Saint Mary's Magazine - Summer 2011 by Saint Mary's College of California

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M A G A Z I N E

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S A I N T

M A R Y ’S

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C A L I F O R N I A

V o l u m e 3 1 • N u m b e r 3 • S UMMER 2 0 1 1

SAINT MARY’S

can we talk?

Executive EDITOR

J. Elizabeth Smith EDITOR

Jo Shroyer creative director

Bob Ciano art director

Karen Kemp Graphic designer

Gail P. Johnston staff writerS

Teresa Castle Mike McAlpin Poetry Editor

Christopher Sindt contributors

Alixandra Beuche ’11 Chris Carter ’97 MA ’02 Tim Farley Kelly Fisher ’11 Caitlin Graveson ’11 Jason Horger Richard Paddock Daniel Weintraub ADVISORY BOARD

Brother Dominic Berardelli, FSC Chris Carter ’97 MA ’02 Rich Davi Heidi Donner Gina Meneni ’99 Lisa Moore ’96 Ron Olowin Ed Tywoniak ’75

The Saint Mary’s College of California experience inspires learning that lasts a lifetime. The College’s rigorous education engages intellect and spirit while awakening the desire to transform society. We are all learners here — together, working to understand and shape the world. For more information, see stmarys-ca.edu. Saint Mary’s magazine is published quarterly. Please send comments to news@stmarys-ca.edu or call (925) 631-4278. Please submit name and address changes to Donna Foster at dkf2@ stmarys-ca.edu or write Saint Mary’s College, P.O. Box 4300, Moraga, CA 94575-4300.

Letter from the editor

publisher

Michael Beseda ’79

Can we talk? Moreover, can we disagree with each other without using words as weapons? A political argument once injured one of my oldest friendships. A discussion on my Facebook wall took a sudden, angry turn when a “friend” whom I’d never met face-to-face joined in on a conversation and let loose political invective against a true friend I’ve known all my life. I tried to divert the discussion away from the heated rhetoric, but they kept at it. My lifelong friend — whose son has served several tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan — could not tolerate being called un-American. She blamed me for not adequately defending her and this incident became a litmus test of our friendship. She and I have been as close as sisters and have much in common, but our political views have drifted far apart over the years. Now, we are finding our way back from this experience, because we both know that some things simply transcend politics. So, I ask you — how do we remain open to the complexities of truth, to the heartfelt concerns of others whose ideas differ from ours? And how do we get anything done as citizens or solve serious problems, if we are so opposed to each other’s views that we can’t even listen? These questions touch on the very core of Saint Mary’s educational mission and inform the writing in this issue of our magazine. The Saint Mary’s ethos is grounded in the idea that diversity of thought, brought together in the discussion of great books and challenging ideas, is central to a mind-expanding education. This is a risky venture, throwing open the doors to a complicated world. Assumptions are challenged. But the journey allows our students to understand and embrace their spiritual identities, navigate choppy waters, contribute to answers instead of discord, and approach the world with an open, listening heart. Jo Shroy er Editor

SAINT MARY’S S UMMER 2 0 1 1 • Number 3

12 Can We Talk?

•

What can Saint Mary’s contribute to the art of dialogue in politics and in life?

Volume 31

14 The Great Divide

Our experts weigh in on the divisive rhetoric that marks our national political debate

20 Working Across the Aisle

Three alumni who tried to bridge the partisan chasm in the state capital

26 The Starry Messenger

A day in the life of Collegiate Seminar, graphic novel-style

32 Talk, Talk, Talk For today’s students, as ever, talk is a path to self-knowledge

2 feedback | events 4 the arcade

34 the quad

Alumni Awards | Surviving the Japan Quake and Tsunami | Come to the Reunion

8 gael glimpses 3 44 in memoriam 45 endnote

e v e n t s

JUNE 24

Quarterly San Francisco Social Mixer 4–6 p.m. Jillian’s of San Francisco Come join your fellow Gaels to decompress from the last quarter and re-energize for a spectacular summer. We have a private room reserved at Jillian’s, 101 Fourth Street, San Francisco, for this quarterly social mixer. RSVP at smcbusinessalumni.com/events.

