Maynard Whimple
What have your classmates been up to these past 50 years? Here are "before and after" photos, a recap of their past half-century, and current contact information. If your profile is missing or incomplete, it's because we are waiting for your information. Send us a recent photo and a writeup of what's transpired in your life. To submit information just send us an email.
Scroll through this page — or click a name: Richard Aquino Jim Bahan Al Cattalini Paul Desrochers Jack Dold Paul Forney Bob Geary Darrell Jones Tom Kosta Leo LaBelle Vic LoGrasso Jim Looney Francisco Lopez Ben McEntee John McNeil Tom Meschery Russ Meskell Bob Pola Jack Queen Armando Rendón John Shirley Pat Sweeney Tom Uniack George Walker Maynard Whimple Dick Woods
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Maynard Whimple |
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Maynard Whimple didn’t stop learning when he left St. Mary’s in 1961. His academic achievement, athletic prowess, and leadership roles in student government evoked numerous offers for graduate study. His doctoral studies at the University of Oxford’s Keble College took him to Calcutta where he developed a marketing plan for Mother Teresa. His new bride, Wendy, remained behind in England constrained by her contractual arrangements with an adult film studio.
Maynard’s premature departure from Calcutta was necessitated when reports surfaced connecting him with a CIA plan to infiltrate the Missionaries of Charity. He returned to England after a stop in the U.S. and was startled to discover that Wendy had mysteriously disappeared days earlier. There were suggestions of foul play but authorities failed to establish that Maynard was involved.
Returning to the U.S., Maynard was recruited by a Wall Street investment banking firm for a special project. His success there led to rapid promotions and a comfortable lifestyle. He never forgot his St. Mary’s roots and proffered the major contribution which enabled construction of new science facilities on the Moraga campus. Modest as always, he specified that he be acknowledged only as an “anonymous donor.”
Maynard finds himself confined by myriad responsibilities and hopes he will be free to attend the 50th reunion. He regrets that the rules of the witness protection program don’t allow him to reveal his former name and trusts that classmates will keep his secret.
Contact information:
U.S. Penitentiary
P.O. Box 1000
Leavenworth, KS 66048
913-555-1961
p19571961@leavenworth.bop.gov
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Richard Aquino |
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I am a first generation American, born in Oakland, CA. My parents were born in the province of Pangasinan, Philippine Islands. They immigrated to the US in the 20's and the 30's. Although raised in the Filipino community, my peers and I were taught to speak English only. There was a lot of prejudice and, in the midst of the depression, they understood that we had to speak without an accent to get a job and to meld into the American culture.
I received 16 years of Catholic education from St. Francis de Sales Elementary, St. Elizabeth High, through college (St. Mary's College, CA - Christian Brothers). To this day, I do not know how my parents (a cook and a maid) were able to afford the private school tuition.
(Continues on next page.)
Contact information:
7126 Ridge Drive
Highland, CA 92346-5048
909-864-2702
richaquino@att.net
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Jim Bahan |
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Professionally, following my graduation from SMC, I began my career at the family (dairy) business in Southern California. In 1967, we sold that business and I had the opportunity, with my brother, Tom, to move to Reno, NV and develop a milk and ice cream operation there. Together we built our business for the next 30 years and sold it to Dean Foods in 1996. I am now semi-retired and continue to serve on various dairy-related boards.
Personally, after graduation, I met my wife, Mary Ellen on a blind date in 1963 and in 2011 we celebrated our 47th wedding anniversary. We have two children, Mary Ellen and Angela. Since 1996, we have split our time between a home on Vancouver Island, BC and Reno, NV. However, recently we have made a transition from Reno to Henderson, NV, where the warmer winters suit us. Over the years we have enjoyed traveling the world, mostly by cruise, boating, golf and the company of long-time good friends and family.
Contact information:
316 California Avenue #307
Reno, NV 89509
775-825-5640, cell: 775-742-4082
470 Lands End Road
North Saanich, BC, Canada V8L 5L9
250-656-7668
jnbahan@hotmail.com
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Al Cattalini |
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Al Cattalini graduated from St. Mary’s in June, 1962 and soon was off to Coast Guard OCS. The following summer he married his Holy Names sweetheart, Joan McGlynn, and took her to Kodiak, Alaska where he was serving aboard a Coast Guard cutter. What was planned to be a 3-year lark after OCS became a rewarding 30-year career with numerous assignments across the country from the Hawaiian Islands to Washington, D.C. Along the way they raised three daughters, traveled many thousands of miles, and managed to attend a number of class reunions.
