Santa Clara Magazine

William "Bill" R. Kilty ’54 has died, following a five-year battle with melanoma cancer at his San Clemente home on Feb. 4, 2013 at the age of 80. He was born Sept. 2, 1932, to Edith A. and Edmund J. Kilty in Denver, Colo. His family moved to Los Angeles in 1939, where he attended St. Paul the Apostle grammar school in Westwood and Loyola High School. In 1947, the family moved to Palo Alto, and Bill graduated from Bellarmine Prep in 1950 and Santa Clara University in 1954. Following his graduation from Santa Clara, he enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard and served as an officer for three and half years. In 1957, while serving in Long Beach, he married Joan C. LaBounty. After his discharge from the Coast Guard, he was employed by the Crown Zellerbach Corporation as a sales trainee. In 1961, he became Headquarters Sales Supervisor for the Zellerbach Paper Company in San Francisco. In the years that followed, he served as Los Angeles Division Managerial Assistant (1965), Portland Division Manager (1968), and Vice President and Manager for the Zellerbach Paper Company's southern region. In 1975, he served as Vice President for Corporate Development at Zellerbach headquarters in San Francisco. 

After retiring, Bill and his wife, Joan, relocated to San Clemente, Calif. in 1988 and enjoyed their retirement by traveling, playing golf, and watching their grandchildren blossom. In 1995, Bill's wife, Joan, succumbed to breast cancer. Eight years later, Bill renewed acquaintance with and ultimately married fellow San Clemente resident, Miriam Schumacher Hoffman, who had been a classmate of Bill's at St. Paul the Apostle and who died in 2011. Bill is survived by his five children, Ann Hernandez ’80, MBA ’87, Jeanne Jelnick, John Kilty, Tom Kilty '88 and R. Patrick Kilty; sister, Janet Lewis; and twelve grandchildren. 

Bill was an active member of Rotary, the San Clemente Dons, and Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church in San Clemente. Bill was an enthusiastic supporter and fan of his grandchildren as they participated in sports, performing arts, and other activities, and he will be remembered as a generous and loving father and grandfather.

Richard Philip "Dick" Berry ’54, of Meadow Vista, Calif., passed away peacefully in the company of his children on Monday, June 19, 2012 after a trying battle with Alzheimer's disease. He was born in San Francisco in 1932 to James and Anne. Richard attended Bellermine Preparatory where he excelled in football. He received his Bachelor of Science in Commerce from the University of Santa Clara in 1954, and served as First Lieutenant in the United States Army from 1954 to 1956. Richard married the love of his live, Elizabeth Jane in 1955. They raised their family in cities including San Jose, Denver, Salt Lake City and Meadow Vista.

Richard supported his family while employed at the AMFAC Distribution Corporation where he began his career in 1976 and retired as the Senior Vice President of Product Support in 1984. Richard excelled in all that he did and upon retiring he enjoyed gardening, watching his much loved 49ers and attending church where he was a Eucharistic minister. He was a warm, loving man who was described as a role model.

Richard is survived by a large family who will miss him deeply. He is the beloved father of Richard W. Berry, Kathryn (and Sidney) Smith, Susan (and David) Pierce and Linda Aldrich; devoted brother of James, William and Jay Anne; caring grandfather to Samantha Berry, Amanda and Gretchen Smith, David (and Kari) and Mark (and Jenna) Pierce, Megan and Kyle Aldrich; adoring great-grandfather to George Berry, Wyatt Pierce and Wesley Pierce. He also leaves behind many loving nieces, nephews, cousins, brothers and sisters-in-law. Richard will be remembered for his kind smile and dedication to his family. Richard's beloved 'Bets' passed away in 1999. He is reunited with her and they are surely enjoying their first dance in the life after this.

Ralph Eugene Neary ’54, Nov. 28, 2012. Neary, a third-generation San Franciscan who lived in the city his whole life, passed into his Lord's hands at home with his family at his side. He had fought a long and courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. 

Ralph was a proud graduate of Sacred Heart High School and Santa Clara University. After serving his country in the United States Army he went on to enjoy a productive career as a mechanical engineer. He holds numerous patents as a result of his creative work over a thirty-year career at the Schlage Lock Company.

Ralph was an invaluable member of Saint Brendan Parish, and enjoyed a life where his generosity was rewarded most by sharing simple, special times with his many loyal friends and loving family.

He could design anything, build anything, fix anything, and he made a mean Manhattan. But most of all, he was the best friend, husband, father, father-in-law, and grandfather anyone could ask for, sharing his insight and talents whenever and wherever needed most.

Those whose lives he touched will miss him immensely. The family is especially grateful for Lauren and her team of caregivers and Pathways Hospice who provided Dad with loving assistance over the last few months.
Ralph joined his parents Charlie and Olga, and his older brother Norman. He is now watching over his wife of fifty-six years, Kathleen (Cullen), his children, Michael (Xiomara), Thomas (Lucy), Charles (Laura), and Mary Geasa (John), and his nine grandchildren, Sean, Meaghan, Monica, Emily, Kaitlyn, Annie, Jack, Kevin, and Joe.

Douglas Michael Lowell '54 died on May 28, 2012. Born in Portland, Ore., he was a developer and builder in Portland. In 1963 he purchased a large cattle ranch on the Oregon Coast at Cascade Head. Nature Conservancy absorbed most of the property into its land preserves and he developed the remaining acres into Cascade Head Ranch which is also home to the Sitka Center for Art and Ecology. He died in Plymouth, U.K. Survivors include his wife, Marcia.