Daniel Jesus Cerda, 74, of Oceanside passed away on Monday, July 17, 2017 at his home surrounded by family. Daniel was born on August 11, 1942 in Oceanside, CA, married the love of his life Ernestine Castro, and moved to El Centro, CA to pursue his academic career. Daniel joined the faculty at Imperial Valley College (IVC) with his wife, Ernestine, for the specific purpose of developing an English as a Second Language (ESL) program. Daniel was appointed ESL Coordinator, and under his leadership the program rapidly expanded to employ 35 instructors, offer 100 ESL day and evening classes, serving over 1,000 students each semester. His innovative techniques and programs have served as an example for other community colleges. Daniel served on the Executive Board of the IVC Chapter of the California Teachers Association (CTA) as Treasurer and Vice President, and in 1994 was selected as the recipient of the California W.H.O. (We Honor Ours) CTA Award for his outstanding efforts at IVC. Daniel received the California Legislature Assembly Certificate of Recognition in October 2014 for his accomplishments in academics and the honor of being inducted into the Oceanside High School Foundation Hall of Fame. Though "Professor Cerda" received much recognition for his academic achievements, his greatest pride was in his loving wife and the four children he raised, the large wonderful family he cherished, and the hundreds of students whom he had great joy in teaching. Daniel is survived by his wife of 46 years, Ernestine Castro Cerda of Oceanside; daughters, Andrea Cerda and Yvonne Cerda; sons, John Cerda and family, Frankie Cerda and family; grandchildren, Joseph, Sophia and Diego; sisters, Isabel Cerda Martinez and Rosalie Cerda Guajardo; brothers, Ramon Cerda and Leonard Cerda and a large family of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews. Daniel was preceded in death by his parents, Daniel S. Cerda and Guadalupe T. Zamora Cerda; sisters, Irene Cerda and Gloria Cerda Jaime. Rosary and viewing will take place on Thursday, August 3rd at St. Patrick's Church in Carlsbad from 4 to 8 p.m. Funeral on Friday, August 4th at St. Patrick's Church in Carlsbad at 10 a.m., with burial at Eternal Hills Cemetery in Oceanside at 12 p.m.