Al and Joan settled in Petaluma, California in 1993 when he retired from the Coast Guard and hung out his shingle as an international maritime consultant. Consulting assignments around the world provided unforgettable experiences, frequent flyer miles, and a gray beard — but still allowed time for other activities. He enjoys his seven grandchildren, is busy with his Rotary Club and local parish, and has been an avid Gael basketball fan for many years. He’s now fully retired and looking forward to the Fiftieth Reunion.
For the long story of Al's career, visit his website.
Contact information:
433 Clearview Place
Petaluma, CA 94952
707-763-2946
ac@cattalini.com
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Paul Desrochers |
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Upon graduation, Security Bank hired me as a management trainee. After a year, the CA Army National Guard became my refuge. I served six months active/six year reserve, with basic training at Fort Ord and later service in the Watts Riots. After active duty I returned to the bank and was given Mojave Desert assignments. This brought me to realize that Public Administration, from my courses with Dr. Harry Morrison at SMC, was my calling. In 1964 I was fortunate to land a job with the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Colton and two years later with San Bernardino’s Agency. When an opening for San Diego was announced in mid 1970, I was selected and assigned to work on the City’s first Redevelopment Project. For the next thirty-five years I became involved in various Community Development capacities for the Cities of San Diego, Chula Vista and National City. During that period, I served on the California Redevelopment Association Board and worked on legislation including the clean-up of contaminated properties.
Meanwhile, in 1963, I met, in San Bernardino, a new teacher named Joyce, from Ohio at a friend’s party; we were married in 1965. In San Diego Joyce was an instructor for twenty-five years with the Community College District. We are the parents of three boys and have five grandchildren: two in Vail and three in Orlando. Thankfully our youngest son and wife live close-by, otherwise we visit the distant families as often as possible.
My retirement challenge is to visit every US State Capitol (four to go) with Joyce. In addition, we have traveled extensively from Bhutan (w/SMC group) to So. America, Europe, China and Africa with hopefully more to come! When home Joyce & I are busy with such activities as docents for Mission San Diego and volunteering for Civic, Church and School programs. To keep fit, I exercise daily; play golf, run and bike. Our close relationship with several SMC classmates and their families is deeply valued.
Contact information:
4947 Lorraine Drive
San Diego, CA 92115
619-607-1876
pauld4947@cox.net
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Jack Dold |
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On leaving St. Mary's, I went to U.C.L.A. where I got a Masters in Medieval History (I guess thanks to Tony Chiappi!).
In 1963 I married Mary Jane Walker, whom I had known most of my life. We have two lovely daughters and 3+ grandchildren. That same year I began teaching and coaching at Bishop O'Dowd High School. In 1974, in partnership with George Walker, I moved to Plymouth, Mass. to start American Field Studies. In 1985, Mary and I returned to California. George and I spent the next 25 years as owners of Golden Gate Tours. In that capacity I am fortunate to have seen much of the world, and the U.S., writing tours as well as leading them.
I retired a year ago, and now spend my time trying to write, and generally arguing politics and life with Meschery. Mary and I have lived in Green Valley, CA for the past 25 years.
Contact information:
4377 Edinburg Court
Fairfield, CA 94534
510-816-4486
jackdold@yahoo.com
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Paul Forney |
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It was the best of times; it was the worst of times. Wait, which was it? We had a 100-yard commute; we did no shopping, and no cooking. Some one else made every meal, we just had to walk to the dinning hall and it was all ready to eat. We had no yard work, nor repairs to make. Work, if you could call it that, was going to class. But you could sleep in and miss a class and no one cared! We got to play outside with our friends every day. But 50 years ago we got stupid, graduated and moved on.
Three weeks after graduation, I was on active duty with the US Navy, eventually stationed in Hawaii on a destroyer. I did two deployments to Western Pacific before being released from active duty in November 1964. In January 1965 I got engaged to Cecelia, who I met at a dance in Madigan Gym, and got a job at the University of California. I remained in the US Navy Reserve until I retired in 1990. My work at UCB lasted until 1975 and I also pursued a graduate degree in Astronomy. During that time I was in a group that flew two spacecraft instruments to Mars in 1969. In 1975, I left UCB and moved to Arcadia to take employment at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory where I built an instrument that orbited around Venus for several years. However, I returned to the Bay Area to take a job at Lockheed Missiles and Space in Sunnyvale. From 1978 to 1996 I worked on several projects involved with flying spacecraft for several customers and even some civilian work on things like windshear detection for the aviation industry. Then until 2002 I became the manager of Electro-optics for Lockheed Martin Space Systems. I retired in 2002 but went back to work as a part time employee until 2010.
Cecelia and I have enjoyed 45 years of marriage and raised two children, Christine and Dan (SMC Class of 1993). Dan recently (2009) was married in the SMC chapel. We have one granddaughter from each child.
