Summer 2020: In Memoriam
Painting by Michelle Frey.
Alumni
Alfred Accurso, ’57 Business Administration, age 86, on March 13, 2019, in Concord. A native of Queens, N.Y., Accurso worked for Contra Costa County for 30 years as senior real estate agent. He was past president of the Contra Costa Cerebral Palsy Society, the We Care Center and the George Miller Center.
Gary Acquistapace, ’64 Public Administration, age 77, on Dec. 12, 2019, in Willow Glen. A U.S. Army and Vietnam War veteran, Acquistapace worked for many years as an administrative analyst for Santa Clara County. He was a member of the Cupertino Coin Club.
Roberta Dexter Anderson, ’72 Education, age 73, on Nov. 24, 2019, in Gilroy. A San José native, Anderson taught elementary school in Hollister’s North County Joint Union School District for 34 years. She was a member of California Pioneers of Santa Clara County and P.E.O. Sisterhood International.
Joyce Andrews, ’50 Occupational Therapy, age 89, on March 31, 2019, in Cupertino. A native of Salt Lake City, Utah, Andrews worked as an occupational therapist and special education teacher during her career.
Jeannette Angelides, ’51 Psychology, age 89, on Sept. 13, 2019, in San Carlos.
George Argyres, ’52 Industrial Arts, age 96, on Oct. 21, 2019. A native of Oakland and a World War II veteran, Argyres worked as a teacher, a mechanical engineer and a construction project manager during his career. For more than 20 years, he sang with the San Francisco Opera Chorus and in the 1950s was a member of the Cavaliers, a professional quintet.
Kenneth Artru, ’71 Physical Education, on June 6, 2019, in Los Altos.
Ruth Ayres, ’41 Education, age 100, on Aug. 20, 2019, in Santa Rosa.
Carmen Baker, ’78 English, on Dec. 10, 2019.
Shirley Ann Bandy, ’59 Physical Education, age 82, on Sept. 5, 2019, in Elk Grove. A native of Lenna, Okla., Bandy began her teaching career at Los Gatos High School and retired from Elk Grove’s Joseph Kerr Middle School in 1990.
Laverne Barling, ’52 Mathematics, age 89, on Nov. 1, 2019, in Santa Clara. A native of Rush Springs, Okla., Barling worked as a mathematician at Ames Research Center prior to retirement.
Diane Baumsteiger, ’59 Education, on Dec. 16, 2019. Baumsteiger taught kindergarten at Brookside Elementary School in San Anselmo for many years.
Elaine Bellville, ’73 MS Nursing, age 85, on Aug. 22, 2019, in Pleasanton. A New Jersey native, Bellville taught at West Valley College and worked at San Francisco Veterans Hospital prior to becoming the coordinator of Nursing Services at Palo Alto Veterans Hospital and Menlo Park Veterans Hospital. A pilot, she was a member of the Sheriff’s Air Squadron.
Duilio Benassi, ’63 Social Science, age 78, on Sept. 21, 2019, in San José.
Patricia Bengtson-Jones, ’83 MA Art, on June 25, 2019, in Hayward.
Edgar Berriman, ’53 Music, age 88, on March 14, 2019, in Orange. A native of Orange, Berriman was a U.S. Army and U.S. Army Reserve veteran. He worked in the Orange Unified School District for his entire career, primarily as an elementary school principal, and retired in 1990. At SJSU, he was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa.
Marie Bini, ’50 Education, age 91, on Oct. 2, 2019, in Grass Valley. A native of Carson City, Nev., Bini taught at San José’s Horace Mann Elementary School early in her career and later taught ESL courses.
Charles Blackmore, Sociology, age 86, on Nov. 1, 2019, in San José. A San José native and U.S. Navy veteran, Blackmore was an officer in the San José Police Department for 37 years. He served as a trustee on the governing board of the San José/Evergreen Community College District for 17 years.
Peter Blanco, ’81 Mechanical Engineering, on July 25, 2019, in Salinas.
Sally Blevins, ’61 Teaching Credential, age 80, on Sept. 2, 2019, in Goleta.
