Santa Clara Magazine

William F. "Bill" Weitz Jr. MBA '86, resident of San Jose, died March 31, 2010, in Needham, Mass., after a courageous battle with cancer. Born September 15, 1951, in Pittsburgh, Penn.; he was the son of the late William F. and Elizabeth (Alex) Weitz Sr. Bill served in the Navy as an electronics technician from 1969-1973, aboard the USS Seattle. He graduated from U.C. Irvine and later with an MBA from Santa Clara University. He enjoyed a long career in talent management with various high tech companies in Silicon Valley, including Watkins-Johnson, KLA Tencor, Yahoo! and Solectron. He volunteered for many years with Furry Friends Animal Rescue and united many pets with their forever homes. He will be missed by family and friends, including children Joey and Jennifer Weitz and their mother Beth Weitz, daughter-in-law Kristin Weitz and granddaughter, Ashlynn Weitz all of San Jose and his companion Kerry Sullivan of Concord, Mass. He was the brother of Cynthia (Pix) DeMann, Pamela Grove and Richard Weitz.

Sydney Byron Darington ’86, of Fremont, Calif., passed away July 21, 2011.

Philip Chike  Nchekwube '83, MBA '86 on March 8, 2010. A native of Aguleri in Anambra State, Nigeria, Chike was born in Lagos to Georgina Nchekwube and the late Matthias Nchekwube. He returned to Aguleri at the onset of the Nigerian civil war and completed his secondary school studies at All Hallows Seminary in Onitsha. Chike then moved to the United States in 1979 and subsequently obtained his undergraduate degree in accounting and an MBA from Santa Clara University in California where he graduated with distinction as the class valedictorian. He also held a law degree from the University of California at Berkeley and worked at various times as an accountant at Xerox, an attorney at the global law firm of Jones Day in Washington DC, a business owner of three GNC stores in northern California, a deputy prosecutor in Lake County, Indiana and a professor of Business Law and Accounting at St. Francis University in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Left to mourn Chike are his wife, Miranda Nchekwube sons, Ikenna and Nnamdi Nchekwube; mother; brothers, Emeka and Chiedu Nchekwube; sisters, Angelina Ivenso, Uju Nchekwube, Victoria Nchekwube; in-laws, along with countless other friends and family members who were blessed to have known him. Chike had a good wit and enjoyed long conversations with friends and kin, championing the aspirations of the Aguleri people in the diaspora, and being with his family. He touched the lives of many people with his smile and generosity, and maintained his trademark sense of wit and stubborn integrity all the way to the end.

Peter C. Hellwig ’86 on Feb. 2, 2008.

Michelle Kenealey Corbett '86 passed away peacefully, with her loving family by her side, on January 26, 2010, in Oakland, at the age of 45. She was preceded in death by her father, Robert A. Kenealey in 2004, and her mother Eileen Kenealey in 2007. She is survived by her adoring husband, Kevin, adoring daughters Katie and Megan, loving sisters Maureen Matteri, Danielle Kenealey and Joelle Kenealey, loving aunts Irma Burnett and Mary Mahoney and numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and in-laws. Michelle attended Epiphany elementary school and St. Rose Academy High School in San Francisco. She graduated from Santa Clara University in 1986 and married her true love, Kevin, in 1990. She was a long time parishioner of St. Theresa Catholic Church in Oakland, where her children attended school. She was very active in numerous parish events and activities,most especially those involving the school and the WINGS organization. She co-chaired the school auction twice. Michelle was known for providing sound advice and good counsel to many, especially to her fellow school moms with whom she worked and played and developed many deep friendships. Her favorite things to do were spending time with her large group of family and friends, cooking, traveling, socializing and hosting parties and events. She will remain forever an important part of the loving and supportive community of St. Theresa parish and school. Her many and varied friends will know that they need only to listen carefully whenever they wish to hear her familiar, easy laugh and when they wish to seek her advice and counsel which she will continue to give freely.

Marc Thomas Friscia '86 April 6, 1964 - August 5, 2010. Cherished son of Natalie Friscia and the late Carl Friscia, adored father to Natalie Friscia, loving brother to Tony (Linda) Friscia, Tina Clark (Steve), and loving uncle to Antonio Friscia, Michelle Rosecrans, Chris Friscia, Denise Gewecke, Karen Wilhelm, and survived by grand nephews, nieces, cousins, many friends, especially Lydia. He attended St. Vincent de Paul Grammar School, St. Ignatius College Prep, and Santa Clara University, and received a MBA from University of San Francisco. Marc loved to cook and entertain family and friends. He enjoyed traveling. He will be missed. He lit up our lives!

Marc Thomas Friscia ’86 died on August 5, 2010. Born on April 6, 1964, he was the cherished son of Natalie Friscia and the late Carl Friscia, adored father to Natalie Friscia, loving brother to Tony (Linda) Friscia, Tina Clark (Steve), loving uncle to Antonio Friscia, Michelle Rosecrans, Chris Friscia, Denise Gewecke, Karen Wilhelm, survived by grand nephews, nieces, cousins, many friends, especially Lydia. Attended St. Vincent de Paul Grammar School, St. Ignatius College Prep, Santa Clara University, received his MBA from University of San Francisco. Marc loved to cook and entertain family and friends. He enjoyed traveling. He will be missed. He lit up our lives!

Bruce Ruffin MBA '86 died on June 11, 2011 at O'Connor Hospital in San Jose at the age  of 54. For the past two years, Ruffin fought lung cancer showing those around him how precious each day is. He will be remembered fondly for his patience, quick wit, sense of humor, intelligence and friendly charm. Ruffin is survived by his devoted wife of 23 years Cheryl Koshiro, his adored children Travis Ruffin and Lauren Ruffin, his parents Paul Sr. and Leona Ruffin (Suffern, N.Y.), sisters Valerie Mathews (Nyack, N.Y.) and Lorna Conley (New Port Richey, Fla.), brother Paul Ruffin Jr. (Orange, N.J.), eleven nieces and nephews, and numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. Ruffin was born on December 13, 1956 to Paul and Leona Mae Ruffin in Suffern, N.Y. Raised in a military family, Ruffin attended various elementary schools, including ones in the San Francisco Bay area and the Philippines before his family settled in Spring Valley, N.Y. in 1968. He was a 1974 graduate of Spring Valley High School lettering in football and baseball. He then attended State University of New York, College at Oneonta where he received a Bachelors of Art in 1978. Driving himself out west, he settled in San Jose where he completed a Masters of Business Administration at Santa Clara University in 1986. He was employed at Fujitsu Technology Solutions, Inc./AMDAHL in product management for 18 years. After leaving high tech, he enjoyed working as a tax consultant with H&R Block and insurance sales with Banker's Life and Casualty and All Care Insurance. Ruffin most enjoyed being involved with his children and always made it a point to support his children's various interests. This included coaching his son's baseball teams and supporting his daughter's interests in musical theater. Throughout his life, Ruffin was involved with baseball. As a youngster, Ruffin played Little League and as an adult played for several leagues. He coached baseball over ten years with various organizations such as the Evergreen Little League, Police Athletic League and Evergreen Valley high school in San Jose, California. "Coach Bruce" will always be remembered for his positive attitude and dedication to supporting not only his own children but to those he had the pleasure of coaching. An avid reader, Ruffin especially liked science fiction, history and science. He was a self described political junkie and his favorite TV channel was MSNBC. He was a loyal New York Yankees and San Jose Sharks fan.