Contact information:
547 Utica Drive
Sunnyvale, CA 94087
408-732-3520
forneypc@earthlink.net
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Bob Geary |
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Reluctantly I submit the following after long hours of being subjected to waterboarding, with copious amounts of Listerine, by the Reunion Committee.
I stayed an extra semester at St. Mary’s to complete my studies, due to changes in my major. I was awarded a California Secondary Teaching Credential from USF in 1970; received a Master’s Degree in Secondary Education from USF in 1972.
While at Ft. Ord (Basic Training) I bumped into Paul Desrochers one night on my way to the Post Exchange. We briefly chatted that one time. Free time wasn’t a right or privilege for an Army National Guard Private E-1. Paul outranked me by a pay grade or two. He could come and go as he pleased. My ticket to freedom was to become an OCS candidate. I spent six months in the program. My lack of discipline was too much for my Tactical Officers. I was jettisoned from the program.
Several months later my application for the Army Infantry OCS program at Ft. Benning was accepted. Peculiar things do happen in life — the result of good playacting. The program was challenging. After its completion I was commissioned a 2LT. During my military experience I was a Recon Platoon Leader, General’s Aide, and a Commanding Officer - serving at various army posts.
My fear of the aforementioned waterboarding is beginning to wear off, therefore I will move more quickly with this and keep it simple:
Click for Bob's photos.
Contact information:
2578 Great Highway
San Francisco, CA 94116
415-564-8698
gearybobgeary@aol.com
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Darrell Jones |
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After Graduation, I returned to Sacramento to work for the California Franchise Tax Board as the lead second shift tabulating machine operator. The following Spring, while playing rugby with the Peninsula Ramblers, I sustained a severe back injury. During the post surgery recovery period, I was not able to operate the punched card equipment. Franchise Tax asked me to help design the proposed conversion of their current manual and punched card procedures to a computer environment. A few months later, I found myself the lead programmer on the conversion effort and forever addicted to information technology.
After the conversion, I became the manager of the programming design group and in 1965 the manager of operations. In Late 1965, IBM invited me, as the customer representative, to Poughkeepsie, NY for the purpose of seeing a demonstration of the 1410 emulator on the System 360. It was a feature that Franchise Tax needed to upgrade their systems. Unfortunately, the demonstration failed to properly execute the test job stream that I brought with me. I spent the next 10 days working with the IBM programmers to help them debug their software. When I returned to Sacramento, IBM offered me a job.
In February 1966, I began my 41.5 year career with Big Blue as a Systems Engineer in the Riverside, California branch office. I soon learned that West Coast IBMers think on Eastern time and spend many hours on airplanes. At first, I designed property tax systems for county governments, but my focus soon shifted to data base systems.
Southern California was very good to me. It was there I met my wife, Mary Ann. We were married in January 1968.
In November 1973, I returned to the Bay Area when I was promoted to a program product development group in Palo Alto, CA where I worked on the database support products: Data Base Design Aid and Query-By-Example (QBE). In 1980, the Palo Alto group was transferred to Dallas. I opted out of that move by accepting a data base design assignment at the San Jose plant site. For the next 15 years, I created applications and data bases for manufacturing. In 1995, with IBM Global Services, I worked on internet based marketing and marketing support applications. For the last five years I worked from home before retiring in November 2007 as a certified I/T application and data base architect.
We did manage to do a few things without the aid of a computer. Mary Ann and I have two sons and one grandson (who just completed his freshman year at Saint Mary's.) I have been president of a little league and a youth soccer coach. We have driven up the Alcan to Alaska and across the country to Maine, houseboated on the delta, attended the Statsoper in Vienna and honeymooned in Hawaii. Now, our interests are golf and musical theatre.
Contact information:
1959 Conifer Lane
San Jose, CA 95132
408-262-6273, 408-256-3272
dbjs04@sbcglobal.net
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Tom Kosta |
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Thank you all for allowing me to be a part of the Class of '61. I actually left school in '59. I joined the Marine Corps as a Marine Aviation Cadet, and got my wings just about the time you all graduated.
On my way home from training in Texas, I passed through San Francisco and thought it would be a good idea to try to find Tom Meschery. It was about 10pm when I started going to the bars we used to frequent. Each bartender told me he had just left. At 2AM I gave up and went to get breakfast at a place called the Flying Saucer . There he was sitting at the counter. We decided it would be a good idea to head for Tahoe to hook up with John Shirley who was already up there.
It was a great time. After we made bail, I went to my duty station in Cherry Point, North Carolina where I met up with Cole Buxton who also was a fighter pilot. What fun we had. After the court martial, Cole went to fly with American and I went with TWA where I married a whole lot of really neat Flight Attendants.