Jennifer Stein Boyd, ’11 MLIS, on Dec. 23, 2019, in San Francisco. A native of Milburn, N.J., Boyd taught for eight years at Hillsborough’s North School and later worked as a librarian at Commodore Sloat School in San Francisco.
Wanda Britton, ’48 Education, age 93, on Oct. 27, 2019, in Santa Rosa.
Eileen Burke, ’55 Education, on Sept. 24, 2019, in Moorpark.
Robert Burn, ’79 Materials Engineering, on Sept. 17, 2019, in Venice, Fla
Kenneth William Cannestra, ’68 MBA, age 88, on Aug. 14, 2019, in Atlanta, Ga. A U.S. Naval Reserve veteran, Cannestra was president of the Aeronautical System Group at Lockheed from 1988 to 1995, when he retired. He joined Lockheed in 1962 as a senior research engineer. He was a member of the American Defense Preparedness Association, the National Aeronautic Association, Phi Kappa Phi and Beta Gamma Sigma. From 1994 to 2001, he was a member of the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia.
George Caravalho, ’65 Sociology, age 81, on Jan. 5, in Santa Cruz. The first permanent city manager of Santa Clarita (1988 to 2002), Caravalho also held city manager posts in Bakersfield, San Clemente and Riverside. From 2005 to 2007, he was the director of Dana Point Harbor in Orange County.
Roger Carnes, ’76 Criminal Justice Administration, age 75, on Nov. 11, 2019, in Athens, Texas. A native of Grand Island, Neb., and a U.S. Air Force veteran, Carnes served as deputy sheriff in the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department for 25 years.
Donald Carpenello, ’61 Human Resources Administration, age 88, on Oct. 24, 2019, in Dublin. A native of Pittsburg, Carpenello was a U.S. Navy veteran. He retired as vice president of Human Resources at Pleasanton’s Shaklee Corporation in 1988.
William Carter, ’69 Social Work, on July 23, 2019, in Salinas.
George B. Clark, ’53, on Dec. 4, 2019, in Lincoln. Clark was a teacher and administrator for 37 years in San José, Cupertino, Watsonville, Salinas and Avenal.
Donald Comer, ’59 Electrical Engineering, age 82, on Feb. 4. A native of Tuolumne, Comer received his doctorate from Santa Clara University. He started multiple companies in California and Utah and held more than 20 U.S. patents.
Charles Conrad, ’66 Music, age 79, on Oct. 2, 2019, in Strathmore. A native of Grand Rapids, Mich., Conrad was a U.S. Army veteran. During his career, he taught music in Chico and Glendale and retired in 2005 from UCLA’s Department of Capital Programs.
Gloria Goddard Cook, ’59 Education, on Sept. 7, 2019, in Lodi. A native of Poplar Bluff, Mo., Cook taught in Campbell’s Moreland School District for 20 years. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Porterville.
Eugene Charles Coussens, ’71 MS Electrical Engineering, on July 14, 2019, in Los Altos.
Donald Daman, ’83 Mechanical Engineering, on March 19, 2019, in Hornbrook.
Gene Davis, ’64 MBA, on Aug. 22, 2019.
Robert Denninger, ’63 Sociology, age 80, on Sept. 12, 2019. A U.S. Marine Corps veteran, Denninger retired as chief deputy director of California’s Department of Corrections.
Caroline Matheny Dillman, ’74 MA Education, age 92, on Sept. 30, 2019, in Sacramento. A native of Atlanta, Ga., Dillman received her doctorate in sociology from Stanford and became an assistant professor of sociology at Agnes Scott College in Decatur, Ga. In 1983, she became director of Off-Campus Programs and Continuing Education at Reinhardt College in Waleska, Ga. An author and editor, she published articles on education, sociology and genealogy in the Christian Science Monitor and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Mary Driscoll, ’63 Education, age 78, on Nov. 17, 2019, in Corralitos. A native of Saratoga, Calif., Driscoll taught third grade at Quito Elementary School in Saratoga for several years. She was a member of the Corralitos Women’s Club and the Holy Eucharist Catholic Community Church in Watsonville.
Robert Edwards, ’69 Management, on Oct. 10, 2019.
