ClassNotes

John Myron Hayes '39 passed peacefully in Aliso Viejo, California on May 27, 2009 at the age of 91. Known as Jack to family and friends, he is survived by his wife of 25 years, Charlotte. He was devoted to his children John Gardner, Kathleen Marie and Sarah Irene and to his stepchildren Andrea, John and William; proud grandfather to Alexa, Jordan, Jacqueline and Caitlin; delighted great-grandfather to Hayes Elizabeth. Mr. Hayes, a native Californian, graduated from Santa Clara University in 1939 with a degree in Business Administration. He began his career with Newhouse & Sayre, a division of the legendary Lloyds of London. After returning to the United States, he continued his representation for Lloyds and subsequently partnered the firm of Haidinger and Hayes. As an innovator and pioneer in the field of insurance and underwriting, he was known for his creativity and industry accomplishments. He ended his career as the Chairman and CEO of Transport Underwriters Association, Transport Indemnity Co. and Associated International Inc. In 1983, he was honored by the The City of Hope Hospital and Medical Center, The Insurance Council of California and the American Trucking Association for his lifetime of achievement.
 

Lt. Col. Joachim (Joe) J. Speciale '39 died on May 4, 2011 in San Jose after a brief illness. Joe was the husband of the late Shiela Ann Speciale and leaves his four children, Anita Speciale D'Alessio (Joseph), Stephen Speciale, Marina Darrin (David), and Joachim (Joey) Speciale: his sister, Rosalie Speciale; his grandchildren, Andrew Darrin, Katie Darrin, and Ynes Speciale-Pauli and David Pauli of Limburg, Belgium; and also his great granddaughter, Romie Sophia. Joe was a member of the Amici D'Oro Italian-American Club; Santa Clara University Alumni; Native Sons of the Golden West Parlor 22; the Santa Clara "39-ers" and St. Christopher's Parish in San Jose.  Born in San Jose's old O'Connor Hospital in 1918 to Anita and Orvis Speciale, Joe graduated from Bellarmine College Preparatory and received his baccalaureate degree in 1939 from Santa Clara University. He was the youngest man to become an ROTC officer at Santa Clara at that time. Upon graduation he was commissioned in the US Army as an artillery officer and stationed at the Presidio of San Francisco and Ft. Ord before World War II, then later assigned to the "Pineapple Pentagon" in Honolulu after the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor. During Joe's career of 20 years in the US 6th Army, he and his family lived in Washington D.C., Germany, San Francisco, and Virginia. He also worked in the National War College and the Pentagon in Logistics with the US Army Quartermaster division on major projects in the 1950's to maintain a well-prepared military. One of his later assignments was to nuclear guided missile project development, the intent of which was to deter a possible WW3 based on the experiences of 1941. Meantime, Joe completed his law degree while serving in the Army, and after retiring from active duty in 1962 as a Lt. Colonel, he returned home to San Jose. He worked for the County of Santa Clara for many years, retiring as Clerk of the Court of Santa Clara County. After retirement, he helped launch and support the Casa Italiana community at Santa Clara University. Joe met his beloved Shiela in Honolulu in 1946, while she was working for the Department of the Army there. (In fact he was the choir director at the base chapel at Sand Island when she showed up one night for practice.) They shared a life-long love of Hawaii to which they traveled several times during their sixty years together.

Felicia Barbaccia, a resident of Willow Glen, passed away peacefully Sunday, April 29. She was predeceased by her loving husband Joseph Barbaccia '39, daughter Joelle, and sisters Helen Vallindras and Patricia McNally. She is survived by her daughters Felicia La Rose (husband Thomas L. La Rose '69, MBA '75) and Phyllis (Ken) Shapero, grandchildren Matt (Karolen) La Rose, Joelle (Dave) Rudder, Megan La Rose, Joe Shapero and Sara Shapero and great-grandchildren Alora, Liam, Ty and Lauren and many loving friends. Felicia was an active member of the St. Christopher's Ladies Guild, O'Connor Hospital Guild, the University of Santa Clara 39ers, and the Valle Monte League.

