ClassNotes

Mark Walker '79 earned an MBA from Arizona State University. He and Michele (Sipiora) '80 live in Aurora, Colo., and their daughter Jillian '11 is currently at SCU.

Wendy (Wade) Silva M.S. '79 recently completed her PhD in Clinical Psychology at Pacifica Graduate Institute. She is an adjunct professor in the MFT Program at Simpson College and doing her post-doctoral hours at the Christian Counseling Center in San Jose.

Richard Sweeney ’79 has been named defensive line and special teams coach of the Humboldt State University football team. He has over 23 years of collegiate coaching experience and played defensive back during his years at Santa Clara.

Dennis C. Smolarski, S.J., M.Div., STM ’79 published two books: Eucharist and American Culture: Liturgy, Unity, and Individualism (New York: Paulist Press, 2010)—the Catholic Press Association awarded it first place in the "Liturgy" category for books published in 2010; and his Chinese translation of How Not to Say Mass appeared in late 2011 (Taipei City: the Chinese Regional Bishops' Conference). 

Joanne Formato Schnuckel ’79 is living in Manhattan Beach, Calif., with husband Brian and their three children: Greg, Lauren, and Michael. She is currently working at NBC/Universal.

Dr. Frank Piro '79, a bay area plastic surgery provider has announced the launch of his new website, PlasticMD.com.
 

Gregory Patti B.S. '79, M.B.A. '83 is currently managing director for Agave Partners, a start-up and transition management advisory firm.

John L. Ocampo ’79 was selected as a School of Engineering Centennial Award recipient for his support of the School of Engineering’s Center for Nanostructures and for his contributions to the semiconductor and communications industries, furthering not only the engineering profession, but the School as well. In 1985, Ocampo co-founded Sirenza Microdevices, a supplier of radio frequency semiconductors and related components for the commercial communications, consumer, and aerospace, defense, and homeland security equipment markets. While leading Sirenza through a successful IPO and eventual sale to RF Micro Devices, Ocampo served at various times in a number of key roles, including president and CEO, CTO, and Chairman. He is now co-founder and president of Gaas Labs, a private equity fund providing financial support and operational expertise to companies in the communications, semiconductor, and related industries. He is renowned for his entrepreneurial, operational, and technological expertise, as well as his generosity. Ocampo is a champion of the Center for Nanostructures, by funding it to promote interdisciplinary research and education through partnerships with other universities, industry, and government, while positioning Santa Clara University as a national center of innovation in nanostructures research.

Ed McGovern '79 and Tina McGovern '80 are pleased that their daughter Meagan will be attending our alma mater in the fall! Four years ago we launched a foundation named for our son Jack McGovern, the Jack McGovern Coats Disease Foundation. This rare eye disease affects our Jack age 15 and many others around the world. It affects mostly boys between the ages of infancy to teenage and is a life long battle they wage to keep their eyesight. To learn more we raise funds to support research by hosting a fashion event every spring and a golf tournament every summer. Thanks to our friends and family, the foundation has sponsored research and a national conference of pediatric retinal specialists in San Francisco this past February. For more information, please visit our website www.coatsdiseasefoundation.org.

Kate Leonard MBA '79 joined PKF affiliate Hutchinson & Bloodgood as a partner focusing on international tax. 

Margaret A. Leonard '76, J.D. '79 retired from her private law practice in 2008 and recently rejoined the workforce as an adventure guide. Her new company, Slow Adventure (www.slowadventure.us), takes hikers/walkers on a four day, 40 mile journey along the Monterey Bay, from Santa Cruz to Monterey, on North America's only coastal serf guided inn to inn walking vacation. Margaret continues to live in Santa Cruz with her spouse, Clare, who celebrate 25 years together next month (June 2010).

Kate Leonard MBA '79, a partner at Hutchinson and Bloodgood LLP, a certified public accounting and consulting firm, was appointed as honorary consul general of Japan in San Diego. This appointment was recognized by the U.S. Department of State, and her duties began July 2012. 

Leonard received her M.B.A. from SCU in 1979, and upon obtaining her California CPA license, she moved to Osaka, Japan, where she was the only American CPA with Asahi Kaikeisha, Japan's largest audit corporation. Moving back to the United States in 1985, she continued to interact with the Japanese business community by becoming chair of the Japan Society of San Diego and Tijuana and maintaining her membership in the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan.

Leonard has worked with other international organizations, including facilitating and participating in Trade Missions to Japan with the World Trade Center San Diego.

James Leet J.D. '79 was named a 2009 Northern California Super Lawyer by McDonough Holland & Allen PC.  Leets, who serves as chair of the board, has more than 25 years of tax law experience.  He advises clients on all aspects of corporate, partnership, and personal income tax planning.

Michael LaBianca '79, J.D. '88 has been named vice president of human resources at NVIDIA.

Kathleen King '79 is serving as mayor of the city of Saratoga this year. She and her husband have lived in Saratoga for 18 years and have five children. Kathleen is also the Executive Director of the Santa Clara Family Health Foundation.

Josephine Kashemeire-Beebwa, DMJ, who completed the ISW program at the Jesuit School of Theology in 1979, writes: "I now live in Rome as a member of the General Council for our Congregation. Please God I will be here till end of 2015. May God bless you all. I have been on the council since 2005. For the last 5 years I was one of the 3 nonresident councillors. We came to Rome or any other part of Europe (once to California!) for meetings; and we went back to our respective countries of residence. Last year in August we had our General Chapter and I was one of those re-elected. However, this time the chapter voted that the number of councillors be reduced and all must live together with the S.G. That is how I landed here. I have been thrilled to meet up with Barry Burns, FMS [who also completed the ISW in ’79]. We have had a couple of hours together over a meal, catching up with our time and friends at Berkeley. Wishing you all God's blessings."

James S. Greene MBA ‘79 was appointed to Umpqua Holdings Corporation’s the board of directors.

Dave Fiore '79 was recently appointed by Governor Ted Kulongoski to the Oregon Educators Benefit Board (OEBB), which is charged with providing health benefits to the state’s education employees.  Dave and his wife Tracey Fiore '82 continue to live in Pendleton.  They recently returned from a trip to San Jose where they celebrated the 80th birthday of Marcel Fiore’s '52, MA '66 at a party that was attended by many SCU alumni.  A good time was had by all.

Allene Feldman M.A. ’79 is launching her own educational publishing services company in New York City. A 25-year veteran of educational publishing, Feldman has left Cambridge University Press to begin her new venture, InSource, which will provide high-quality, innovative print and digital services to the major PreK-Grade 12 textbook publishers. A specialist in curriculum development, content instruction, and English-language teaching, Feldman will also bring her years of experience with tailoring materials to specific educational markets to developing curricula for individual school districts across the country.

Allene Feldman M.A. '79 has been inducted into the Cambridge Who's Who Registry among executive and professional women for her years of service to the educational publishing industry. 

Michael Dee '79 is in real estate/store development with 7-Eleven, Inc., based in Dallas, Texas. He is responsible for new store site selection and construction of new 7-Eleven stores throughout Dallas and Fort Worth. He and his wife, Julie, live in Dallas with their 3 daughters, Lauren, Nicole, and Mary.