He teaches with a pleasant smile, an enthusiasm for the science, and a sincere determination to help individuals become self-starting students and well-informed citizens who wish to make significant changes in our world.  He is strong but kind, commanding but sharing, and organized - but never try to navigate his office without a map and compass!

            Ivan was born on June 5, 1927 in San Diego, California, the first of two sons of Helen Ivanova and Paul W. Colburn.  Early in his life the family moved to Laguna Beach where the grammar school kid learned to surf and explore nature in the uninhabited and uncluttered hills behind his home.  His father was a high school biology teacher who sparked and held his son's interest in all of nature's grandeur so it is not surprising that he noticed and collected Miocene oyster shells from the Topanga Formation while exploring the hillsides. His father heightened his son's interest in nature when he took him on a trip to view the damage produced by the 1933 Long Beach earthquake, and then again in 1938 when the two of them viewed the two mile wide, rain-swollen Santa Ana River. Ivan and his family once again moved during World War II and settled in West Los Angeles.

            During Ivan's younger years in school, he was greatly influenced by two individuals: Mr. John Little, a biology teacher and Mr. Carl Worth, a metal shop teacher.  Little and Worth were strict disciplinarians and outstanding teachers who challenged Ivan to do his very best. Accepting this challenge and wanting to serve his country,  Ivan joined the Navy in 1945 where his education in metal work landed him an assignment as a ship-fitter.  After boot camp and a stay in the infirmary with measles and pneumonia, he ended up on a sea-going, dry-dock in Sasabo, Japan in 1945.  It wasn't the sailor's life one hears about in songs and high sea adventures but he did get to steer the boat most of the way back across the Pacific from March to June 1946, towed by a Navy Fleet tug. 

            After his experience in the U.S. Navy, Ivan returned to Los Angeles where he attended L.A. City College, obtained an AA, and earned high grades.  He transferred to Pomona College and took Physical and Historical Geology from Dr. John Shelton, a former student of Ivan's father.  Many other well-known geologists, including A. O. Woodford, R. F.Yerkes and Jack Shelhamer, had their offices at this school and gave Ivan a chance to appreciate the life of a professional geologist.  He also viewed a series of color slides that showed many of the geologic structures found in the western states and became enthralled by the geological processes that explain these features.  From these experiences Ivan directed his studies into the field of geology, working as a teaching assistant for Dr. Shelton and completing a senior thesis on the geology of the Griffith Park area.

            Once admitted to the Claremont Graduate School, Ivan began working on his Master's Thesis, a detailed study of the Puente Hills, in particular Carbon Canyon, between Brea and Santa Ana Canyon.  This project drew the attention of Shell Company geologists who recognized his abilities and offered him a "summer hire" position in 1952, allowing him to continue his work in the Puente Hills area.  After completing his master's thesis, Ivan was hired full time by Shell and went into a two year training program during which he traveled from L.A. to Sacramento and from Salt Lake City to Houston, learning all aspects of the oil industry. His training in 1954 included a period at Ely, Nevada where he supervised drilling projects.  In Houston, he attended Reservoir Engineering School and realized he could be destined for an administrative desk job.  This offered no appeal and he determined to go back to college to obtain his Ph.D.

            In 1956 Ivan was accepted at Stanford University where he would successfully complete his Ph.D. and also meet Patricia "Tish" Thorn.  From 1956 to 1961, Ivan worked under the direction of Dr. Hugh Skink and Dr. Ben Page.  Dr. Skink was in declining health and Ivan taught most of his classes including Stanford's summer field camp.  This experience convinced Ivan to pursue a teaching career.  Ivan and Tish were married in August 1958 in Pasadena and returned to Stanford to complete their education.

            After graduation from Stanford, Ivan was hired at Hayward State College and was eventually asked to establish a Geology Department for the college.  However, within the next year the Board of Trustees determined that funds were not available for a geology program and the project was terminated.  Realizing the limits that this would impose on his teaching career, Ivan applied at California State College to Los Angeles and was hired in 1966. 

            During his career at California State University, Ivan has enjoyed many enriching experiences.  His work in Alaska with Monty Hampton and his visit to Japan through an American Geological Institute educational program are important highlights.  In the 1970's Ivan accompanied Dr. Hampton and Dr. Arnold Bouman with their party of USGS employees to Cook Inlet and the Kodiak Shelf to determine the baseline conditions of the marine environment prior to opening the shelf to drilling for oil and gas.  Ivan was the sedimentologist  during the four weeks that he worked there and he was also involved in collecting seismic data, core and grab sampling, and videotaping of the seafloor. 

            Ivan's trip to Japan was funded by the National Science Foundation and was an ongoing program to expose U.S. geoscientists  to the geology of other countries.  During 1967 Ivan toured most of the major Japanese islands over a ten-week period, receiving instruction on the local geology from the faculty of the top universities.

            Over his forty years as a professor at California State University at Los Angeles, Ivan has influenced the education and lives of myriad students in classes ranging from general geology and oceanography to sedimentology, stratigraphy and coastal processes.  Ivan is well recognized as an expert in the Cenozoic history and stratigraphy of the Los Angeles basin. He is also recognized by hundreds of avid beach athletes.  On any coastal processes field trip to the beaches in the San Onofre area, expect at least a dozen or more friendly tanned faces to greet Ivan and ask him when his next volleyball tournament will take place.

            Ivan and Tish have three sons, Blake, Paul and Kyle, and six grandchildren, all of whom live in the southern California area.  Ivan retired in 1996 but continues to teach as professor emeritus at the university. Tish taught junior high school in Redwood City for several years and then taught mathematics at Westridge Girls School until June1997 when she retired.  The couple have been residents of Pasadena for 40 years.

            Those of us who know Ivan and have benefited from his knowledge and experiences admire and respect him. We will always think of him with the highest regard.  Thank you Ivan, for the generosity with which you share your life with others.

John Mack