I live in Santa Rosa and have 5 sons ranging from 45 to 17. Thanks to the 17 year old, I have 7 grandchildren.
Contact information:
4315 Deer Trail Road
Santa Rosa, CA 95404
707-538-5232
tomkosta@sonic.net
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Rev. Patrick LaBelle |
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A quick review of life saw me study at St. Mary's College for two years before entry into the Dominican Novitiate - at that time located in Ross (Marin County). After that year I spent seven more years in graduate school in Berkeley. After my ordination I was sent to Eugene, Oregon, for my first assignment: Newman Chaplain at the University of Oregon. From there it was to the University of Washington and then back to the Bay Area to serve in Province work for the Dominicans. After a few years there I was the president of our graduate theology school in Berkeley and then returned to the University of Oregon. My next work was to be Dean at Saint Mary's College, my alma mater. From there to Berkeley as a pastor and finally to Stanford where I served for 13 years. I really enjoyed that and got to meet and know some interesting people, e.g., Chelsey Clinton and the two grandsons of Robert Kennedy. I found once again that kids are kids. Along the way I did some more schooling to earn degrees that helped me do the work I was assigned to do. My most recent work was three years as director of a retreat and conference center and then in February, 2010 was elected (yes, we elect our superiors) prior of our community in San Francisco. St. Dominic's is a pretty active place where we have a Dominican Community of 16. We send our first year students here to begin their formation and have been blessed with good numbers of very good people. This is a 3 year position so who knows what comes next? We don't retire but, rather, have a category called Limited Service. That limitation is whatever the individual wants it to mean. I suspect I will just keep on going and doing whatever the Province asks me to do.
Contact information:
St. Dominic's Priory
2390 Bush Street
San Francisco CA 94115
415-674-0460, Fax: 415-931-3360
labelleop@gmail.com
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Vic LoGrasso |
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After graduating from SMC, did a year of grad work at San Francisco State in Education. Then went to the University of Pacific Dental School in SF for 4 years. Got married to Allison while a sophomore. Son Rob followed in Junior year. Graduated in 1966 and went into the Air Force as a Dentist at Malmstrom AFB in Great Falls, Montana. Fell in love with Montana. Daughter, Dia, born there. Moved back to Mountain View, California and practiced dentistry for 30 years and raised the family. Retired in 1995.
Moved to Gallatin Gateway, Montana. Been here for 16 enjoyable and great years. Love the wonderful fishing, gardening, woodworking, photography, scenery, wildlife and outstanding outdoors here. Even have time to volunteer at the Museum of the Rockies in the Living History Farm as a gardener. Looking forward to seeing everyone at the reunion in July.
(Vic sent us some photos of life in Montana. To see them click here.)
Contact information:
390 Low Bench Road
Gallatin Gateway MT 59730
406-763-4622
lograsso@q.com
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Jim Looney |
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I am retired now after 32 years with state government in Kentucky.
I have been married for 42 years to the same little redhead, Diana Sue Layson Looney. She is from the hills of Kentucky — a place called "Bloody Harlan." We have two married children. They are both civil engineers (graduated from the University of Kentucky). Kentucky plays sports in the Southeastern Conference. We have one precious granddaughter.
Most of my time in state government was developing or managing the payroll systems.
I still stay active in the community, mentoring children in math and reading, and the young children in church. It is wonderful when a young adult comes up to you and says "Remember me? I am Joshua. I graduated from college and I manage this store." I found out that life is about helping others and I applied this to my working life and after my retirement in 2001.
Contact information:
1118 Collins Lane
Frankfort, KY 40601-4308
502-875-1522, 502-564-6883
jlooney@fewpb.net
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Francisco Lopez |
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After graduating from St. Mary’s in 1961 I went east to attend the Navy OCS program to become a naval officer. I was talked into attending this program by my “good” friend Alfred Gonzalez. Alfred wanted to go to OCS but did not want to go by himself. I was not sure if I wanted to go into the military but Alfred convinced me that we should go together. Alfred did not pass the physical exam so in the winter of ’61 I went to Newport R.I. by myself. Having lived in southern Calif. all my life I was not prepared for those cold eastern winters. I survived and was commissioned an ensign in 1962. I was assigned to the U.S.S. Piedmont out of San Diego and over the next 4 years I made 2 tours of the Far East. While on my first tour of the far east I ran into Wally Mierse ’61 in Hawaii and Jim Whaley ’61 in Sasebo, Japan.