Arthur Eugene Ginocchio ’39 died July 7, 2011 at the age of 94. Born May 9, 1917 to Arthur and Flora Ginocchio in San Francisco. Attended St. Brigid's Grammar School, St. Ignatius High School and Santa Clara University where he received his Bachelors degree in Finance. Arthur spent over 3 years as a 1st Lt. in World War II with Patton's 3rd Army. He received an Honorable discharge in August of 1945. He married Gloria Zietich in 1947. Art worked along side his Father-in-law, Antone Zietich, at Tony's Quality Market for 25 years. Arthur and Gloria had four children, Terry, Gary, Jackie and Richard. Arthur was affectionately known as OPA or "The OPSTER" to his 9 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. Arthur was a hard worker, great patriot, and tremendous Dad. His compassion, spirituality, clever humor and spontaneous wit set him apart as a special person who was loved by all who knew him. He shall be dearly missed by his friends and most of all by his loving family.

William Thomas Box '40 passed away quietly on September 20, 2009. He was 91 years old. Bill was born July 18, 1918 in Los Angeles and attended Loyola High School and graduated from Santa Clara University with a degree in mechanical engineering in 1940. He married Mary Josephine Becka in 1941 in Hollywood, Calif., and had six children (Tom, John, Margaret, Paul, Steve and Jean). Mary Jo died in 1956. Bill married a widow and friend, Patricia Ryan Baxter, in 1958 and raised her three children (Tony, Robin and Mike Baxter). His son John died in Vietnam in 1969 and is remembered through a University of Santa Clara scholarship fund. Bill served in the Marine Corps from 1940-46 and, after completing officer training at Quantico, fought in Guadalcanal, New Georgia and Okinawa. His units received five battle stars and two Presidential Citations. At the end of the war, he retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. Like so many of his generation, he did not like to talk about his experiences in the war. Bill said that the most terrifying time of his life was the invasion of Okinawa. In a recent book by members of his unit detailing their exploits in the South Pacific, he was referred to by the other soldiers as "Sweet William or Wild Bill" depending on his demeanor at the time. Returning to civilian life he worked, as did his father and grandfather, in the oil business in Los Angeles. Bill participated with the DuPont Company in the innovative implementation of the bazooka in perforating oil wells; the basic process is still in use today. He told harrowing stories of testing these explosives in remote oil fields in the Rocky Mountains. Later through hard work, perseverance and intelligent decisions, he became operating manager of BJ Services, an oil service company, and finally the Chairman of the Board of Trico Industries. One of his proudest moments was when he took the company public on the New York Stock Exchange in 1978. He retired in 1984. Supporting and raising a family of nine kids was no easy job for Bill or Pat but somehow with the right amount of structure, discipline and love, they were successful in raising self-reliant children who have stayed close. One of Bill's most important goals during the last 15 years of his life was to maintain family unity through biennial family reunions. While the reunions will continue, we will miss him greatly. He was always active in his church, St. John Fisher, in Rancho Palos Verdes. He became a Eucharistic Minister and always an active participant in the Seekers and other Catholic groups. Bill, before and after his wife Pat's passing in 2003, traveled widely, seeing new places, old friends and his many children and grandchildren. He loved to attend his Marine Corps, Loyola High School and Santa Clara University annual reunions. Bill loved business. After retiring he took great pride in his business rentals and managing his stock portfolio. In 2006 he moved to Idaho to be near his daughter and son. Later he moved nearby to Washington where he lived in an independent retirement community and later to the Spokane Veterans Home ,where he passed away. He tirelessly professed the values of hard work and education. He demanded the best of those around him, had a heart of gold and was a true gentleman. He was loving, kind, generous, intelligent, and supportive of his grandchildren. He was a great husband, father, grandpa and friend to many, and we will miss him dearly. He is survived by his eight loving children, and his eleven grandchildren (Carolynn Box, Buck Palmer, Heather Box, Jess Box, Martin Box, John Box, Devin Baxter, Nikki Van Vlymen, Elly Berstein, Sam Box and David Berstein) and numerous nieces and nephews who all looked up to and loved grandpa.