Lita Eitner-England, ’81 Sociology, ’86 Radio/TV/Film, on Sept. 24, 2019, in Union City. Eitner-England was senior contract administrator and accounting manager at R.P. Coatings in Hayward for 21 years.
Gary Engell, ’55 Journalism, age 85, on Nov. 1, 2019, in Palo Cedro. A native of Fairfield, Engell owned and operated Crown Camera in Redding for 62 years. At SJSU, he served as editor of the Spartan Daily.
Rosalie Eskew, Business Administration, MA Speech Communications, age 80, on Oct. 26, 2019, in San José. A San José native, Eskew retired as director of admissions at San José City College. She began her 33-year career at the college as a records clerk.
Larry Falcinella, ’70 Business Administration, age 74, on Jan. 10, in Avila Beach.
Jennifer Fallis, ’91 Sociology, on Aug. 20, 2019, in Philadelphia, Pa
Thomas Field, ’75 MS Civil Engineering, age 74, on July 22, 2019, in Concord.
Florence Chew Fisher, ’51 Marketing, age 91, on Dec. 17, 2019, in Petaluma. A native of Kalamazoo, Mich., Fisher performed with the Masque Unit Theatre of Marin, served as a Marin County Juvenile Justice commissioner and was a member of Tiburon Baptist Church.
Diane Fitzgerald, ’77 Liberal Studies, on Jan. 7, in San José. A Hollywood native, Fitzgerald partnered with her husband in two Los Gatos businesses: a Baskin-Robbins ice cream store and the Los Gatos Washette. After receiving her master’s degree in special education from Santa Clara University, she worked in the Santa Clara County Office of Education and the Campbell Union School District.
Nancy Foletta, Liberal Studies, age 85, on Nov. 16, 2019, in Salinas. A native of Molalla, Ore., Foletta worked as a bookkeeper for the family business, Pettigrew & Foletta Auto Parts, for 30 years. After earning undergraduate and graduate degrees in education, she taught for 20 years in the Alisal School District in Salinas.
Charles Frank, ’79 Business Administration, age 62, on Nov. 15, 2019, in Keizer, Ore.
Janet Fulton, Social Science, age 81, on Dec. 22, 2019, in Royal Oaks. A native of Long Beach, Fulton worked at Monterey County Free Libraries for decades.
Timothy Garcia, ’71 Public Relations, age 72, on Dec. 22, 2019, in Reno, Nev. A San José native, Garcia worked as a teacher and administration in San José’s Franklin McKinley School District for 34 years. He played rugby with the San José Seahawks for 15 years and was a ranked tennis player.
Kelvin Garnett, ’86 Accounting, on Dec. 6, 2019, in Monterey. A native of Bad Kreuznach, Germany, Garnett was a resident of Seaside. During his career, he taught math at King Middle School and worked as a counselor in a boys’ group home in Seaside. He was also a member of the West Valley Basketball Club’s coaching team.
Robert George, ’17 Special Major, in November 2019, in Salem, Ore.
Art Gould, ’69 Management, on Nov. 1, 2019, in Placentia.
Charles Gould, ’65 Advertising, age 77, on Oct. 31, 2019, in San Anselmo. A Los Angeles native and veteran of the U.S. Army National Guard, Gould was president and owner of Deutsch, Shea and Evans, an advertising agency.
Dawn Green, ’63 Education, age 89, on Jan. 7, in Tucson, Ariz. A native of Cortland, N.Y., Green taught elementary school in the San José Unified School district and was honored by the Outstanding Elementary Teachers of America program in 1975. She retired in 1990.
Lillian Gularte, ’52 Business/Home Economics, age 87, on Sept. 11, 2019, in Gonzales.
Arthur Gunter, ’51, age 83, on Nov. 30, 2019, in Morgan Hill. A San Luis Obispo native, Gunter taught industrial arts at Branham and Leigh High Schools in San José for 33 years.
Ronald Hamilton, ’76 Accounting, on Dec. 23, 2019, in Danville.
Wanda Hamilton, ’80 English, on Oct. 28, 2019, in Danville, Ky.