I was married in 1964 to Bertha Canales who I dated once in high school. After OCS Bertha and I resumed dating and I proposed to her in Tokyo, Japan. I left the Navy in 1965 and in Dec. of this same year our first son Christopher was born. I returned to school to acquire a teaching credential. Teaching would allow me to support my family and also give me the opportunity to look for a “real” job. I began teaching in 1968 at Monte Vista High School in Whittier, CA. I was very surprised to discover that John Stanton ’61 had preceded me there as a teacher. My “temporary” job lasted 32 years and I retired in 2000. During my career in teaching I taught Spanish at Monte Vista for 9 years and Pioneer High School for 22 years.
While I was teaching my wife Bertha was following her career in aviation as a contract administrator for Northrop Grumman. Somehow we were able to add three more children to our family. Joining Christopher, (cal state Fullerton senior account manager Pacific Mercantile bank), were Kevin, (cal state Fullerton on line marketing manager Robert Kaufman textiles), Kenneth (Loyola Marymount senior price analyst Sketchers USA), and Christine (St. Mary’s ’95 coordinator of activities core engineering Boeing). Together my children have given us 7 wonderful grandchildren to enjoy.
Bertha and I have lived in Whittier for 42 years and have watched our children grow up to be productive adults. We now enjoy traveling with our enlarged family to Europe, Hawaii, and Palm Springs. My wife and I have enjoyed multiple cruises to fantastic destinations such as the Greek islands, the Baltic capitals, and the Panama Canal. Now that we are retired we are so busy that we don’t know how we were able to raise a family, work and do all the things that we do and enjoy.
Contact information:
8250 Ocean View Avenue
Whittier, CA 90602
562-693-0553 562-698-8121
fandblopez@yahoo.com
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Ben McEntee |
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In September of 1961 I began teaching at Sacred Heart High School in San Francisco. I taught history, English, geometry and speech, and I also coached the J.V Football team and the Speech and Debate team. After three years, I found myself living below the poverty level so I left to teach in the Fremont Unified School District where I remained for the next 37 years, teaching English and history for 22 years and working as a high school counselor for 15 years.
Along the way I married Louise Mahoney and we had six children, and we are now enjoying our 10 grandchildren. I retired from education in 2001, and now I act like an 800 pound gorilla, and I do whatever I want to do, except, of course, when my wife has other plans for me.
I am looking forward to seeing all of the members of the illustrious Class of 1961.
Contact information:
1385 Kolin Street
Pleasanton, CA 94566
925-846-5092
loumcentee@comcast.net
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John McNeil |
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Left SMC after soph year 1959. Went into construction working for my uncle in Los Angeles, attended night and some day classes at Los Angeles City College in order to get enough credits for Graduate School. Met my future wife, Joan, at school. My senior year I received a football scholarship to Azusa Pacific College (it was called Pacific College). Got accepted to Physicians & Surgeons Dental School in 1961.
Married Joan in 1962 and we had 5 children in 5 years: Deb (1963) 2 children; Dentist in San Luis Obispo; Andrea (1964) 2 children, Credentialed elementary teacher in Ojai; John (1965) 2 children,Ventura County Fire Captain in Ojai; Patrick (1966) died in 2004 of massive heart attack; Greg (1968) 3 children, Computer Engineer, Vice President, Flextronics.
Graduated in 1965 University of the Pacific School of Dentistry. Started a dental practice in Ojai and sold it 2005. Retirement was not in the cards, so I started doing Locum Tenens (Rent a Dentist) one month after "retiring". It has been great, working when I want and for whom I want and where I want!
During the 46 years living in Ojai my wife Joan and I have been active in the local Catholic Church and School; serving as teachers, lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Pastoral Council and School Board Presidents.
During our children's educational years, we both became FIFA certified soccer referees, officiating high school games for several years. I coached football and soccer at 2 local high schools as a J.V. and varsity coach at various times. I keep in shape by spinning and cycling.
Our greatest thrill has been traveling. I worked as a Ship Dentist for Holland America Cruise Line for 7 years and we have gone everywhere in the 30+ cruises we worked for the company.
We are looking forward to our 50th Wedding Anniversary next year and have made reservations on a cruise for all our children, spouses and grandchildren.
Looking forward to seeing my classmates, most of whom I've not seen in 52 years.
Contact information:
1114 Mercer Avenue
Ojai, CA 93023-2028
805-646-1391, 805-646-3700
jj@mcneilclan.com
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Tom Meschery |
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I retired in 2005 after 24 years of teaching senior AP English at Reno High School and English at Sierra College in Truckee. After retirement, I traveled to Russia to visit ancestral homes and meet newly discovered relatives, which resulted in eating copious amounts of food and downing numerous shots of vodka. Upon my return, I departed Truckee, my family home since 1976 for Sacramento where I met and married the lovely Melanie Marchant, now Meschery, an art teacher at Sacramento City College.
