed by so many across the local academic and business circles illustrated the tremendous positive impact Twyman made. Many of the materials that Twyman was responsible for were very complex, especially to the medical and nursing community of students and academics.

“When I was a teacher at CCSF, more than once, you helped me get the assigned course materials I needed at the last minute,” Kate Swoboda said. “You were always the rockstar who figured out how to get those textbooks in on time.”

“I know Rose. She is amazing. I volunteered on committees with her for the California Association of College Stores,” said Jason Lorgan. He serves as Executive Director of the Student Affairs Council and other programs at University of California at Davis. “I witnessed first hand how much Rose cared about the students she encountered at CCSF.”

David Poon, a supervisor of the Radiology Sciences Department of University California, San Francsico said Twyman’s work was more of a vocation than just a job.

“That you have been there for more than 40 years says it all, Rose!” Poon said.

At a crucial moment in our nation’s economy when continuing and higher education has been under more scrutiny and suffering from high costs and budget cuts, many people in the community were pleased to acknowledge and praise Twyman’s career of dedicated service.

“Your contribution to CCSF has been immense,” Poon added. “Thank you for being a guide and mentor to countless students and faculty who have known you all these years.”

Twyman thanked everyone for gratitude and well-wishes upon her retirement.

“Since I will no longer be wrangling books and faculty, I plan to spend more time baking, cooking and traveling (pandemic permitting),” Twyman said.