Robert Joseph O'Connor '40 — Born March 7, 1919, was a native of San Francisco, but resided in Palo Alto. He married Rita Mary O'Grady in August of 1942, before leaving for 2 1/2 years to serve as a Captain in the Army Air Corps in Africa and Italy during WWII. He worked all his life as a chemist. Robert and Rita raised 6 children before opening their home to more than 200 long term patients from Stanford Hospital and the VA hospital. Robert loved music and played the piano, saxophone, and clarinet. One of his greatest passions was the music of the big band era, which he shared with everyone around him. His greatest passion in life was his wife Rita and his children. He will be remembered for his wit, generosity and kindness. He is survived by his wife Rita of 69 years, 5 daughters, O'Malley, JoJo O'Connor '69, Christine, Patty, Kellie, and son, Rob. He is also survived by 13 grandchildren Lt. Scott Stafford '00 and 3 great grandchildren.

Edward D. S. Sullivan '40 passed away at home on January 12, 2010. Born on February 24, 1918, he was a native of Virginia City, Nev. Edward served in the Army Air Force starting just before World War II. He saw action in Africa, Sicily, Greece, and Rome where, as Colonel Sullivan, he was appointed liaison to the Vatican. Upon retiring from the Air Force, he prepared to become a college educator by attending Oxford University and the University of California at Santa Barbara (M.A. and Ph.D). He retired as Emeritus Professor of English Literature at San Diego State University in 1983. Sullivan then volunteered to teach English for two years in China at Wuhan University, where he was a principal founder of the Wuhan Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to the financial assistance of Chinese students seeking education in America. These endeavors led to Sullivan's long and deep friendships with many Chinese students who traveled from afar to visit him on birthdays and holidays. Edward is survived by his cousins in the Reno, Nev., area and will always be remembered by his many colleagues and friends, who will miss him greatly.

Andre T. 'Andy' 'Bogie' Bogart '40 on May 3, 2009 in Napa, Calif. Andy was born on November 30, 1916, in San Francisco and moved to Saratoga, Calif., at age 13. He was a longtime member of the Saratoga Volunteer Fire Department, fighting his first fire at age 17 and later retiring as captain after decades of service. During World War II, Andy served in the United States Army Air Corps, meeting Betty while stationed in Virginia. Andy and Betty were married on November 20, 1945 in Ft. Worth, Texas. Andy and Betty returned to Saratoga where Andy began work at the NASA Ames Research Center at Moffett Field. After retirement, he coordinated the work study program at the Foothill Junior College District and enjoyed fishing, golfing, traveling with the trailer group, and woodworking, all while rebuilding an unknown number of Volkswagen engines.

 John A. “Jack” Petrich '41, a Tacoma native and World War II veteran who served Washington as a state legislator and Court of Appeals judge, passed away January 7, 2010 at the age of 90.  Petrich also served as a Pierce County deputy prosecutor and was Western Washington coordinator for John F. Kennedy’s 1960 presidential campaign.  Son Peter Petrich said his father loved politics but respected people with other political, social and religious beliefs.  “As a result, he himself commanded respect,” Petrich said.  Petrich said his father “passed away peacefully” at Tacoma General Hospital.  Jack Petrich was born in 1919 in Tacoma, a member of the pioneering Petrich shipbuilding family. He graduated from Bellarmine High School and in 1941 from Santa Clara University. Upon graduating from college, he entered the U.S. Navy’s Officers School at Columbia University. He ended his naval career in 1946 as commander of a mine sweeper in the South Pacific.  Peter Petrich said his father was stationed in Japan after the war and admired the country’s shipbuilding prowess.  “He respected them for their ability, even though he just concluded four years fighting them,” he said.  After the war he attended Georgetown Law School, graduating in 1949. He joined the Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office and was later named chief criminal deputy.  In 1954 he launched a private practice with partner John Binns.  A Democrat, Petrich served in the Legislature from 1956-66, first in the House and later the Senate, representing the 26th District in Pierce County. He served as Kennedy’s regional campaign coordinator in 1960 and was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention.  In 1980 then-Gov. Dixy Lee Ray appointed him as a judge on the state Court of Appeals, Division II. He served in that position until his retirement at age 73 in 1993.  In 1947 he married Margaret Horan, and the couple raised six children. She died in 1967.  Petrich married Ann-Louise Griewe Soper in 1971. After his retirement, Petrich tended to business interests and focused on his family, his son said. He often held court at his Fox Island summer home.  Petrich was a lifelong member of St. Patrick Catholic Church in Tacoma and served on numerous boards, commissions and advisory groups over the years.