J U LY 6

Con t in u es t hrough S ep t ember 11

Pam Glover Retrospective Hearst Art Gallery Popular plein air painter and teacher Pam Glover will be celebrated through her Northern California landscape paintings and marvelous post-WWII fashion illustrations. Adults $4, gallery members, SMC community and youths (12 and under), free.

12 Values and Leadership: Igniting Engagement, Collaboration and Service 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. This free webinar with Brian Hall of Values Technology, Inc., will demonstrate the powerful connection between values and leadership development and will explore ways to develop the skills to reach personal and professional goals. To sign up, email Louise Goeckel at lag4@stmarys-ca.edu.

Spring Blossoms, Bear Creek Road, Orinda, Pam Glover (1924–2010)

campus for a weekend of fun and festivities. Relive your college days at reunion weekend and reminisce with old friends. See complete list of events and RSVP at stmarys-ca.edu/reunion11.

13 Graduate Business Student & Alumni SERVE Event — San Francisco 5:45– 8 p.m. San Francisco Food Bank Join forces with fellow Gaels to help a local food bank put together meals for those in need. RSVP early to smcbusinessalumni.com/serve; participation is limited to 15 volunteers. Questions? Contact Jackie Williams at jyw1@stmarys-ca.edu.

15 Con t in u es t hrough j u ly 17 Reunion Weekend 2011 Alumni of the classes of ’36, ’41, ’46, ’51, ’61, ’66, ’71, ’76, ’81, ’86, ’91, ’96, ’01 and ’06 are invited back to

Leadership for the 21st Century: Enhancing Effectiveness in an Increasingly Diverse World 9:30 a.m.– 4:30 p.m. Hagerty Lounge Enhance your understanding and practice of the leadership needed in diverse, complex organizations. Register by July 1 at smcleadership.org. General admission, $425; Discounted rate for HR West attendees, Bay Area Latino Network, Graduate Leadership & Graduate Business alumni, $350.

AUGU S T 13

Women’s Soccer Inter-squad Game & Kickoff 4 p.m. Bertain Redwood Grove Meet the 2011 women’s soccer team and coaches, preview the coming season and help support Gael Athletics. The kick-off event includes a season preview, gourmet BBQ, silent auction and raffle. $40; $40 Sponsor-a-Player. RSVP to stmarys-ca.edu/kick-off. If you want to watch the inter-squad game at Saint Mary’s Stadium, arrive at 2 p.m. Proceeds benefit the Women’s Soccer Team Fund. Questions? Contact Kathryn Mayerhofer at (925) 631-4200 or alumni@ stmarys-ca.edu.

7th Annual Summer Wine Festival 2– 5 p.m. Soda Center Enjoy an afternoon of wine tasting and delicious appetizers at the Summer Wine Festival while supporting student scholarships. Learn more and RSVP at stmarys-ca.edu/wine. $35 per person through August 7; $45 thereafter.

ENTER TO LEARN, LEAVE TO SERVE, CHANGE A LIFE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THE BROTHERS’ VOCATION AND LASALLIAN EDUCATION, PLEASE VISIT: brothersvocation.org or lasallenetwork.org

D e l a sa l l e c h ris t ia n bro t h e rs

SUMMER 2011

5th Quarter Football Alumni Picnic Noon– 3 p.m. Bertain Redwood Grove Join fellow football lovers for a picnic hosted by the SMC Football Alumni Chapter, who preserve the history and legacy of Saint Mary’s football. $25/adult, $10/child. RSVP to stmarys-ca.edu/5thquarter.

For all alumni events, you can RSVP online at stmarys-ca.edu/alumni-and-friends/ alumni-events/index.html

f e e d b a c k 15

9 th Annual Graduate Business Alumni Golf & Bocce Tournament 10 a.m.– 7 p.m. (golf); 1 p.m.– 7 p.m. (bocce) Diablo Country Club RSVP by June 30 Come as a single, double or foursome for the Alumni Golf & Bocce tournament. All levels welcome! This year, we have a bocce lesson and tournament for non-golfers. Visit saintmarysmba.com/golf for more information. RSVP by June 30 for a chance to win a special raffle prize. If you’d like to participate as a sponsor, contact Jackie Williams at jyw1@stmarys-ca.edu or (925) 631-4653.

