Santa Clara Magazine

W. David Oke Jr. '66 on Feb. 8, 2010. A Menlo Park advertising executive, he died of heart failure at the age of 65. Born on 27 July 1944 in Michigan and raised in Southern California, Oke received a BA from Santa Clara in 1966 and an MA from Stanford in Communications, Broadcasting and Film Specialization. Oke was a cofounder of The Roanoke Company an advertising agency. For nearly four decades Oke was the creative director, art director, editor and product supervisor, and, ultimately, president of the agency. Roanoke got its start in 1973, after Oke and friends began the National Sam Ervin Fan Club to help impeach President Nixon. Seventy thousand people joined the club, whose success inspired Oke and friends to start a company working for people and causes they believed in. The Roanoke Company provided public service advertising, political consulting and public relations for environmental causes. Roanoke conceived and produced all media for the CHP's Motorcycle Safety Campaign, a ten-year effort culminating in a drop of 70 percent in fatalities. Roanoke also pioneered a "designated driver" approach for highway safety to reduce drunken driving accidents. More recently, Oke was the campaign manager for the successful campaign of Dolores Carr for District Attorney of Santa Clara County. Oke was a cofounder of Friends of the River. A loving husband, David married Lorraine Luther of Los Altos in 1984; they had one son, Adam James Oke. Lorraine and David recently celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary in Point Lobos, where they met. David was deeply devoted to his son, participating as a coach in Adam's youth basketball league. An enthusiast of Harry Potter, David could often be found reading from the series to his son and his classmates at their Woodside school, always careful to get "in character" to make the readings more magical. An avid fisherman and sports enthusiast with a wonderful sense of humor, David lived life with purpose and passion. He is survived by his wife, Lorraine; son, Adam; mother, Hilda; sister, Sherry; Aunt, Jo Harlow; and many dear friends and family members. David - You are dearly missed by all who knew and loved you. A memorial service was held March 4 at Stanford Memorial Church. Donations may be made to the Adam Oke Scholarship Foundation, Bank of the West, 5452 Sunol Blvd., Pleasanton, Ca. 94566.

Victor Lewis Parrino ’66, a resident of San Jose, passed away peacefully on Dec. 23, after a valiant battle with cancer. Vic was born in New Orleans, La., on Mar. 31, 1944, graduated from Bishop Garcia Diego High School in Santa Barbara, Calif., and earned a degree in history from Santa Clara University. He dedicated much of his free time to playing and coaching baseball, and retired in 1999 from a career as a sales rep with AAA. He enjoyed watching sports, attending SCU basketball games, gardening, reading, riding his bicycle, and rooting for his beloved San Francisco Giants.

He is survived by his loving wife and soul mate of 32 years, Rebecca; daughter Candice Sandoval-Moore (David) of Sacramento, grandchildren Jeremy Sandoval (Paola) of Sacramento, Stephanie Sandoval of Santa Clara, Amanda Taylor (Junior) of Mesa, Ariz., and Melissa Kingmixay (Tommy) of Mesa, Ariz., and 5 great granddaughters. Also survived by sister Rose Ellen Parrino of Santa Barbara, Calif. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Terry Greeley '66 on March 4, 2009.

Robert Elmer Pex MBA '66 entered into rest peacefully at home on September 22, 2011 after a long illness. Bob was born to John and Loretta Pex in Dunsmuir, Calif. on May 10, 1924. He was predeceased by his parents, and siblings John, Richard, James, and Audrey Janice. His childhood years were spent in Klamath Falls, Ore., where he graduated from Klamath Union High School. After receiving aeronautical technical training he was employed in the maintenance department of Pan American World Airways at San Francisco airport from 1943 to 1960. During World War II Pan Am operated as part of the Naval Air Transport Service in the Pacific. Pex spent 6 months stationed on Canton Island. Later he was sent to Honolulu, where he met and married Betty Marie Carlsten on August 6, 1948. After returning to the mainland Bob, while working full time, attended local College of San Mateo for his AA degree, San Jose State University for his BS in aeronautics, graduate work in engineering at Stanford University, and the University of Santa Clara for his MBA. In 1960 he went to work at Lockheed in Sunnyvale where he was an aerospace engineer until he retired in 1989. Pex thoroughly enjoyed both of his challenging careers. He had a lifelong interest in Scouting, having served as leader of a Scout troop in Honolulu, later on troop committees in Belmont and skipper of the Belmonster Sea Scout Ship and commodore of the San Mateo council. He received many awards of merit and the Silver Beaver award for his years of dedicated service. A lifelong member of the Congregational Church, Pex was a charter member of the Belmont UCC church, serving on many committees and as moderator and then as parliamentarian for many years. His volunteer activities included many hours preparing and serving meals for Samaritan House. He was a 35-year member of the Belmont Kiwanis Club, serving as president and lieutenant governor of Division VI, again giving hundreds of hours to service projects. He was a life member and past vice commandant for youth activities in the Redwood City American Legion Post. In recent years he enjoyed participating in a local SIRS group. His other interests included: learning to fly a single engine plane, cheering at 49er and Giants baseball games, holding season tickets for ACT and Hillbarn theaters for many years, attending opera and symphony performances, reading about history, and especially traveling. He felt fortunate that he had visited all fifty states and all seven continents, including 87 countries. He was devoted to his beloved wife Betty, his greatly loved children Barbara (Marvin) Bain, Carol Pex, and David (Jill) Pex, and his dear grandchildren Rebecca, Jessica, Bryan, Jennifer, Otto, Roy, and Josephine, and great grandchildren Kaleb, Jordan, Macy, Ben, Dylan, Cody, Ty, Jill, Julie, and Jennifer. He is also mourned by many cousins and friends, both local and around the world.