James Bowen Wilcox ’41, March 13, 1920, to November 19, 2012.

Harry G. "Paw-Paw" Sanders '41 went Home to be with the Lord June 3, 2010 after a brief battle with cancer. He served honorably in the United States Air Force for 30 years and retired a Colonel. Harry is survived by his wife, Thelma J. Sanders, to whom he was married for 68 years; children Steve Sanders and wife Miriam of Carbondale, Illinois, Russell Sanders, Kathy Hodgin Kennedy and husband Mike, and Susy Marr; grandchildren Charles Sanders and wife Shea, Adrianne Hodgin, Marissa Infante and husband Rodney, Rusty Sanders, and Rachael Bingham and husband Chris; great-grandchildren Caitlyn, Madison, and Dominic Sanders, and Jacob Infante. 

Robert McDonald, Nov. 15, 2008. A native of Reno, he attended SCU until he joined the Army Air Corps in 1941 as a second lieutenant. He was a member of the 54th Fighter Squadron that was sent to the Aleutian Islands in June of 1942, two days after Dutch Harbor was attacked by the Japanese. He flew a P-38 over Kiska on many missions, wrecking a couple of planes before he shot down a Zero in October 1942. As a major, he became a squadron commander in the 46th Squadron, where he flew P-51s off Iwo Jima. After World War II, he attended the University of Nevada, then the University of San Francisco Law School. He graduated in 1949, and became a member of the Nevada Bar Association that same year. He began his legal career as a deputy attorney general and later became a deputy U.S. attorney. In 1952, he entered private practice in Reno with Alan Bible, who became a U.S. senator in 1954. They remained partners until the U.S. Senate adopted rules prohibiting lawyer members from maintaining private law practices. He later formed McDonald Carano Wilson LLP and founded several of Northern Nevada's most successful gaming companies and was a principal in the development of Incline Village. He was also a board member of Valley Bank of Nevada, an original partner of Boomtown and at the time of his death, part owner of Bonanza Casino. He was active in the Democratic National Committee and in his community, starting the Junior Ski Program, establishing a Pop Warner football program, as well as the Northern Nevada chapter of the National Association of Christians and Jews. He is survived by three children and 10 grandchildren.

Col. Raymond K. Lutz. Col. (USAF Ret.) '42  passed away on Nov. 9, 2009 at home.  He was 89 years old.

Martin Thomas "Marty" Fredericks '42, born May 12, 1921, in Petaluma, died suddenly of heart failure in Sonoma, his home of many years, on Father's Day, June 20, 2010, at the age of 89. The son of Martin T. Fredericks Sr. and Mary Cline Fredericks, his family has lived in Sonoma County since after the Civil War. After attending St. Vincent's grammar and high schools in Petaluma, he was educated by the Jesuits at Santa Clara University. He served in the United States Navy from 1942-46 in the Aleutians and the South Pacific. He was the Naval Attache to the United States delegation at the creation of the United Nations in San Francisco in 1946. He worked in the agricultural division of Pfizer Inc. for 32 years in San Francisco, Tokyo, New York and Sonoma. As a young man, he remembers driving on a dirt road between Petaluma and Sonoma to visit his uncle, Dr. Fred Butler, superintendent of Sonoma Developmental Center; and his cousin Peggy Butler McAleese. Marty and Mary were well-traveled, having visited every continent except Antarctica. Notable quote: "The smartest thing I ever did was marry that woman." Martin is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Mary O'Brien Fredericks, of Sonoma; he is also survived by his children, Marty, Jim, Tom, and Bill Fredericks and Ann Fredericks Jauco.