Once Melanie retired we moved to the Bay Area, my old stomping grounds, close to opera, museums, jazz clubs, ocean beaches, Warrior and Gaels basketball, fabulous restaurants, and old ghosts. We live in Alameda where Melanie paints, and I write poems and novels. The book of poetry has found a publishing home while the novels are still searching.
My children are grown, healthy, interesting, and occasionally wise. They have blessed me with four grandchildren, three girls and one boy. We're playing in the fourth quarter, and I feel as if we might win the game. Hope springs eternal. 50 years since we graduated. Who would have thunk it!
Contact information:
1216 Versailles Avenue
Alameda, CA 94501
meschery14@gmail.com
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Russ Meskell |
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After graduation, good friends Gary Probst, John Coughlin and I modified a 1952 Ford station wagon and drove it to Alaska over the extremely rough and unpaved ALCAN highway. It was a ten week adventure of ruined shocks, 10 blown tires, B-27 mosquitoes, Indians, Eskimos, Malamutes and bars all through the primitive Yukon Territory and never-to be-seen-again pioneer Alaska.
Upon returning home I found not only the arms of my wonderful sweetheart from College of Notre Dame, Mary Faith, but a draft notice telling me to report to the US Army for active duty.
After serving as an Army payroll specialist for a year at Fort Lawton, (Seattle) WA, it became apparent to me that I would be serving my entire active duty Army career there in Seattle. To my commander, Major Vanderlike, having me as Scout Leader for his son's Cub Scout Troop at the Fort, was more important than my orders to Cambodia all of which he overrode. So, armed with that knowledge, I proposed to Mary and we were married in September of 1962 on a PFC's pay of $99.37 per month.
Our first child, Katie, was born at the Fort Lawton Hospital in 1963; Pat in Los Angeles 1964; Gaelen, LA, 1965; Tim, LA, 1968; Colin, LA, 1969 and Erin, San Fernando Valley, in 1975. We also have, to date, 14 grandchildren. Our oldest grandson, Katie's son Dylan, will be graduating from U Wisconsin, Madison this month an event Mary and I are really looking forward to and wouldn't miss.
After the Army it was back to Southern California. I went to work for Frito-Lay which, while I was there, was purchased by PepsiCo. They asked me to take a Plant Manager position in a tiny one kettle plant in Seattle. Since I'd just been there and didn't like the climate or potato chips much, I declined and in 1966 I went to work for my Father the John E. Meskell Co. a general building contractor doing commercial, industrial and institutional projects.
In 1969 we incorporated as Meskell and Sons, Inc. and after my Father's death in 1982 I changed the direction of the company somewhat, concentrating primarily on private institutional buildings such as churches, schools, convents, rectories, gymnasiums and hospitals among other projects. In 1997, I sold my business to the George C. Hopkins Co., Inc. and after spending two years as that company's consultant, I retired.
After retirement in 2000, Mary, my love and bride of 49 years now, and I moved to Ramona in the San Diego back country. For the past 11 years we've been enjoying the clean air, occasional snow showers and small town atmosphere on our "avocado farm" here in Rancho Santa Teresa. Close to us in the Ramona/San Diego area are three children, spouses and four of our grandchildren.
Contact information:
25090 Oakana Road
Ramona, CA 92065-6338
760-787-1622
RussMeskell@aol.com
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Bob Pola |
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Upon graduation from St. Mary’s College I went to work for Montgomery Ward in Oakland. I started as a management trainee and progressively moved into various supervisory and manager positions. In 1964 I was an Operating Floor Manager and the following year served as the Director of Training for the Oakland Catalogue House.
In 1965 I went to work for Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program for the Northern California Region as Associate Director of Training. This would be the start of 30-year career with Kaiser. In 1969 I managed the Audio Visual Center, which provided audio-visual media for the 11 hospitals, and 15 medical centers in the Northern California Region. In 1969 I worked for Kaiser Industries in Oakland’s Kaiser Center, serving as Personnel Administrator for the Financial Division and in 1974-1977 as Manager, Corporate Training. With the liquidation of Kaiser Industries in 1977, I moved to Bechtel Corporation in San Francisco as a Senior Staff Designer for Management Development and later Training & Development Manager, Bechtel Corp. While at Bechtel I worked on a number of International Projects in Algeria, Norway, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom.
I rejoined Kaiser Permanente in 1983 and was the Human Resources Development Manager for the Southern California Region until 1999. I retired in 2000 and then went to work for the Pacific Province of the Brothers of Mary (the Marianists) as Director of Development in Fundraising for the Order here in the West. I fully retired in 2005.
