Santa Clara Magazine

Eugene "Gene" A. Ravizza ’50 was selected as a School of Engineering Centennial Award recipient for his commitment to integrity while designing and executing cutting-edge electrical systems and for his ongoing support of his alma mater. In 1954 Ravizza co-founded Cupertino Electric, a company that has grown into one of the top 10 electrical contracting firms in the country. Innovative problem-solvers, the company has “powered the creation of Silicon Valley” through projects such as the first semiconductor chip fabrication plant to an ultra-energy-efficient data center, to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. He has generously supported the School of Engineering’s successful Solar Decathlon entries in 2007 and 2009, and has also created a scholarship fund for undergraduate engineers. Ravizza received the School of Engineering Distinguished Engineering Alumnus Award in 1997.

Frank Helfrich ’51 received a commendation in May from the Menlo Park Historical Association for 30 years of volunteer service. The  83-year-old historian and Menlo Park native helped to shepherd the nonprofit organziation almost from day one, archiving the town’s memories, which he still does. Read about his experiences at The Almanac Online.

James Rowe ’54 writes: "Just moved to Pasadera CC Monterey."

Jack D. Kuehler ’54, MSEE ’86  was selected as a School of Engineering Centennial Award recipient for his many contributions to the field of engineering and for leading by example, furthering not only the engineering profession, but the School of Engineering at Santa Clara as well. Kuehler worked his way up from the position of associate engineer at IBM’s San Jose Research Laboratory in 1958 to become president of the international giant in 1989. In industry and here at SCU, Kuehler was revered for his leadership, intelligence, warmth, and mentoring.  Over the years, he was named a member of the National Academy of Engineering, a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, IEEE Fellow, Santa Clara University Trustee, and School of Engineering Distinguished Alumnus Award recipient. He was a dogged promoter of innovation and creativity in the technical arena as a means for ensuring national security and technological competitiveness for the United States. As such, he and his wife, Carmen, created a research fund allowing promising SCU engineering undergraduates to join faculty in summer research.

 William "Bill" E. Terry ’55 was selected as a School of Engineering Centennial Award recipient for his contributions to engineering in Silicon Valley and to excellence in engineering education at SCU. Prior to his retirement in 1993, Terry was executive vice president of the Measurement Systems Sector and a director of the Hewlett-Packard Company, having worked his way through various positions since joining the company in 1957 as a sales engineer. Terry has taken a number of leadership roles within Silicon Valley, serving as chairman of the American Electronics Association, Santa Clara County Manufacturing Group, and Silicon Valley Community Foundation. He has also served as an advisory board member for the School of Engineering, and as a member of the Board of Regents and Board of Trustees for Santa Clara. He is a recipient of the School of Engineering Distinguished Alumnus Award. He and his wife, Janice, have been active proponents of excellence in Jesuit teaching, having established a professorship supporting the advancement of the academic quality and educational mission of SCU as a Jesuit and Catholic University, and a scholarship fund for undergraduate minority students pursuing a degree in engineering.

Lawrence G. Desmond ’57 writes: "The University of New Mexico Press has just informed me that my biography of the pioneering 19th century photographer and writer Alice Dixon Le Plongeon is now available from Amazon on Kindle. The title of the book is Yucatan Through Her Eyes: Alice Dixon Le Plongeon, Writer and Expeditionary Photographer. It's gotten rave reviews. Alice left London in 1873 at age 22, and spent the next 11 years in the jungles of Yucatan and Belize photographing, exploring, and writing about the ancient Maya. Hope you like it. And, if you are interested in Coast Guard rescues, lighthouses, and some funny stories, I just published a memoir: Blue Water and Rocky Lights: My Life in the U.S. Coast Guard, 1957–1960. It includes a chapter on Fr. Bernard R. Hubbard, S.J., who convinced me to join the Coast Guard when I was a senior, and is loaded with my photos of life on the ships, rescues, huge waves(!), and the St. George Reef lighthouse. The publisher is Blurb and you can preview it at: www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/3339067."

Charles Cantoni ’57 has published iEmployment: A Voter's Guide to Economic Recovery. The book (available on Amazon) is, in part, a follow-up to his immersion trip to Nicaragua last September with Dean Godfrey Mungal and School of Engineering professors. Mr. Cantoni is a member of the School of Engineering Industry Advisory Board.

Gary Gillmor ’58, former mayor of Santa Clara and real estate businessman, will soon have a building named in his honor at Mission College.

Ron Li '60 was named a senior HomeLoan consultant at Central Pacific Bank. Li, who joined Oahu sales team, has more than 30 years of mortgage lending experience. He was previously with American Savings Bank, where he served as a residential loan officer. Prior, he worked at Metlife Home Loans, First Horizon Home Loan, Washington Mutual, North American Mortgage, Security Pacific Mortgage, and All Pacific Mortgage.

John Johnck '60 attended his 60th Reunion from the 8th grade Class of 1952 at St. Vincent de Paul, San Francisco, Calif. First gathering ever. He lives in So Lake Tahoe, Russan River, and S.F. and is retired. Go Broncos!

Max Oliva, S.J. ’61 was recently featured in the Las Vegas Review-Journal for the success of his "attention-getting" ministry, Ethics in the Marketplace. Through short talks to business groups, full-length seminars, or individual sessions, Fr. Oliva works with businesspeople—Catholics or non-Catholics—to try to sort through quandaries they encounter in the office: How should a businessperson deal with a larcenous partner, lay off people to satisfy cash flow necessities yet not crush the spirit of the former employees, or handle a contract dispute with a client?

Freshman Dorm: Nobili

Jack Walsh '63 writes, "Married to my wife, Patty for 49 years. We have five children and 16 grandchildren. Still working in my own business and enjoying good health. Life is good."

Freshman Dorm: O'Connor

Lawrence A. Specchierla ’63 writes that he retired in 1999 after a 36-year career in financial management with Texaco, Inc. He lives in Palm Springs, Calif., with his wife, Maureen (Harty) ’65, and is the co-president of the Palm Springs Alumni Chapter that covers the Coachella Valley. He spends his time playing golf, traveling, recruiting high school students for SCU in the Coachella Valley, and coordinating the AARP Tax Aide program in Palm Springs. He and his wife will be celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary this year. They have three grown children (two graduated from Santa Clara), three granddaughters, and two grandsons who all live in California.

Richard Cable '63 writes: "Recently was a playing member of the first American baseball team to visit mainland China to engage the Chinese in baseball games. The Americans took 4 out of 5 games and, at 72, I was the oldest person to ever play baseball in China."

Clarence Sullivan ’64 writes: “My grandad taught the Commercial Course in 1911. My parents and four grandparents are buried at the University Cemetery and my daughter, Kieran Sullivan, is a professor in Psychology now.”