Marvin Coit '62, MBA '66 was born on September 19, 1937 in Oakland and passed away on July 1, 2011 in Monterey at the age of 73. He was predeceased by his father, Frank R. Coit and mother, Ruby. He attended schools in Mendota, Carmel, Oakland and graduated from High School at San Rafael Military Academy in 1955. He attended Santa Clara University and left school after his first year and served as a U.S. Marine Corps during the 1957 Lebanon Crisis and was stationed in Okinawa for two years. After his honorable discharge he returned to Santa Clara and graduated with a BA degree in 1962. He lost his wife, Roberta to cancer 3 months after his daughter Kelley was born. In 1964, Marv moved back to San Jose and returned to Santa Clara University and received his MBA degree in 1966.  After graduation he returned to Coit Ranch in 1966 to work with his father. In 1975 he established his own farming operation, Marv Coit Inc. on his Mendota Property and became a very successful and well respected farmer on the Westside of Fresno County. Throughout his 40 years of farming he grew various crops including cotton, tomatoes, almonds, pistachios, and much more. He was a great surfer and spent many afternoons on the water near Santa Cruz while attending Santa Clara. He was a passionate sportsman and retained an instinctive love for hunting and fishing. As a young man, he hunted deer and quail on his father's cattle ranch in Gilroy Mountains. He loved bird hunting and once was a member of several Duck Clubs in the Firebaugh/Los Banos area.  Marvin is survived by his daughters Kelley Coit Mauro of Colorado; Amy Coit of Santa Cruz; sons Mark and Mitchell Coit of Los Banos, Calif.; his son Michael Coit of Mendota, Calif.; granddaughter Bridget McNair, grandsons Brandon McNair of Lafayette, Colo.; Michael Mauro of Denver; great-granddaughter Izzebelle McNair Fielder of Colorado; sisters Penelope Schreiner of Kaneohe, Hawaii; Dayle Schmiederer and her husband Jim of Frenso, Calif.; his brother Bill Coit '64, MBA '66 and his wife Kathy of Fresno; his sister Julie Coit of South Lake Tahoe; and his brother Norris Coit of Genoa, Nev. Marvin was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, American Legion, and VetsFirst.

Lawrence Cronin '66 MBA '67, who owned an insurance brokerage in Menlo Park and belonged to the Menlo Circus Club, died May 30. He was the father of Kathleen Cronin ’96.

 James T. Godfrey '66 on August 22, 2009. He is survived by his wife, Beatta Godfrey. 

James F. Burke ’66 on March 19, 2010.

Henry Stanley Jakuc MBA '66 passed away peacefully at home on February 11, 2010. He was born in Queens, N.Y. to the late Anthony and Estelle Jakuc. Henry graduated from St. John Kanty Prep High School in Erie, Penn., received a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering, Cum Laude, from Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn in Brooklyn, NY, and an MBA from Santa Clara University. He served as an officer in the United States Army. Mr. Jakuc had a 40 year career with General Electric and also served as a consultant for Mobil Oil in Singapore. Hank is the beloved husband of Michael Ann Murphy Jakuc. Their early years together were spent in Clifton Park, NY where they raised their five children. An overseas assignment in 1992 transferred them to Singapore where they resided for 5 years and were able to travel extensively throughout Southeast Asia. Upon retirement, they settled at The Landings on Skidaway Island in Savannah, GA, where they traveled, golfed, played bridge, enjoyed wonderful friendships and frequent visits from their children and grandchildren. Mr. Jakuc was preceded in death by his brother, Richard Jakuc. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Michael Ann Murphy Jakuc; his daughter, Christina Jakuc O'Dell (Dee) of Charlotte, NC; his son, Peter Jakuc (Kathy) of St. Louis, MO; his son, Stephen Jakuc (Sara) of Denver, CO; his son, Kevin Jakuc of Minneapolis, MN; and daughter, Kathryn Jakuc of Minneapolis, MN. Granddaughters Alexanne, Clayton, Whitney O'Dell (Charlotte) and grandsons Grayson, Trevor, Carson Jakuc (St. Louis). He is also survived by a brother, Anthony Jakuc (Arlene) of Long Island, NY and sister-in-law, Sylvia Jakuc, of Kulpmont, PA.