M AY 14

Graduate Business Student & Alumni SERVE Event — East Bay 5:45– 8 p.m. Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano Counties, Concord, CA. Join forces with fellow Gaels to help the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano put together meals for those in need. RSVP early at smcbusinessalumni.com/serve; participation is limited to 15 volunteers. Questions? Contact Jackie Williams at jyw1@stmarys-ca.edu.

SMC Guild Opening Luncheon 11 a.m.– 2 p.m. Soda Center Kick off the new academic year at this event for members or those who wish to join the guild. A portion of the proceeds will support the SMC Scholarship Fund. $22. RSVP to Billie Jones at billiej18@comcast.net or (925) 254-3645.

OCTOBER 2

Con t in u es t hrough DEC ember 18

William Keith Anniversary Exhibit Hearst Art Gallery The 100th anniversary exhibit will feature more than 140 paintings by Keith, along with a new publication on the artist’s life and work and special events. Adults $4; gallery members, SMC community and youths (12 and under), free.

Italian Night 6– 9 p.m. Soda Center Enjoy a grand evening of Italian food, music and fellowship for SMC Guild members and their guests. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the SMC Scholarship Fund. $32. RSVP to Billie Jones at billiej18@comcast.net or (925) 254-3645.

Continues through november 1

Join alumni and SMC community members in an exciting journey to the Emerald Isle. You’ll travel from Dublin to Galway to Killarney and visit the National Library, Aran Island, Blarney Castle and much more. Estimated cost from SFO: $2799 per person or $4867 per couple. Registration and $1000 deposit deadlines: June 22 (Bay Area); July 14 (non-Bay Area). To learn more, go to stmarys-ca.edu/alumni-and-friends/ LifelongLearninginIreland.html. To register, email Grete Stenersen, Lifelong Learning director, at gsteners@stmarys-ca.edu.

READERs OFFENDED BY LANGUAGE Why would you waste a page of the magazine with a insipid poem like The Negatives on page 45? In addition, we were offended by the language! And please don’t use “academic freedom” as an excuse! What happened to good judgment? Please remove us from the circulation list. S. J. Kukawka, Vista, CA

I am delighted to hear that readers of the magazine are reading and responding to Christine Fort’s “The Negatives.” I selected the poem for that issue’s “creative spirit” theme in part because it dwells in the power of art: it is a poem about listening to a record album, and the poem’s speaker, after initially responding negatively, comes to an understanding of the album’s power and usefulness. I find this poem, due to its rich display of double meanings, densely packed sound and use of colloquial speech, also gets better and better with multiple readings. —Christopher Sindt, Poetry Editor

MAGAZINE RESONATES WITH ENERGY I have really become quite fond of this beautiful little magazine; it resonates such an energy as I hold it here in my hands. Thanks to all for the work you do. Patrick Bennet ’91, San Jose

Dear Readers: We welcome your comments. Please send letters to news@stmarys-ca.edu, or mail to the Office of College Communications, Saint Mary’s College, Box 5165, Moraga, CA 94575. Please include your class year and hometown. Letters may be edited for space and clarity. www.stmarys-ca.edu 3

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financial roles, was the first

Two Women Leaders Speak at Commencement

alumna on Saint Mary’s Board of Regents, the first female president of the Alumni Association and the first Alumna of

As Saint Mary’s capped

the Year.

its yearlong observance of

the 40th anniversary of the

ate students received diplomas.

entrance of women to the

After the ceremony, guests and

College, two high-profile

graduates spread out across

women leaders addressed

campus to honor a longstand-

commencement ceremonies

ing tradition at Saint Mary’s:

on May 21 and 22.

the festive party on the lawn.

Sherie Swiess Dodsworth

More than 530 undergradu-

Among the partiers was

’78, CEO of Securita, Inc.,

Stephanie Milz, an enthusiastic

spoke at the 148th Under-

business major who will be join-

graduate Commencement

ing Insight Global as a recruiter

ceremony on May 21 and

in June. “This is the best day

encouraged the graduates to

at Saint Mary’s because you’re aim high. “Believe in yourself,” she advised. “You are a member of a community that welcomes involvement and leadership, celebrates accomplishments, embraces new ideas and change, and encourages you to pursue your passions.”