John F. "Lefty" Collins ’42, a resident of Pleasant Hill, passed away peacefully at his home in Pleasant Hill on January 28, 2013 at the age of 92 with his loving family at his side. John, a lifetime Bay Area resident, was born in San Francisco to Francis and Alice Collins on May 14, 1920 and attended St. Ignatius High School in San Francisco, followed by Santa Clara University on an athletic scholarship for baseball. He spent his youth playing baseball and was named the high school All City Pitcher for San Francisco in 1938. John, an avid golfer, served many years as the Treasurer for the Concord Men's Golf Club. He enjoyed creating and caring for his garden, a park like refuge for wildlife. John married Suzanne Channell at Camp Barkeley, Texas, in 1943. He joined the Bank of America in 1943 and soon after moved to Pleasant Hill in 1949. John retired from the Bank in 1984. He was part of the Greatest Generation as a member of the United States Army serving in France during WWII. John was predeceased in 2003 by his wife Suzanne. He is survived by his sons Michael Collins and Timothy Collins, daughters Kathy Greear and Liz Azuma, son in law David Azuma, grandchildren Jennifer McNeill, Kelly Greear and Amy Greear.

James Denver Rickert '42 passed away April 10, 2011 just a few days past his 93rd birthday. He was born in Greenville, Penn. on April 2, 1918 to George and Florence Rickert. Jim is survived by his wife of 64 years, Eva, and his sons Jim (Mary), Randy (Debbie), and David (Joel), and daughter Jan (Buck) Anderson. He is also survived by sisters-in-laws Ruth and Elizabeth Rickert and brother-in-law Gil Doss, 9 nephews and nieces, 9 grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. He is predeceased by his brothers Duke and Bud and niece Kay. Jim's father George moved his young family to California in the early 1920s looking for a better life than he had in Pennsylvania. The family constantly moved throughout California looking for that opportunity, finally settling in Shasta County in the early 1940s. For all of Jim's life he was part of a family partnership with his wife, father, mother, brothers Duke and Bud and sisters-in-law Ruth and Elizabeth. All that time was spent in the cattle business that included the family cattle ranch in Bella Vista and Rickert Meat Company in Cottonwood. Jim was an All-American basketball center for an outstanding basketball team at Santa Clara University in the early '40s and is a member of the Santa Clara Sports Hall of Fame. After college he played for a professional basketball team, the Sacramento Senators, and for many years played town team ball in Sutter and Shasta counties. Jim was also very active in community activities. He was a Cottonwood Fire District director for 30 years and as a trustee on the Cottonwood Elementary and Anderson High School districts for over 35 years. Jim loved to work in his garden, gold mining, walking at the ranch with his dogs, playing cards, going to high school basketball/football games, track meets and talking about and being with his family.

Herman R. Roesti, June 3, 2008. He is survived by his wife, Patricia, and two children. 

