Santa Clara University

Standing from left to right: Tara Hirose ’99, Ryan Jones ’99, Susie Polden, and Dean Donald Polden enjoy the reunion dinner with (seated) the Hon. John McInerny ’54 and his wife, Audrey.

Reunion 2004

by Larry Sokoloff ’92
Photography by Greg Pio

The Santa Clara campus was awash with law school alumni, students, and faculty during Reunion Weekend 2004, which took place Sept. 9-12, 2004. The events focused on the classes of 1954, 1959, 1964, 1969, 1974, 1979, 1984, 1989, 1994, and 1999. Ryan Jones ’99, who was at his first reunion, said of the festivities: “Everybody was very friendly. The biggest surprise was how quickly five years passed.”

Above, the Hon. Mark Thomas ’56 talked with alumni about his book, From Promise to Prominence: The School of Law at Santa Clara University.

The reunion activities included a number of individual class events. The class of ’89 started off the weekend with a post-work reception for East Bay alumni on Thursday, Sept. 9, at the Pyramid Alehouse in downtown Walnut Creek, coordinated by Peter Isola. On Friday, Sept. 10, the class of ’94 held a gathering at Double D’s Sports Grille in Los Gatos, while the class of ’84 gathered at the home of Chris Schumb.

Benefit for Justice

That same evening, more than 350 students, alums, and professors gathered for the tenth annual Benefit for Social Justice Public Interest Auction. The event featured a silent auction, a meal, dancing, and a live auction, with several unique items including a lunch with former Congressman and White House Chief of Staff Leon Panetta ’63; a lunch with former California Supreme Court Justice Edward Panelli ’55, and a poker tournament for ten students with several professors, including Jeffrey Kahn and Gary Neustadter, and Jessica Kahn of the law school’s high tech program. Money raised goes to summer fellowships for students working in the area of the public interest law.

Lectures

Saturday morning, a continental breakfast was held in the Adobe Lodge, followed by two lectures. Author and retired judge Mark Thomas ’56 spoke on his book on the law school’s history, From Promise to Prominence. He was followed by Dean Donald Polden, who discussed the state of the law school, including its major initiatives for the coming years.

Reunion Dinner

Class of 1979 members Georgia Bacil, Tom Mannschreck, and A.J. Goodman are still smiling after 25 years.

That evening, approximately 100 alumni and guests attended a dinner in the Williman Room of Benson Center. The Hon. John S. McInerny ’54 gave the invocation, with a special reflection on the anniversary of Sept. 11. After dinner, Dean Polden inducted Judge McInerny into the Al Ruffo Golden Gavel Society. Established in 2000 and named for the late Albert Ruffo ’36, the society honors those who graduated from the law school 50 or more years ago.

Golf Tournament

Tom Gianetto, Carol Kaufman, Hon. Edward Panelli ’55, and Kevin Bedolla ’76 were one of several teams who participated in the Edward Panelli Golf Classic, also held in September.

After the weekend ended, a further chance to reconnect with classmates was the Edward Panelli Golf Classic, which was held Monday, Sept. 20, at Justice Panelli’s home course, the La Rinconada Country Club in Los Gatos. More than 100 golfers participated in the tournament, which was won for the second year in a row by Justice Panelli himself. After golf, dinner was served and awards were handed out on the patio of the pool. Approximately $25,000 was raised, with proceeds going for endowed scholarships and the Law Alumni Emergency Loan program.

“Everybody had a good time,” said Kevin Bedolla ’76, one of the event’s founders. “It was a good mix of graduates and people in the legal community.”