I married my College sweetheart Rochelle LaFleche in 1963; we have two sons and a daughter living in the area and five grandsons. We celebrated our 48th anniversary this year. Both Rochelle and I attend classes at the Fromm Institute at USF, travel, watch the grandkids, and live in Alameda.
Contact information:
1710 Dayton Avenue
Alameda, CA 94501-4131
510-522-5227, cell: 510-331-1266
rhpola@comcast.net
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Jack Queen |
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After graduation, Jack joined John Shirley for a Route 66 tour of the US in John's '61 Corvette. Once home, Jack started a business with his father in Long Beach, CA called the Auto Air Conditioning Center. This was followed by a short hitch in the US Naval Reserves as a crewman in an S2F Anti Sub Aircraft. In 1963, he married his high school sweetheart, Patty Earl, in a romance that continues today. In the same year, Jack went to work for the Wilshire Oil Co. of CA as a sales rep that necessitated a move to Nipomo, CA where their first child, John, was born.
The opportunity to work for Merrill Lynch as a stockbroker in Southern CA took the family to Long Beach, CA where their two other children, Christopher and Kathleen, were born. It was in Long Beach that they took up sailing as a family and Jack moved up in Merrill Lynch. His career with Merrill continued for 35 years through a series of office management positions in LA and San Francisco ending in San Diego in charge of the southern half of the State.
During the Long Beach years, Jack¹s interest in sailboat racing ended in a partnership in Ragtime, a 62’ ocean racing sloop, that they campaigned in offshore racing and culminated in winning the 1973 Transpacific Yacht Race. The same year, Jack and 5 others founded the Long Beach Grand Prix where he served on the Board of Directors for 25 years. His love of automobiles continues through today and has included several collectible cars that he has restored as well as participated in vintage auto racing, classic car rallies here and abroad as well as being invited to show his cars in such prestigious concours as Pebble Beach.
Throughout Jack’s career, he has served on the boards of a variety of philanthropic organizations including the Boy Scouts of America, the LA Master Chorale and the San Diego Symphony. He is currently a Director of the Rancho Santa Fe Association, the community in which they now live. Jack and Patty have 8 fantastic grandchildren who are a great part of their lives. With good health and many interests, they are enjoying their retirement in this San Diego Community.
Contact information:
PO Box 2622
Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067-2622
858-759-8329
huntingjack@mac.com
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Armando B. Rendón |
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Armando B. Rendón, Class of 1961, was born in San Antonio, Texas, in 1939, where he lived on the Westside until the summer of 1950 when he braved a flight on a four-engine airplane to take up residence with his mother in Oakland, California; she had moved to the Bay Area during WWII to find work and ended up in a parachute assembly plant. After attending St. Anthony’s parochial school in Oakland and St. Mary’s College High School in Albany, he enrolled at St. Mary’s College in Moraga in 1957.
His main accomplishments at St. Mary’s, besides surviving four years of Brother Ralph, included being a member of the second full class of the Integrated Curriculum, now known as the Integral Program; serving in his junior year as editor in chief of the Collegian newspaper; heading the staff of the Phoenix, the literary magazine, as a senior, and escaping major harm in his one season on the rugby team. To support his socializing, he worked summers including day and graveyard shifts at a paper bag manufacturing plant in San Leandro, slaving for a catering company, and joining the copyboy crew at the Oakland Tribune where he worked a couple summers and part time during his senior year as well.
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Contact information:
272 Purdue Avenue
Kensington, CA 94708
510-219-9139
somossubmissions@gmail.com
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John Shirley |
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After graduation, went on the road with Queen, then law school, which was premature. Spent a year in Europe, then law school again - admitted to the bar in 1967.
Practiced law and some real estate development for the next 35 years.
Married my best friend, Julie, 32 years ago. Four children, Erin, Jack, Kevin and Allison, one grandchild: Jake "the snake" Savage, age 5, bats left and throws right.
Retired to Sonoma in 2004, vineyard, vintage racing and a little golf. Still into cars - Alfa Guilietta, Austin Healey and an Aston Martin - NOTHING CHANGES!!!
Contact information:
19303 Apple Valley Road
Sonoma CA 95476
707-933-9060
johnshirley193@comcast.net
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Pat Sweeney |
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1961 was a very significant year for me. Following graduation from SMC, I began my professional career with North American Aviation as a Personnel Representative in July, and in August married longtime girlfriend, Phyllis. We are looking forward to celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary with family and friends this summer.