Grover James O’Connor Jr. '42 passed away at age 90 in the early hours of April 1, 2009, at his home in Windsor, Calif., following a short bout with pancreatic cancer.  Grover was born at St. Mary’s Hospital in San Francisco, on Nov. 4, 1918, during the closing days of World War I.  His parents were Grover James O’Connor Sr. and Garbrielle Cabrera.  He was a third generation Californian. Grover Jr. grew up in San Francisco during the Roaring Twenties and the Great Depression.  He attended Most Holy Redeemer Elementary School in San Francisco, then University of Santa Clara in 1942.  After receiving his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, he took a job with Philco Corp. in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  During the World War II he served his country by working on the development of airborne radar, a top secret project at the time. In 1946 he married Camelia Lucy Doménech in Philadelphia and moved to Los Angeles, California in 1948 where for nearly 40 years he worked as an aerospace engineer doing Research and Development for the satellite division of Hughes Aircraft Corp. before retiring in 1989 at age 71. He is survived by his wife Camelia Doménech O’Connor; his children Eileen O’Connor Casanova, Eugene R. O’Connor, Lee A. O’Connor, and Dennis E. O’Connor; his grandchildren Nicole Casanova Best, Rick Casanova, Christopher O’Connor, Catalina O’Connor and Brenda O’Connor; his step-grandson Fernando Ramos; his son-in-law Joaquin Casanova and his daughters-in-law Silvia Sánchez O’Connor and Isabel Bonet O’Connor; as well as his brother Gerald O’Connor and sister Madeleine O’Connor.

George Poppin '42 on March 1, 2010.  He was the loving husband of Dorothy Edith Ritter Poppin; adored father of Nancy Ann Umland (Art) of Marysville, Thomas George Poppin (Lyn) of Palo Cedro, Joan Marie Mickelson of San Francisco, and Deborah Kathleen Jeffries of Hoopa; precious grandfather of  Matthew and Mark Posey, Thomas Poppin, Jr., Greg Tribulato, Jackie Williams (Todd), Shannon Powell (Kevin), Derek Jeffries and Marney Kubala (Jason); great grandfather of Chaylene and Jeremy, Derek, Jr, Phillip, Jacob, Brandon and Caleb, and Emily; great-great grandfather of Haliegh. George was born in Phoenix Arizona on August 31, 1918 to Russian immigrant parents. He died peacefully at home, surrounded by his loving family.  George met his sweetheart, Dottie,  at Siegler’s Springs in Lake County, California on the Fourth of July 1941.  It was love at first sight.  They married on June 24, 1944 in San Francisco, CA. George graduated from Commerce Evening High School and continued on to Santa Clara University with a full football scholarship. He graduated in 1942.  During WWII, he was stationed in Berlin, Germany.  He was the Chief Secretary of the Economic Directorate (United States Element) of the Allied Control Council.  He held the rank of Captain. During the Fall of 1945, he coached one of the first American football teams to play football in the history of Berlin, Germany. After the War, he pursued his master’s degree in Education from San Francisco State College.  His first teaching job was at George Washington High School in San Francisco during the fall of 1947.  He taught mechanical drawing and physical education and also became the head football coach. After teaching at Samuel Gompers Trades High School (John O’Connell Vocational High School.) George transferred to Galileo High School in 1957.  It was there that he became the head football coach.  He taught many different types of classes, but primarily he taught U.S. History.  George and Dottie did some traveling after he retired from teaching in 1977.  They traveled to Beijing, China in 1983 and later to Russia and Turkey.  The purpose of the trips was to promote the love of roses.  George was the Head Rosarian at Golden Gate Park.  It was on the trip to Beijing that he brought roses from San Francisco and brought home roses from China.  George’s fascination with short-wave radio allowed him to become a  technical monitor for several international radio broadcasters: Australia, China, Israel, France, Turkey, Italy and England.  He monitored up until last year and enjoyed every moment.  Many interested people would write for information about how to listen to radio stations for their homeland.  George was gracious and helpful. Preceded in death were his parents John Fred and Hazel Nicholas Seminoff Poppin, brothers and sisters, John, Alice Pettibone, Jim, Nell Payne, Mary Andrews, Hazel Thompson, Dorothy Hollandsworth, Alex and Nick Papin, Fred, Bill and Hania Poppin, and Anna Seminoff.