Susan Jane Harris, ’63 Occupational Therapy, age 72, on Jan. 20, in San Diego. A native of Los Angeles, Harris founded Therapy Specialists in 1976. She was the recipient of a Distinguished Alumna Award from SJSU, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Occupational Therapy Association of California and an Entrepreneur of the Year Award from Inc. Magazine.
James Bernard Heiner, ’73 MA Music, age 76, on Dec. 25, 2019, in Livermore. A native of Vallejo, Heiner taught music at Livermore High School for 13 years and, for another 30 years, taught at Chabot College and Las Positas College. With his choirs, he toured Italy and the Czech Republic. He also performed with the local jazz groups In Cinq and Jazz Infinitum.
Donald Helten, ’79 Behavioral Science, age 71, on Sept. 25, 2019, in San José. A Chicago, Ill., native, Helten was a U.S. Air Force veteran and member of St. Victor’s Parish in San José.
Richard Dinh Ho, Business Management, age 49, on Oct. 21, 2019, in Sunnyvale. A native of Vietnam, Ho worked as a technical recruiter.
Lynne Hosack, ’77 Management, age 65, on Sept. 29, 2019, in San Francisco. A native of Queens, N.Y. and 30-year resident of Sunnyvale, Hosack worked in finance and accounting. She founded LFH Bookkeeping in 1979 and retired in 2011.
Judith Howell, ’87 MS Recreation, age 78, on Dec. 17, 2019, in Santa Rosa. A native of Cleveland, Ohio, Howell was past president of the California Association of Park and Recreation Commissioners. With her husband, she owned and operated Mud in Your Eye Pottery in Los Gatos and later worked as a social worker for the city of Sunnyvale.
Bradford Howland, ’79 Industrial Design, age 73, on Jan. 3, 2019, in San Anselmo.
Sue Ann Howland, ’64 Business Administration, age 77, on Dec. 18, 2019, in Los Gatos. Howland worked in Stanford University’s Department of Student Housing for many years.
Ann Jefferson, ’67 English, on Feb. 12, 2019.
Wallace Jensen, ’55 Business Administration, on Feb. 26, 2019, in Costa Mesa.
Barbara N. Johnson, ’57 Management, on Aug. 12, 2019, in Santa Clara.
Orville Johnson Jr., ’52 Education, age 91, on July 30, 2019, in Castro Valley. A native of Omaha, Neb., Johnson was a U.S. Navy and World War II veteran. He retired as a principal in the Newark (Calif.) Unified School District.
Richard Johnson, ’72 Biological Science, on Sept. 13, 2019.
Burton Jones, ’69 Aviation, on Aug. 24, 2019, in Fishers, Ind.
Terence Kane, ’66 Business, age 76, on July 26, 2019, in Santa Cruz. A Kansas City, Mo., native, Kane was a member of Theta Chi fraternity at SJSU. He worked for more than 30 years in San Mateo County’s Department of Probation and retired in 2001. An active member of the Coyote Point Yacht Club, he sailed from Puerto Vallarta to Tahiti on a three-month adventure in 2007 and also enjoyed skydiving.
Harriet Kasson, ’54 Art, age 87, on Sept. 21, 2019, in San Rafael. A native of Turlock, Kasson began her career as an interior designer in San Francisco. A watercolorist, she was a member of the Marin Society of Artists and the Marin County Watercolor Society.
Sharon Hybki Kerr, ’91 MLIS, age 62, on July 4, 2019, in Saddlebrooke, Ariz. A native of Bedford, England, Kerr was an acquisitions librarian at the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
Timothy Kirkpatrick, ’68 Biological Science, on Nov. 28, 2019.
Patricia Kogura, ’80 Education, on Nov. 4, 2019. Kogura was a special needs educator for 38 years. She taught for 32 years in the East Side Union High School District, first at Silver Creek High School and later at Santa Teresa High School
Ellen Spofford Kovacevich, ’74 Occupational Therapy, on Oct. 22, 2019, in Mission Viejo.
Florence Kugelman, ’46 Home Economics, age 95, on Jan. 24, in Marysville. A native of Chico, Kugelman taught home economics at Marysville High School for 22 years. She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church and the Catholic Ladies Relief Society.
