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Showing obituaries submitted in the last year by graduates in 1955
1955
Joseph Anthony Salazar ’55 was born on November 8, 1933, and died on January 1, 2013. Joe “Pepi” Salazar was a really wonderful man and his life was a fulfillment of everything that is right about the American Dream. The son of Mexican immigrants, he grew up in Rio Vista and Antioch, making lifelong friends – and a little mischief - along the way. After graduating from Antioch High, he attended Santa Clara University where he graduated in 1955. Shortly thereafter, he married Dolores Ashlock, his sweetheart from nearby Mt. Diablo High. He enlisted in the Army, and the newlyweds were reassigned to Georgia where they started their family.
After Joe was honorably discharged, the Salazars (now with daughter Nancy) returned west where Joe started working for Union Oil. After a few years in Nevada and Northern California, the Salazars moved to Stockton (with second daughter Suzanne) where Joe started a thirty year career as a salesman for Allstate Insurance. With the addition of his son Joe Jr., his family was complete and the game was on. Family events included water skiing, fishing and hunting in the Delta, camping in the mountains, weekend golfing, inevitable school and church functions, and local athletics.
Joe’s favorite place on earth was wherever his friends or family were gathering. Sometimes that place was the 1st tee, sometimes the 19th, other times around the family dinner table. It wasn’t the location, it was the people around him. His life was guided by a fundamental belief in the inherent dignity of the individual person regardless of one’s station in life. One of his favorite authors was Leo Buscaglia who espoused a philosophy of loving those around you and by giving them a hug. Joe was a great hugger because his hugs were real. That was one of his many gifts, he loved others and especially loved to help those who were disadvantaged. He contributed hundreds of hours annually to dozens of charitable groups over the years. Knights of Columbus, Kiwanis, Special Olympics, St. Mary’s Interfaith, Disabled American Veterans, SIRS Group #87, and Wounded Warriors are only a few of the many groups he helped through his volunteered time. His wealth in life was his relationship with family and friends as well as those who benefited by his volunteer work. He did right by his family, his friends, and his community.
Later in life Joe and Dolores took on another name, one they wore with pride…Gramma and Grandpa to Holly, Laurel, Annie, Joey, Lucca and Lucianna. With the same energy and love they put forth raising their children, they did for their grandchildren: and those precious grandkids are all the better for it.
And did we mention he loved to talk? And how! And yet, he was an even better listener. He wanted to know what you were doing, what your friends were doing and what your children were up to. He loved to hear about others’ successes, and always encouraged his children and grandchildren to create a vision and then make it happen. Whether husband, father, grandfather or friend, Joe was also your fan.
We really miss him.
Joe is survived by Dolores, his wife of 58 years. Additionally, he is survived by his children, Nancy Weaver (husband Scott) of Denver, Suzanne DelZotto (husband Tom) of Gold River, Joe Salazar Jr.(wife Tori) of Woodbridge, and grandchildren Holly and Laurel Weaver, Annie DelZotto, Joey Salazar III, Lucca, and Luciana Salazar. Further he is survived by brother Ray '54 and Joan Salazar of Santa Clara, and many nieces and nephews.
John Joseph Kiely '55, M.A. '63, a longtime teacher and counselor, and descendant of Santa Clara's prominent Kiely family, passed away Nov. 14 at his home in Los Gatos after a long battle with leukemia. He was 79.
One of nine children, he was born March 18, 1933, to grocer William P. and Elaine Kiely. The Kiely family originally left Ireland during the potato famine, then settled in Australia before immigrating to California.
He grew up in the family mansion on Homestead Road. Known today as the Kiely House, this circa-1889 Queen Anne Victorian is listed on historical tour guides of Santa Clara. In the 1950s, the home was used as a boardinghouse for students attending Bellarmine College Preparatory.
His father was a former mayor of Santa Clara, and Kiely Boulevard is named for him. His brother William P. Kiely Jr. '55 also served for years on the City Council.
After graduating from Bellarmine and Santa Clara University, Kiely embarked on a long teaching career. He taught English and drama at Santa Clara High School for 33 years. In 1992, he earned an MFCC (Marriage, Family and Child Counseling) license and launched a second career.
He was also involved with the Serra Club, a Catholic vocation group, St. Mary's Church and Holy Family's New Horizons program.
Kiely is survived by his wife of 17 years, Carole '71; his two children, Kate Kiely and Daniel Kiely '93: three stepdaughters, Melissa Burke, Julia Selfridge and Marya Ruiz; and three grandchildren, Henry, Freddy and Josie.
F. Richard “Dick” Lucas ’55, 78, passed away peacefully on June 26, 2012. Born in Alameda, Calif. on August 28, 1933, as the only child of Frank and Edith Lucas, "Dick" spent his early years growing up in Oakland. In December 1941, he and his family moved to St. Helena. Following graduation from St. Helena High School in 1951, Dick attended Santa Clara University, graduating summa cum laude in 1955. He spent the next two years serving as a 1st lieutenant in the U.S. Army stationed in Japan. Upon returning to the U.S., Dick attended Stanford Law School, where he served on the Stanford Law Review, graduating in 1960. In 1959 he married his wife, Phyllis Anne Johnson. They made their first home in Palo Alto before moving to Sacramento where Dick began his legal career working as a deputy Attorney General from 1960 to 1963. In 1963, Dick moved his family to Fairfield, California where he began a long partnership with Burt Goodman and William H. Herbert. He served as president and director of the Solano County Bar Association, as member of the Northern California Association of Defense Counsel and as a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers. He concluded his law practice with his son, Matthew, and with Kendall Hillman. Dick retired recently, culminating a 50-year legal career. Dick served for 16 years as a member of the Solano Community College Board of Trustees. He also served on the Solano County Democratic Central Committee, was a past member of the Fairfield Kiwanis Club, and has been a long-time member of Green Valley Country Club. Dick enjoyed travelling, reading, cross-word puzzles, a game of cribbage and a good martini. Dick was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He is survived by his wife, Phyllis of Green Valley, and his three children, Jennifer Lucas Young (John Matcovich) of Portland, Oregon, Sarah Ellen Lucas (Peter Sturges) of Burlingame and Matthew R. Lucas (Susan Lucas) of Fairfield. Dick was also "Grumpy" to eight grandchildren: Cecelia, Nick and Lucy Young; Lucas and Nathaniel Sturges; and Ryan, Will and Andrew Lucas. In 2009, Dick and Phyllis joyfully celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in Barbados with all of their children and grandchildren.
Robert "Bob" George ’55 passed away on January 29, 2013 at the age of 80. Bob was born March 15, 1932 in San Jose CA. to Joseph and Virginia George. He graduated from Bellarmine High School in San Jose California. He received his Bachelor of Science Degree from Santa Clara University in 1955. Bob was in the ROTC from 1953-1955, Army Active Duty from 1955-1957. He was stationed at Ft. Lawton, Seattle Washington, where he was with the U.S. Army Missile Battery Station. He was discharged January of 1963 as a Reserved Commissioned Officer of the Army. He enjoyed a successful career as a project manager in multiple developments associated with resorts and golf course communities. His career took him from the Santa Clara Valley in California to Maryland spanning over 40+ years. He enjoyed traveling, woodworking, home designing and spending time with his family. He also enjoyed owning and driving many different Corvettes over the years. Bob is survived by his children, Wayne George of Seattle Washington and Lloyd George of Eugene Oregon. He has 3 grandchildren all of whom will miss him dearly.