Gene Joseph Antonides MS '66 died peacefully on May 13, 2012, after a battle with cancer.

Born Oct. 8, 1935 in Pensacola, Fla., he was the son of a naval officer and lived in many places in the country before graduating from high school in Coronado, Calif. He earned a degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Michigan in 1958. Later, he would complete master's degrees in physics and engineering from the University of Michigan and Santa Clara University.

After college he moved to California to work as an engineer for Lockheed Martin. He met Sally Parker and they married in 1961. They lived in Saratoga, Calif. for 36 years, where they raised their three children. Some of Gene's passions during this time included running, coaching Little League, gardening, and tutoring his kids in math and physics. Gene and Sally moved to Roseville, Calif. in 1999, where Gene volunteered with the Sun City Roseville Foundation and played tournament softball. He was a member of the 2008 national championship softball team for his age group.

Gene is survived by his wife of 51 years, Sally; his three children and their spouses: David Antonides ‘84 (Gaye VanDiggelen), Jill Antonides (Jorge Rodriguez) and Mark Antonides (Emily Han); five grandchildren; twin brother Gary; sister Mary; and brother Bruce.

Frederick James Sgambaty '66 passed away peacefully on Wednesday, August 5, 2009, at the age of 82. He was born on June 25, 1927, in Rochester, N.Y. Fred was a member of a large extended family of aunts, uncles, cousins, and many close friends. Music and playing the clarinet and saxophone were a big part of his life. He enjoyed playing in several bands over the years, and while serving during WWII, he was a member of the Navy Band. He graduated from Clarkson University in 1950 with a Bachelor's of Mechanical Engineering and earned his MBA from Santa Clara University in 1966. Fred worked at Kodak in Rochester, N.Y., for ten years where he met and married Dorothy, his loving wife of 55 years. In 1960, they moved to California where he began a successful career of 32 years at Lockheed Missiles and Space Company. They had two children Lisa and Jim, and three grandchildren, Aaron, Melissa, and Elijah. He is also survived by his sister, Marge (Sgambaty) Boccacino, her husband Joseph, nine nieces and nephews, all of Rochester. Fred, always the extrovert, was happiest when socializing with friends, neighbors, and anyone to whom he could lend a helping hand. He loved telling a good joke and making people smile. Fred will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

Francis Donald Hardy MBA '66,78, passed away on March 8, 2010 in Reno. He was born in Brooklyn, New York on March 15, 1931 to Frank and Lillian Hardy. Don grew up in the Seattle, Wash. area and joined the United States Air Force in 1953. In the Air Force, he was a pilot flying B-47's for the 33rd Bomb Squadron, 22nd Bomb Wing out of March Air Force Base, in California. After his military career, Don continued his education by receiving a Bachelor of Science degree at St. Louis University Parks College of Aeronautics. He went on to work on the Titan Solid Rocket Motor program for United Technologies. It was at that time he received his Master's Degree in Marketing and Finance from Santa Clara University. Don continued working at United Technologies until his retirement in 1984. He then relocated to the Tahoe area and started a new venture in real estate. He successfully began Incline Investment & Associates, selling real estate and brokering loans for local residents. He later moved to Reno and continued his business in real estate. Don was a devoted and loving father and is survived by his children, Carrie (Burke, VA), Leslie (Seal Beach, CA), Mary (Santa Fe, NM), and Michael (Las Vegas, NV). He left behind four grandchildren, Matthew, Lauren, Michael and Alexis. He is also survived by his first wife, Dolores, his three brothers, Bob, Bill and John and his two sisters, Kathy and Virginia and numerous nieces and nephews. Don was preceded in death by his second wife, Carol, and his parents. 