Mary Lachapelle, ’68 Philosophy, on July 3, 2019, in Cotati.
Robert Landreth, ’56 MA Physical Education, age 93, on Oct., 19, 2019, in Marblehead, Mass. A native of Modesto, Landreth was a U.S. Navy and World War II veteran. He began his career in education teaching gym in Ceres and retired as assistant principal of San José’s Del Mar High School in 1987. A longtime Episcopalian, he was ordained to the priesthood in 1981. In Marblehead, he filled in as supply clergy at churches throughout the North Shore.
Patrick Ludden, ’97 BFA Photography, age 54, on Oct. 30, 2019. A native of Honolulu, Ludden worked as a property master on the films Rent and Milk while based in Oakland. In 2017, he relocated to Memphis, Tenn., and worked as a multimedia designer for FedEx.
Patricia Madsen, ’72 Physical Education, age 73, on Oct. 19, 2019, in San José.
Michelle Manick, ’94 Computer Engineering, on Oct. 1, 2019.
Oliver Marr, ’84 Political Science, age 58, on Dec. 9, 2019, in Houston, Texas. A native of Santa Barbara, Marr taught history and government classes for 30 years at San José’s Silver Creek High School.
James Mart, ’61 Political Science, age 80, on Dec. 14, 2019, in Davis. An Oakland native, Mart worked as a litigator for more than 40 years. He graduated as valedictorian of his Hastings Law School class in 1965.
Robert Maxey, ’56 Recreation and Parks Management, age 89, on April 9, 2019, in Salem, Ore. A South Dakota native, Maxey was a U.S. Navy and Korean War veteran. He started his civilian career as a recreation supervisor, based in South San Francisco, and served as parks and recreation director for the cities of Salem and Marion, as well as Polk County, Ore., before his retirement.
R.L. McCormick, ’58 Social Science, on Aug. 24, 2019, in Fairfield.
Dorothy McLean, ’48 Occupational Therapy, on Jan. 20, 2019, in Mission Viejo.
Frederick Linder Miles III, ’79 MS Civil Engineering, age 72, on Sept. 10, 2019, in Scotts Valley. An Oakland native, Miles owned FLM Structural Engineering in Scotts Valley and served as director of the Scotts Valley Water District from 1983-1987. A member and past president of the Scotts Valley Rotary Club, he was also an active member of the Santa Cruz Astronomy Club.
John Moglia, ’64 Physical Education, age 80, on Oct. 14, 2019, in Hamilton, Mont. Moglia taught for 17 years in the Fremont and San Mateo County School Districts.
Elizabeth J. Moore, ’81 Accounting, on July 4, 2019.
Mary Lou Morrow, Art, on Dec. 9, 2019.
Patricia Mae Newton, ’50, age 91, on Nov. 25, 2019, in Richmond, Calif.
Phillip Norton, ’71 Criminal Justice Administration, on April 22, 2019, in Rocklin.
Robert Nosler, ’67 Political Science, on Nov. 23, 2019, in Sacramento.
Hebard Olsen, ’71 MA Physical Science, age 82, on Dec. 28, 2019, in Monterey. A Berkeley native, Olsen taught science at Seaside High School for 26 years. A volunteer videographer, he was honored by the NAACP in 2009 and by the ACLU in 2017 for strengthening First Amendment rights by giving voice to the diverse communities of Monterey County. An anti-war activist, he was also a member of the Sierra Club.
Grant Packard, ’58 Aviation, age 91, on Dec. 12, 2019. A native of Phoenix, Ariz., Packard taught in the San Luis Coastal Unified School District for 30 years. A member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he served as a missionary in New Zealand, the Congo, Madagascar and the Caribbean.
Kathleen Palange, ’79 Nursing, age 68, on Sept. 30, 2019, in Redwood City. A native of Pittsburg, Pa., Palange worked in nursing and hospital administration during her 40-year career, serving as director of nursing at San Mateo County General Hospital and chief administrative officer at Menlo Park Surgical Hospital. She retired in 2016.
