Santa Clara Magazine

John Gallagher '50 has enjoyed retirement for the past 23 years after a 40-year career as a civil engineer with the Washington State Department of Transportation (1950-1990). John and his wife, Evelyn, have been married for 57 years, raised 5 children, and have 6 grandchildren. They are now residing in an assisted living facility in Tacoma, WA. 

Leslie R. Webber '53 writes that he retired in 1995 as a Chicago ER Doctor. His wife of 50 years, Clarine, died in January 2009. But he found new wife on E-Harmony, and moved in with her in Nashville two years ago. Webber authored the book An American Doctor's Life, Divinely Orchestrated, which gives life at Santa Clara in the ’50s in great detail; it can be found in the SCU library and on Amazon.com. He also plans on attending the Grand Reunion in October.

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

Don Eaton '59, J.D. '64 notes that he brought California Gov. Jerry Brown '59 to SCU for a WPO event regarding Brown's goals for the future of California in October, 2012. Pictured here: Eaton, Brown, and their wives. The event was catered by Donna Eaton Busse '90, also pictured. Brown and Eaton were debate partners at SCU. 

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.

Joseph Francis Miller ’63 writes, "Looking forward to October."

Freshman Dorm: O'Connor

Joe Meagher ’63 writes that prior to being discharged from the U.S. Navy in 1967, he married Karen (wife of 46 years) and began his teaching/coaching career at Menlo College, in California. In 2007, he retired from teaching at Woodinville High Schoo, in Washington state, where he taught history, coached basketball, and served as athletic director. Living in Bothell, Wash., he continues to coach (Jackson High School, Mill Creek) while enjoying the three grandchildren who live in the Puget Sound area.

Richard Wilson MBA '64 and his wife, Celia, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in March.

John "Jack" Hillis '66, President of Hillis Financial Services in San Jose, has been named to the LPL Financial Chairman's Council. This prestigious distinction is based on a ranking of revenues of all registered LPL advisors. Jack was ranked 90th of over 13,100 advisors.

Freshman Dorm: Day Student/Off Campus

Fred Rowe ’68 writes, "As a result of taking ROTC, I ended up in the Army in August 1968. Eventually, I went to helicopter flight school and served a year in Vietnam. I got out after 5 years, came back to San Jose State as a pre-med bio major and attended med school at UC-San Diego, graduating at age 35. After emergency medicine residency, I worked for 21 years for Kaiser-Permanente in the Sacramento area. I retired in 2005, joined the local Rotary club and got way more involved than I ever intended to. My two sons were Broncos in the classes of 2009 and 2011 and my wife, an SJSU grad, is probably the most gung-ho of the four of us over SCU."

David Murphy '68 is now an educational consultant, with special strengths in the areas of English learners, Latino student achievement, strategic planning and development of school programs that significantly raise student achievement for all students, including high and low achieving students. One of his clients (2005-2012) has been the California Association of Latino Superintendents and Administrators. He became a consultant after 37 years of public school service, including the last twenty years as superintendent of schools.

Terence Lyons '68 is the co-author of Preserving a Home for Veterans (Les Figues Press 2012), a historic and legal analysis of land use at the West Los Angeles VA property, which he wrote with colleagues at the Metabolic Studio in Los Angeles.

Freshman Dorm: O'Connor

Edward Desmond ’68 writes that he is living in San Lorenzo, Calif., with his wife, Grace, and still working as a microbiologist.

Dr. Patrick Foley '69 has recently published his book Missionery Bishop: Jean-Marie Odin in Galveston and New Orleans (Texas A&M University Press). He has spent more than 20 years researching and writing the book.

Steve Bric ’69 writes that he is president of Hibernia Woolen Mills, which he founded in 1997. The extremely successful company manufactures residential and contract wool carpeting, with plans for growth.  He operates the business with his wife, Sharon Bric, whom he married in January 1979. "We enjoy the special friendships we have with our staff," writes Bric, who has two kids: Erin (who graduated from Boston College ) and Kevin ’05.

While at SCU, Bric was station manager at KSCU Radio Station from 1967–1968. He was also a member of Delta Sigma Pi business fraternity. After four years in ROTC, he was commissioned 2nd lieutenant. He completed officer’s basic at Fort Bliss, Texas, in air defense artillery, and served two years at Fort Ord, Calif., as a range officer with combat skills. Bric served four years in reserve duty with the rank of captain. His brother was killed in action in Vietnam while serving with Special Forces Secret Unit (SOG), facts only discovered 10 years ago, when Secrecy Agreements ran out.

Frank Boitano ’69, MBA ’74 and his daughter Lauren summited Mt. Kilimanjaro on Jan. 17, 2013.