Frank R. Petersen '42 passed away peacefully on January 16, 2009, at home surrounded by his family. Frank was born February 10, 1919 in Reno, Nev. He was raised by his mother, Louise, who was blind.  Frank graudated with honors form Reno High School in 1937.  He was elected to the Reno High School Hall of Fame for football and basketball. He was offered football scholarships to many universities across the nation and chose Santa Clara University.  He was the first student from Reno High School to play big-time college football. He was coached by Buck Shaw and assistant coach Len Casanova, both in the college football Hall of Fame.  Frank played right halfback for the Broncos.  The Broncos faced and beat the likes of Purdue, Michigan State, Stanford, California, Oklahoma, and UCLA while he was there.  From 1937 to 1942 the Broncos were ranked 15th or better in the Associated Press final polls.  Frank was commissioned in the Army after he graduated in the summer of 1942 and later transferred to the Army Air Corps, in which he served until after the end of World War II.  Frank attained the rank of captain and piloted a B-17 aircraft, which he named RENO-vation. He flew more than 60 combat missions in the European and Pacific theaters during the war, including three on D-Day. He received the Air Medal and Distinguished Flying Cross. After being discharged, Frank went to law school at the University of San Francisco and returned to Reno to start his law practice in 1950. He enjoyed a successful and distinguished career. He was joined in his practice by his son, Steven '69, in 1972.  His warmth and humor will be remembered as well as his endeavors to help people form all walks of life.  Frank is survived by his wife of 62 years, Vera; his son, Steven (Gayle); granddaughter, Lisa Petersen; granddaughter, Carly Garamendi (Michael) and great-grandchildren, Maggie and Will Garamendi.

Daniel C. Willis ’42 was a resident of Arcadia, Calif. He was born in 1920 and died on Feb. 5, 2013. He was 92.

Alvin Hugh Storch ’42 was born in San Francisco, California on Oct. 20, 1920. He departed on Apr. 15, 2013 and resided in Cupertino, CA.