Dodsworth, who has

served in a variety of senior

New Dean for Kalmanovitz School of Education

hyllis Metcalf-Turner, an educator with extensive expertise in teacher preparation and literacy issues, has been appointed Dean of the Kalmanovitz School of Education (KSOE) at Saint Mary’s. Her appointment began June 15, 2011. Most recently the chair of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at Illinois State University, Metcalf-Turner was chosen after a highly competitive national search. Her research has focused particularly on advancing the achievement of underserved populations. Her responsibilities at Illinois State included oversight of six nationally accredited teacher education programs. “Phyllis has exemplary leadership skills in undergraduate and graduate teacher education and diversity initiatives,” said SMC Provost Beth Dobkin. 4

SUMMER 2011

“Her personal investment in social justice and civic engagement profoundly resonates with the mission of the College and the work of the Kalmanovitz School of Education.” Metcalf-Turner earned a doctoral degree in education policy and administration and a master’s degree in journalism scientific communication at the University of Minnesota. She also received a master’s degree in speech/language pathology and a bachelor’s degree in special education from Easter Michigan University. “Saint Mary’s is nationally recognized for its innovative teacher preparation, leadership programs and academic solutions to real world problems in our nation’s schools,” Metcalf-Turner said, noting how honored she is by her appointment as the new dean of the KSOE. “I look forward to building on the many achievements of the School of Education, working with its impressive faculty and continuing its mission of fostering K-12 academic excellence and social equity through transformative teacher training.” – mike mcalpin

curriculum while maintaining full-time careers and managing the needs of their families.

Sunne Wright McPeak,

president of the California Emerging Technology Fund,

Area Council, Bay Area Eco-

told the graduates: “Know

nomic Forum and California

that each person counts

State Association of Counties.

and that one person always

can make a difference.” She

from the Graduate Business

recalled how that adage held

programs, the Kalmanovitz

true when she won her first

School of Education, the M.A.

election to the Contra Costa

in Leadership, MFA in Creative

County Board of Supervisors

Writing, M.A. in Kinesiology,

Students received degrees

by just two votes. She went

the Liberal Education for Arts

on to serve as secretary of the

Professionals (LEAP) program,

California Business, Transpor-

and the new B.A. in Leadership

tation and Housing Agency

and Organizational Studies

and as president of the Bay

program, a hybrid online program for working adults

here with your family and

launched in 2009.

friends,” she said.

The next day, 395 students

the program’s first graduates,

received diplomas in the first

was thrilled to finally hold

combined Graduate and Profes-

her diploma. “Initially, I came

sional Programs Commence-

just to get a piece of paper,

ment. Brother President Ronald

but I got so much more than

Gallagher, FSC, praised the

what I bargained for,” she

students as “the embodiment

said. “Ninety percent of what I

of multitasking” for the way

learned, I’m already applying.”

they had navigated a rigorous

– Teresa Castle

Juanita Eberhart, one of

Honors Program Celebrates a Milestone Fifteen members of the Saint Mary’s 2011 graduating class celebrated another milestone at commencement ceremonies in May. They were the first graduating class in the Honors Program, founded in 2007 when they were freshmen. The group leaves behind a significant legacy — helping to shape a thriving program that today includes 250 students. – Jo shroyer

More online

stmarys-ca.edu/ honorsmilestone www.stmarys-ca.edu 5

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Saint Mary’s Breaks Ground for Recreation Center and Ballpark

Max Crowell

ou could almost hear the cries of “Play ball” as Saint Mary’s College broke ground this spring for a new 1,500seat baseball stadium and announced plans for a $30 million athletics and recreation corridor. The centerpiece of the project is the 52,000-square-foot Joseph L. Alioto Recreation Center, named for the 1937 alumnus who served as mayor of San Francisco from 1968 to 1976. This project “will create a much-needed center for academic, personal and recreational activities and contribute to the good health and successful competitive spirit of Saint Mary’s,” said Brother Ronald Gallagher, FSC, the College president, as he looked out over the site. The outline of the new ballpark was chalked on the lush, green lawn, and a stand to one side offered