My professional career with North American began at the Atomics International Division in Canoga Park, CA. which included several management positions in Employment, Compensation, and Labor Relations. In 1967, I was transferred to the Rockwell Corporate Offices as Director or College Relations. Shortly thereafter, North American was merged with Rockwell and became Rockwell International. As a result, in 1972, Phyllis and I and our three daughters Sharon, Colleen , and Maureen, and 200 other Corporate Offices families were relocated to the Rockwell Corporate Headquarters in Pittsburgh, PA. Our next move was to Boulder, Colorado as Director of Human Resources at the Rocky Flats Facility. We spent six years in the beautiful Rocky Mountain area taking advantage of all the wonderful activities it offered.
In 1981 I accepted the position of Vice President of Human Resources for the Rockwell Aerospace and Electronics business in Anaheim, CA. In 1996 the Rockwell Aerospace business was acquired by The Boeing Company and I was appointed Vice President of Human Resources for the Boeing Aerospace and Electronics business which meant I spent most of my time between Seattle, Washington and Orange County. During my career I served on several boards including St. Joseph’s Hospital of Orange, Goodwill Industries of California, and Boeing North American Aid.
I retired in 2001 and Phyllis and I now live in Tustin, CA. We are very fortunate that our three daughters and five grandchildren all live in the Southern California area which allows ample opportunity for birthdays, soccer, baseball, hockey, track, and all the important family/grandchildren events. Retirement has allowed us to catch up on old friendships, European travels, time on the golf course and just relaxing. Yes, life is good!!!
Contact information:
12360 Marlow Avenue
Tustin, CA 92782-1132
714-544-9426
pfsweeney3@cox.net
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Tom Uniack |
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Maecenas in ante. Mauris vel orci nec eros mattis semper. Pellentesque consectetuer vestibulum ligula. Curabitur facilisis magna sit amet dui. Donec fermentum condimentum leo. Sed porta, sapien ornare vehicula vehicula, eros urna faucibus sem, at dictum arcu nisl at nisl. Cras sit amet libero. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.
Mauris vel orci nec eros mattis semper. Pellentesque consectetuer vestibulum ligula. Curabitur facilisis magna sit amet dui. Donec fermentum condimentum leo. Sed porta, sapien ornare vehicula vehicula, eros urna faucibus sem, at dictum arcu nisl at nisl. Cras sit amet libero. Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetuer adipiscing elit. Suspendisse metus neque, semper ac, ultrices eget, fringilla quis, augue. Quisque vel risus id mi mattis vehicula. Suspendisse a lectus eget diam sollicitudin semper. Curabitur eu metus. Fusce bibendum, orci sit amet nonummy venenatis, ante enim scelerisque libero, vel eleifend dolor sem vitae neque.
Contact information:
72 Yolanda Drive
San Anselmo, CA 94960
415-454-5752, 415-986-1231
annuniack@comcast.net
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George Walker |
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In 1962 I married Gayle Chialvo. I taught school at St. Peter Martyr in Pittsburg, Murwood School in Walnut Creek, Tice Valley School in Walnut Creek, and St. Elizabeth's in Oakland. From 1963-1969 we had four children: Mike, Laurie, Jaine & Jim.
I founded Golden Gate Tours with partner Jack Dold. From 1996-2011 I became a grandfather of five. We lived in Lafayette for 7 years, then in Suisun Valley for 27 years. Here I was a weekend farmer growing pears, walnuts, kiwi and various other fruit trees.
The single most important and consequential event in my life was the gift of faith in Jesus that occurred in June of 1983. "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?" Mark 8:36.
I now live in Alamo with Gayle, am retired and enjoying gardening and working on projects in my shop.
Contact information:
35 Scripps Haven Lane
Alamo, CA 94507
925-210-1778, 925-798-3000
marmargayle@comcast.net
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Dick Woods |
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Dick Woods attended the University of Arizona Law School, graduating in 1964. I joined the Arizona Air National Guard, serving on active duty, and as a reservist as a transport navigator (Captain) until 1971.
On April Fool's Day, 1966, I joined the law firm then known as O'Connor Cavanagh, and iteration changed the name to The Cavanagh Law Firm in 1999. I practice in civil litigation, mostly on the defense.
On April 15, 1967, I married Sharon Fielder, whom I met at the University of Arizona. This was a great advantage in going to a co-ed school.
We have four children. Our daughter Lisa has a Masters in Education, and now raises four beautiful children with her husband, Spencer Kamps, a mile away. Our son Jimmy is autistic, attends a day program and lives at home. John is a former professional baseball umpire in the Minor Leagues. Doug is music and math man.
We cool off with a house in Flagstaff (7000 feet, in the forest).
For enjoyment, my shoulders have betrayed my tennis days, but Sharon gets better all the time. Mostly, I enjoy my family and extended family, which now nears 100 on both sides . . . and ballgames.
Contact information:
304 West Vista Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85021
602-943-4142, 602-322-4055
RWoods@cavanaghlaw.com