Alex J. Hart '42, the final family owner of Hart's Department Stores, died peacefully on Aug. 8 in Saratoga, one month and a day shy of his 90th birthday.No single word can describe Mr. Hart. He was a philanthropist, a businessman, a civic and community leader, a social arbiter, a charming host, a gentleman and a friend to many.  "Whatever Alex did, he did so well," says Leigh Weimers, a longtime friend. "I always thought Alex was a consummate gentleman, always well spoken and well groomed. If his goal was to sell menswear, he did a beautiful job of being the model himself. You wanted to buy something to make yourself look as good as Alex Hart."  Judy Goldeen recalls knowing Mr. Hart from childhood, as he was a friend of her parents, the late Don and Jane Goldeen.  "Alex was a sweet, dear man who loved a good party," she says.  Goldeen recalls that when she and the late Steffi Sims would go to brunch with Mr. Hart, "He was always dressed to the nines and treated us as though we were the most important ladies in his life."  Mr. Hart was born in San Jose on Sept. 9, 1920, the second son of Alex J. Hart Sr. and Nettie Brooke Hart. His grandfather Leopold Hart arrived in San Jose from his native Alsace Lorraine and opened his first dry goods and clothing store in 1866.  In 1902 he was successful enough to launch L. Hart & Son Department Store in downtown San Jose, which by 1920 was the largest department store between San Francisco and Los Angeles.  It was Mr. Hart's older brother, Brooke, who was groomed to take over the helm of the store, but everything changed on Nov. 9, 1933, when Brooke Hart was kidnapped as he left the family store, then brutally murdered.  His two kidnappers were taken from their jail cells by an angry mob, carried across the street to St. James Park and lynched. The incident made headlines across the United States and Europe. The Hart family was much loved in the community, and in his award-winning book on the subject, Swift Justice, the late Harry Farrell wrote that his murderers "could have chosen no victim whose popularity and place in the community would more surely guarantee the violent retribution that followed."Mr. Hart was 13 at the time, and his older brother was 22.  He was sent to San Rafael Military Academy, returning to San Jose to attend Santa Clara University.  Mr. Hart was living in Los Angeles and writing music for Paramount Pictures when his father died in 1943, and he returned to San Jose to take over the family store at the corner of Market and Santa Clara streets.  Theo Hart says he believes his father would have preferred a career writing musicals to haberdashery, but he wouldn't shirk his family responsibilities.  In 1944 Mr. Hart married Iphigenia Papavosiliou, a native of Greece. They met at a party in Berkeley, where she was attending the University of California. They had three sons, Brooke, A.J. and Theo, later divorcing. Theo Hart says that while his father was well known, what was unknown were the many things he did for others.  "My father brought the first traffic stoplight to downtown at Market and Santa Clara, so pedestrians would have the right of way to cross the busy streets," he says.  "He was a great philanthropist. He donated the property at Naglee and The Alameda where the YMCA sits. It was his father's house and where he grew up."  Hart also praises his father as a style innovator.  "He was very big on making Hart's a fashion place. My grandfather didn't do that. Dad really brought the style and panache.  "He loved art and style and form, and he brought that to San Jose."  If Mr. Hart made any mistake, it was in his emotional loyalty to downtown San Jose, says his son.  "The worst decision he made in his career was not moving from downtown to be the anchor store at Valley Fair shopping center," Hart says.  "Everyone begged him not to do it, and he made an emotional decision not to leave downtown. That was the precursor to his business not remaining competitive with the malls."  Mr. Hart expanded from downtown to open stores in Sunnyvale in 1957, followed by Hart's Mayfield Mall in Mountain View and Hart's Westgate in San Jose.  He sold the stores in 1976, but remained with the company to ensure a successful transition and to make sure his loyal employees were taken care of.The camaraderie of Hart's employees was such that they held annual reunions for many years after the stores closed in the early 1980s.  "They were usually at the Three Flames on Meridian," Hart says. "I used to go to them with my father, but then everybody started passing away."  Following his retirement in 1981, Mr. Hart traveled, but the lure of merchandising brought him back to work for a few more years.  In a 2000 interview with journalist Paul Lukes, Mr. Hart said, "After our store closed, I got bored. I knew retail, so I talked to my friend Nick Sands at I. Magnin.  "After I assured him I didn't want his job, he hired me to work in better jewelry and handbags. I just loved it."  Mr. Hart lived in many homes over the years, including ones in San Jose, Los Gatos and Saratoga.  Hart says his father moved in with him and his family nine years ago, and in 2007 he moved into Our Lady of Fatima Villa in Saratoga. There he continued to be a positive influence and helpful to others.  Randi Kinman remembers the friendship he extended to her mother Marcy Kinman when she moved there in December 2009.  "His friendship and humor were the keys to her easy transition to living in a new situation," says Kinman, who escorted Mr. Hart to the 50-year anniversary celebration of the Central YMCA in October 2009.  In addition to his support of the Y, Mr. Hart was a past president of the San Jose Chamber of Commerce, a supporter of St. Elizabeth's Day Home, San Jose Symphony, Guide Dogs for the Blind and Santa Clara Youth Center. He was also active with Rotary, Elks and the Native Sons of the Golden West.Mr. Hart is survived by his sons Brooke and his wife, Marcia, of Madera; A.J. and his wife, Linda, of Almaden Valley; Theo and his wife, Vicki, of Saratoga; 10 grandchildren; and many great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and cousins.

Captain William P. Crawford ’43, a familiar figure on waterfronts along the West Coast, passed away peacefully on March 20, 2013. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy; 13 children, Patricia, Thomas, John, Christine, Andrew, Daniel, Joseph, Robert, Timothy, James, Margaret, Catherine and William; 19 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. Bill was born into an Irish seafaring family in 1922, left college to serve as a merchant seaman in the Atlantic, Pacific and Mediterranean-Middle East war zones and was an unlimited shipmaster by the time he was 22 years old. After the war, he finished school and then practiced admiralty law until joining in the operation of the family training school for shipmasters and officers. He taught in Crawford Nautical School locations in New Orleans, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle for almost six decades. He was a noted author of maritime trade books, including Mariner's Celestial Navigation and Mariner's Weather. Bill had a fierce intelligence, insatiable curiosity, undeniable charm and well-earned pride in his many accomplishments. He truly lived every day of his long life. His memory lives on through his family, all of the seafarers he taught and many others whose lives he touched.