Edwin S. Schaller Jr. MBA ’66 was born on Jan. 16, 1929 and died Sept. 16, 2012. A former resident of Los Gatos, Ed was born in Chicago, Ill., and raised in Burbank, Calif. He attended Burbank High School, where he excelled in sports and served as senior class president. He received a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from UCLA and was extremely proud of his membership in the Kappa Sigma fraternity. He later attended Santa Clara University, where he earned his MBA. Shortly before graduating from UCLA, Ed was offered a job at Lockheed (following in his father's footsteps); this would become his home for the next 39 years. In 1954, a newly assigned secretary in his division, Diane Topp, caught his eye. They were married a year later in the Santa Barbara Mission chapel on Valentine's Day "so I wouldn't forget our anniversary!" In 1957, Ed was transferred to Sunnyvale and assigned to work on the Polaris Missile Program. He traveled extensively and never would, or maybe never could, talk about the nature of his work. Diane and Ed raised their 3 boys in Los Gatos and for 10 years Ed coached each as they rose through the ranks of the Quito Little League. Ed was also active in YMCA Indian Guides Gray-Y, in which he coached basketball flag football. He loved the outdoors, especially skiing fishing. The Family skied at Dodge Ridge, thawed out at the Mi-Wuk Motor Lodge, then headed off to Kelly's for dinner and a little pinball. Ed and his boys fished together at Yosemite's Saddlebag Lake and, in turn, they taught their own kids how to fish there. In April 2000, Ed and Diane moved to Rocklin, Calif. Diane was diagnosed with cancer in June of that year and passed away in August. Diane was the perfect housewife, but Ed surprised us all by making a home for himself and surviving 12 years without her support. He was active in the Springfield Senior community, especially at the fitness center, until a circulatory condition hampered his mobility. He kept much to himself, living quietly, enjoying daily crosswords puzzles, watching news on CNN and rooting for his beloved San Francisco Giants, UCLA Bruins, and adopted Sacramento Kings. Ed was lovingly cared for by his entire family during his final days, and he passed away peacefully with his son, Todd, by his side. Not surprisingly, his final words were, "Did the Giants win?" They sure did, Dad! Ed is predeceased by his parents, Edwin Spencer Schaller Sr and Ruth Eppinger Schaller, and is survived by his children- Mark (Amy) Schaller, Adam (Tricia) Schaller, Todd (Cherie) Schaller, and grandchildren- Trace, Alexandria, and Spencer, and Nik Robbins; and a sister, Jan Borchers Adams. 

Charles H. Lau '66, MBA '67, age 66, of Greenbrae, Calif., died suddenly on March 30, 2011, at Stanford Hospital after a brief illness. He passed peacefully with Marilee (Pierotti) Lau '69, his wife of 41 years, by his side. Chuck was born September 27, 1944 in Honolulu and was a 1962 graduate of Kamehameha Schools. He received a B.S. degree in 1966 and an MBA in 1967 from Santa Clara University. He worked as a financial analyst before starting his own real estate/investment consulting firm in SF/Marin. On March 28, 2011, shortly before his death, Chuck was welcomed into the Roman Catholic Church with the administration of the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Communion and Anointing of the Sick by Tennant Wright, S.J., from SCU. A memory of Chuck can be written at http://tributes.com/chucklau.
 

Benjamin B. Wood '66 of Muskegon, Mich., died on February 9, 2010.

Alan William Simila MBA ’66, resident of Brentwood, Calif., born on Jan. 26, 1940, passed away suddenly of a heart attack on Oct. 4, 2011, and joined his beloved soul mate of 48 years, Karen Hillman Simila, who preceded him in death 10 months prior. He is survived by his adoring daughters and sons-in-law, Molly (Juan) Tello, Susannah (Gary) Clark, and Anna (Brendan) O'Neil. Alan is also survived by his brothers, Dennis and Kurt Simila, and his sisters-in-law Melinda Hepner, Christina Hartevelt, and Paula Simila. He was a revered grandfather to Marlow, Savana, and Sierra Tello, Matthew and Samuel Clark, and August and Shane O'Neil; a great-grandfather to Sophia Tello; and an awesome uncle to many nieces and nephews. His family moved to La Crescenta, California, in 1953 where Alan studied hard and played the game he loved: basketball. A scholar and Glendale High School's first string All CIF Basketball player, Alan earned a full scholarship to Stanford University where he played basketball, was a member of Delta Tau Delta fraternity, and graduated with a bachelor of science in industrial engineering in 1962. He received a master's in business administration from Santa Clara University and began his management career in the utility industry. Alan enjoyed an extensive career at Pacific Gas and Electric Company. He loved traveling, watching athletic events, pheasant hunting, and listening to country music. Upon retirement, Alan cherished spending time with his wife, family, and friends; writing haikus; solving crossword puzzles; and reading. He was a gentle giant and a people person. Alan was the husband and father that girls dream of. His family and friends are truly blessed to have known him. His patience, kindness, integrity, and honesty continue to shine on and in all of us. 
Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/04/04/MNSIMILAAL040526.DTL#ixzz1rENBwn1k