“Angels Among Us” Captivates SMC Audiences The Performing Arts Department’s spring theatre festival – “Angels Among Us: The Worde Made Flesshe” – offered a series of short plays from the Bible, ranging from “Creation” to “Adam and Eve” and the “Last Judgment.” Mounted on giant hay wagons rolled on and off the Chapel plaza each day, the plays were akin to the great open-air drama cycles of medieval Europe. – Teresa Castle

More online

stmarys-ca.edu/angels

SUMMER 2011

free popcorn and Cracker Jacks. The new recreation and aquatics center will feature: • An 8,000-square-foot fitness center with weight training and cardio areas • A pool designed to accommodate lap swimming, lessons and water sports • A climbing wall • Multipurpose rooms for group fitness classes • Outdoor patio areas for socializing, studying and community events • Three full-sized courts for indoor and intramural sports, including basketball, soccer and volleyball Athletic Director Mark Orr welcomed the new complex, saying it will provide “a wonderful opportunity for students, faculty and staff

to engage with each other” and will be a boon to recruitment “not just for student athletes but for all students.” The College has raised $21 million so far for the project and will raise the remaining amount over the next year. The Kalmanovitz Charitable Foundation has provided the lead gift of $10 million for the recreation center. The sons of Raymond Syufy ’40 and their wives — Raymond W. ’84 and Ricki Syufy, and Joseph ’87 and Michelle Growney Syufy ’88 — are also major supporters of the project. The K.H. Hofmann Foundation, led by Kenneth Hofmann ’45 and his daughter, Lisa Hofmann Morgan ’81, is the lead donor for the ballpark. Among the honored guests at the groundbreaking were Moraga Mayor Karen Mendonca, Regent Emeritus Bernie Orsi ’65, and Trustees Thomas O’Donnell ’60, Raymond W. Syufy ’84, Louisa Garaventa-Binswanger ’77 and Steve M. Smith ’85 and Kathleen Sullivan Alioto, widow of Joseph Alioto. Jedd Soto, head baseball coach, said the new ball field will help Saint Mary’s continue the legacy of Gaels baseball. Baseball was the first intercollegiate sport played at Saint Mary’s, dating back to 1889, and 62 Gaels have gone on to play in major league baseball, including Hall of Famer Harry Hooper, Von Hayes, Tom Candiotti and Mark Teahen, the third baseman for the Chicago White Sox. First-year students Dominique Sala and Don La Barre were excited about the new recreation center. Sala, who is working to put together a women’s lacrosse club team, said she was thrilled with the project because the current athletic facilities on campus “are mostly for the athletic teams, but the new facility will be for everyone.” For more information, including artist’s renderings and ways to contribute to the new Athletics and Recreation Corridor, visit stmarys-ca. edu/ARC. – Teresa Castle

Shomari Carter

L to R: Kathleen Alioto (widow of Joseph Alioto), Ray Syufy ’84, Brother President Ronald Gallagher and Bernie Orsi ’65.

www.stmarys-ca.edu 7

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The Power of the Fan: A Gael Force

aint Mary’s men’s basketball has enjoyed two stellar seasons, and a key factor in their strong home record — 15–3 at home this season and 14–2 last season — has been the support of the fans, said Head Coach Randy Bennett. “We have such an incredible home court advantage and that’s because of the energy and excitement created by our students,” he said. The credit goes largely to Gael Force — Saint Mary’s official student spirit club — which was re-established in 2001 and is now the largest club on campus, growing this year by around 400 to a total membership of 1,615. The club has been so popular, according to senior Gianna Pascale, a member of the Gael Force executive team, “because we are a Cinderella story and people buy in to that and want to support it.” On game nights, as many as 700 students crowd into the lower-level section across from the bench, standing shoulder-to-shoulder, presenting a united wall of support by sporting the latest Gael Force shirt. Throw in the signs, the face and body paint, and chants like “Defense, Gaels, