Family meant everything to Timothy O’Rourke ’82. Growing up with five siblings, the O’Rourke household was always lively. Tim enjoyed sailing trips with his father and brothers, skiing at Lake Tahoe, house boating on Lake Shasta, camping, family vacations to Maui, and golfing with his brothers and daughter. Anytime there was a family dinner, Tim […]

George Greene ’50, a mechanical engineer and pioneer of the clean room industry, died Jan. 4, 2024. During his career, Greene designed a high-bay clean room for Lockheed Aircraft that later became the main assembly area for Lockheed’s satellites, both military and civilian, throughout the Cold War. Greene’s successful design became known to the engineers […]

Ever since his teen years, Edward Plonka ’78 had a soft spot for the elderly and volunteered at local nursing homes. Naturally, he became a doctor specializing in geriatrics and was known for his kindness and compassionate approach to aging. He also taught a biology of aging course for many years at SCU and after […]

In childhood, Maretta Ward J.D. ’94 was a busy kid—Girl Scouts, cheerleading, babysitting, track, and newspaper delivery. She attended UC Berkeley then Santa Clara Law. After two years of private practice, Maretta joined the California Department of Justice in the licensing section of the San Francisco office. She served as a Deputy Attorney General from […]

Paul Neumann ’59 found his life’s calling in teaching others. He was most fulfilled when working with people of all ages encountering college work for the first time. Paul later found work in educational leadership as a Modesto City Schools Board of Education trustee. He was often the biggest advocate for teachers’ interests, trying to […]

Jack Grant ’61 always found wonder, humor, and nuance in life. Jack’s childhood was marked by a love for tinkering and he’d go on to apply his engineering prowess to all things. He worked on the so-called “Mars Box”—a project to reproduce the Martian environment in a chamber—and computer modeling of aircraft infrared tail emissions […]

Esteemed Santa Clara baseball coach and former Cincinnati Reds player John Hardin Oldham died Feb. 24, 2024. Renowned for his 13-year coaching tenure, he secured three West Coast Conference titles and led the Broncos to four NCAA Tournaments. As a four-time WCC Coach of the Year, his legacy includes 433 victories and championships in 1994, […]

Patricia Hearne ’72 was a trailblazer and a remarkable mother to her seven children, infusing their lives with a multitude of interests, valuable life lessons, and, of course, love. Her children have countless fond memories of camping and exploring tide pools at the beach. Pat also loved animals, cultivating a particular passion for horses by […]

Beloved Spanish teacher Lazaro Garza M.A. ’71 died March 28, 2024. The son of an American Presbyterian missionary, Lazaro grew up in Mexico and came to the U.S. in high school to learn English. He majored in English at San Jose State University, then earned his master’s in Spanish at Santa Clara. He taught Spanish […]

Avid sports fan and Korean War veteran Gene Mellor ’64 died Feb. 15, 2024. Gene had a passion for sports and enjoyed many years of season tickets to San Francisco Giants and 49er games. He also coached rugby and soccer, and played in an adult softball league. Gene also a knack for cooking. He was […]

Peter Carcione ’63 had produce in his blood. His father was Joe Carcione, a television and media personality known as the “Green Grocer,”and his grandfather was Pete Carcione of Scatena Galli Produce Company. After serving in the Coast Guard, Pete started his own wholesale produce company in South San Francisco in 1969, Carmine’s Fresh Produce, […]

Larry Paxton ’76 has been awarded the 2024 International Astronautical Federation’s Distinguished Service Award. The award honors individuals for their contributions to the field of astronautics and the IAF. Paxton was lauded for his years of successfully organizing and chairing symposia for the International Astronautical Congress (IAC), an annual event co-sponsored by the IAF and […]

At a young age, Gary Ledesma M.A. ’73 learned how upward mobility could be achieved through education. He became a strong advocate for all students and worked ardently to improve San Joes City College’s campus climate. A staunch supporter of equity, Gary pushed to provide more resources and change the campus outlook for underrepresented and […]

Joe Allanson ’85 delivered the commencement address to the graduating class of University of San Francisco School of Management in December 2023. Joe spoke to the graduates about the importance of bringing your true and authentic self to the workplace each and every day, and said in order to change the world, their differences combined […]

John Picone J.D. ’96 made partner at Spencer Fane LLP and joined its rapidly growing intellectual property litigation practice group. Picone is a veteran leader of intellectual property litigation teams and has extensive trial experience in patent and trade secret cases nationwide. Picone has been an innovator, blending his extensive mission planning, organization, situational awareness […]

A lifelong San Jose resident born to Italian immigrant parents, Richard Pardini ’67 was known to family and friends as a charismatic man with a huge heart. Rich had a plethora of degrees and served as a combat engineer officer in the Army for more than six years. He was also awarded the Army Commendation […]

William Parra ’64 enriched the lives of everyone who crossed his path with kindness, compassion, and unwavering love. Bill sought to serve others and, after earning a bachelor’s in psychology from Santa Clara and a master’s in urban life from Georgia State University, made invaluable contributions to many essential public health initiatives. He dedicated 37 […]

Alfred Walsh Jr. ’54 had a successful career running his own private practice and serving as pro-tem district and circuit judge for Coos County, Oreg., and as municipal judge for the cities of Coquille and Myrtle Point. He was especially pleased to accept an appointment for several years as federal U.S. Magistrate for the Southern […]

A number of the class of 1979 gathered at Beach Chalet Restaurant in San Francisco on March 8, 2024, to celebrate Murder at Beach Chalet, co-authored by Paul Totah ’79. From left are Mike DeNeffe, Bob Dennis (Bucko), Tim Rueda, Don Nejedly (who organized the gathering), Bob McCarrick, Paul Totah, Jerry Henberger, Kat Anderson, Dan […]

Andrea Bergman J.D. ’95 has been appointed a United States magistrate judge (part-time) by the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.