Eve Hill Pecchenino, ’66 MA Education, age 95, on Aug. 23, 2019, in Stockton. A native of Sacramento, Pecchenino retired as assistant superintendent of Education Programs, Santa Cruz County Office of Education, in 1982.
Jack Pedretti, ’57 Business Administration, on Feb. 10, 2019, in Burbank.
Christine Pettus, ’76 Criminal Justice Administration, on Nov. 22, 2019.
Myrtle “Mopsy” Phillips, ’56 Occupational Therapy, on Oct. 30, 2019, in Heathsville, Va.
Yolanda Piziali, ’42 Education, on Jan. 1, 2019, in Santa Barbara.
Jack Pope, ’64 Electrical Engineering, age 88, on Sept. 20, 1919, in Murrieta. Pope was a U.S. Navy and Korean War veteran.
Dorothy Pries, ’54 Journalism, on Jan. 4, 2019, in San José.
George Prussia, ’54 Business Administration, age 88, on Dec. 28, 2019, in Santa Rosa. A San José native and U.S. Air Force veteran, Prussia retired from the military in 1965 at the rank of captain. As a civilian, he worked at International Paper Company in Fremont, retiring in 1995.
Arnold Raaymakers, ’55 Engineering, age 89, on Dec. 2, 2019, in San José. A native of Lynden, Wash., Raaymakers was a U.S. Army veteran. As a civilian, he worked as a survey party chief at Caltrans from 1957 until his 1991 retirement.
Raymond Rawcliffe Jr., ’87 MBA, age 63, on Dec. 24, 2019, in Redwood City. A native of Quincy, Mass., Rawcliffe worked for Pacific Gas and Electric and was a Boy Scouts of America volunteer.
Marian Rector, ’59 Education, age 82, on Oct. 2, 2019, in Corralitos. A native of Fresno, Rector retired in 2004 from Mintie White School in Watsonville, where she taught second grade and third grade.
Linda Redington, ’85 Religious Studies, age 59, on Dec. 24, 2019, in Redwood City. A Redwood City native, Redington was a member of First United Methodist Church, where she sang in the Chancel Choir. She was also a life member of Phi Kappa Phi.
Robert Rienhart, ’64 Mathematics, age 86, on Aug. 26, 2019, in San José. A native of Stockton, Rienhart was a U.S. Navy and Korean War veteran. During his 32-year career in the Campbell Union School District, he was a counselor at Westmont High School and Blackford High School, retiring in 1990. He was a member of the U.S. Naval Cryptologic Veterans Association and sat on the board of directors of Eastfield Children’s Center.
Walter Robinson, ’66 MA Theatre Arts, on Dec. 10, 2019, in San José.
Jack Ruis, ’54 Recreation, on Nov. 2, 2019, in Fallbrook.
Jolene “Jody” Ruso, ’53 Finance, age 87, on Nov. 3, 2019, in Watsonville. At SJSU, Ruso was a member of Alpha Phi sorority.
Melanie Sattui, ’78 Speech Pathology, age 64, on Jan. 10, in Menlo Park.
David Sawyer, ’54 MA Psychology, age 91, on Jan. 10, in Palm Springs. A native of Wilmington, N.C., Sawyer was a U.S. Army veteran. As a civilian, he worked as staff psychologist for the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District and later taught at Monterey Peninsula College.
Dillard “Lee” Saylors, ’64 MS Electrical Engineering, age 88, on Nov. 19, 2019, in Huntsville, Ala. A Chicago, Ill., native, Saylors was a U.S. Marine Corps and Korean War veteran. As a civilian, he helped redesign the solid rocket booster following the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986. He developed Coffee Call, a support group for veterans of any branch of military service, and served as commandant of the North Alabama chapter of the Marine Corps League for several years.
Walker Scanlan, ’54 Industrial Arts, age 89, on Aug. 17, 2019. A Berkeley native, Scanlan taught auto shop at George Washington High School in San Francisco for 38 years.
Genore Schaaf, ’51 Education, age 93, on Dec. 3, 2019, in Fremont. A native of Harmony, Minn., Schaaf was an elementary school teacher in the Fremont Unified School District for 24 years.
David Schmid, ’91 MS Electrical Engineering, on Dec. 24, 2019, in San José.
William Schrader, ’76 Physical Science, on Feb. 5, 2019, in Salem, Ore.
Helsa Servis, ’65, on Dec. 13, 2019, in San José. A native of Albuquerque, N.M., Servis worked at IBM, SRI, Friden, Raychem and Lockheed during her career.
Jean Severson, ’54 Elementary Education, age 87, on August 25, 2019.
Robert Shellenberger, ’52 Social Science, on Oct. 26, 2019.
Kathleen Simcox, ’13 MS Occupational Therapy, on Oct. 3, 2019, in Madison, Wis.
Robert Snyder, ’57 Human Resources Administration, age 86, on Sept. 27, 2019, in Redding. A Rockville, Ill., native and U.S. Air Force veteran, Snyder retired in 1994 as vice president of Kaiser Materials.
Marie Somky, ’48 Journalism, on Aug. 6, 2019, in Napa.
Waldemar Spitzer, ’49 Industrial Arts, age 96, on Sept. 16, 2019. A native of Kenosha, Wis., Spitzer was a U.S. Army and World War II veteran. As a civilian, he worked as an engineer in the defense industry.
William Staffelbach, ’69 Business Administration, age 77, on Sept. 24, 2019, in Kelseyville. A native of San José, Staffelbach worked as a teacher, mechanic and truck driver during his career. He was a member of the Model A Club.
Calvin Stafford Jr., ’58 Aeronautics, age 87, on Jan. 2, in Los Gatos. A native of Handsboro, Miss., Stafford was a U.S. Navy veteran. As a civilian, he worked for Pan American Airways, General Dynamics Astronautics and Lockheed Missiles and Space Company.
Adeline Stennick, ’48 Child Development, age 94, on Dec. 23, 2019, in Lodi. Stennick taught first grade for 35 years at schools in Salinas Valley, Hermosa Beach and Lodi.
Dennis Stewart, ’73 Criminal Justice Administration, on Nov. 11, 2019, in South Lake Tahoe.
Bonnie Myers Stinson, ’50 Home Economics, age 90, on Jan. 31. Stinson was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Turlock and California Women in Agriculture.
Lula Myer Straight, ’57 Education, age 101, on Jan. 10, in Sebastopol. During her 30-year career in education, Straight taught first grade at Pinecrest Elementary School and Parkside Elementary School in Sebastopol.
Christopher Sugimoto, ’08 Criminal Justice Administration, age 38, on Sept. 11, 2019, in Hilo, Hawaii. A native of Hayward, Sugimoto served as an officer in the Hawaii Police Department for 5 years.
Marie Sweet, ’73 Communication Studies, on Nov. 4, 2019, in Seaside.
Dale Taketa, ’73 Political Science, age 68, on Jan. 7, in Aptos.
Charles Taylor, ’57 Criminal Justice Administration, on Dec. 28, 2019, in Eureka.
Louie Tersini, ’54 Accounting, on May 22, 2019, in Los Gatos. A native of Detroit, Mich., Tersini was a Silicon Valley builder and real estate developer.
Caroline Thompson, ’78 MPA, on Oct. 4, 2019, in Jemez Pueblo, N.M.
Irene Thurston, ’76 Music, on Dec. 21, 2019, in Petaluma.
James Ticehurst, ’74 Accounting, age 75, on Jan. 24, in Fremont. A native of Santa Cruz, Ticehurst retired as CFO of Sunnyvale’s Verity, Inc.
Marjorie Mauk Twohy, ’70 MA International Relations, age 86, on Oct. 14, 2019, in Salida. Twohy worked as a technical editor at Sun Micro Systems until her retirement. She was a member of Pen Women of Stanislaus and Catholic Daughters.
Gregory Vistica, ’48 Business Administration, age 94, on Dec. 16, 2019, in Los Altos Hills. A native of Stockton, Vistica was a U.S. Army Air Corps and World War II veteran. As a civilian, he worked as a contractor and real estate broker and served as the first president of the Sunnyvale Board of Realtors. He was a member of the Sierra Club, the Naval Order and the Navy League of the U.S.
Jeanne Walker, ’41 Education, on Jan. 6.
David Wattell, ’74 Management, age 74, on Dec. 14, 2019, in Santa Rosa. A U.S. Navy and Vietnam War veteran, Wattell worked in the banking industry for more than 30 years as a civilian. A member of the Rotary Club of Santa Rosa West, he sang baritone in the Sonoma Bach Choir.
Diana K. Watts, ’79 Accounting, on July 22, 2019.
Dorothy Weber, ’80 Interior Design, age 83, on Oct. 5, 2019, in Sunnyvale. Weber was a native of McKeesport, Pa.
Denny Weisgerber, ’54 Physical Education, age 89, on Dec. 4, 2019, in Milpitas. A native of Bend, Ore., Weisgerber was a U.S. Marine Corps and Korean War veteran, receiving the Navy Cross for valor in combat. Throughout his life, he served as peer counselor for amputees and PTSD patients and was recognized for his service in 2012 with an honorary promotion to the rank of gunnery sergeant. As a civilian, he worked as an agent and manager at State Farm and was a member of Rotary International for 55 years.
Milton Winters, ’58 Business Administration, age 86, on Sept. 17, 2019, in Beavercreek, Ohio. A native of Charlotte, Texas, Winters was a U.S. Army and Korean War veteran. He worked for 50 years at Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio as a manager and systems analyst.
John Wirth, ’72 History, on April 16, 2019, in Concord.
Richard Wright, ’61 Business Administration, age 82, on Aug. 31, 2019. A Whittier native, Wright began his career in the grocery industry in high school as a clerk for Mayfair Markets. He founded Wright’s Thriftway in Oregon in 1979, now Market of Choice, which became the largest family-owned grocery chain in the state. During his career, he served as a board member of both United Grocers, Inc. and its successor, Unified Western Grocers, Inc.
Gary L. Young, ’65 Human Resources Administration, in November 2019.
Faculty
Roger Alperin, age 72, on Nov. 21, 2019, in Carlsbad. A native of Cambridge, Mass., Alperin received his doctorate in mathematics from Rice University in 1973. He taught at Brown University, Haverford University, Washington University and the University of Oklahoma before joining SJSU’s Department of Mathematics in 1987. He served as department chair from 2002 to 2004 and retired as full professor in 2014. He published extensively in the fields of group theory, algebra and number theory.
Hector Cordova, age 80, on Nov. 12, 2019, in Berkeley. A native of Merced, Cordova received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in history from SJSU and his doctorate from UC Berkeley. His career as an educator began as a teacher at San José High School. At SJSU, he was instrumental in establishing the Mexican American Graduate Studies Program (currently Chicana and Chicano Studies) and served as department chair. After leaving SJSU, he was an administrator in several Bay Area community colleges and retired as San José City College’s interim president.
Cobie Harris, age 66, on Sept. 27, 2019, in Oakland. Harris was a professor in SJSU’s Department of Political Science and African American Studies Program.
Kenneth Kramer, age 78, on Nov. 24, 2019, in Santa Cruz. A native of Philadelphia, Pa., Kramer received his undergraduate degree in English from Temple University in 1959, his master’s degree in sacred theology from Yale in 1963 and a doctorate in religious studies, also from Temple University, in 1968. He was a member of SJSU’s Department of Religious Studies for 25 years, retiring as full professor in 2002. A Martin Buber scholar, he published multiple books on Buber’s texts and spiritual practices.
Patrick Pizzo, age 75, on Jan. 2, in San José. A San José native, Pizzo received his undergraduate degree in materials engineering from SJSU and his master’s degree and doctorate from Stanford. A member of SJSU’s Department of Materials Engineering for 20 years, he also served as department chair. He retired as a full professor.
Joy Combs Spence, on Nov. 22, 2019, in Campbell. A San José native, Spence received both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from SJSU. Before joining SJSU’s faculty, she taught home economics at West Valley College and Ohlone College and was the creator of the popular History of Fashion class. She was a life member of Eastern Star and the Santa Clara chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
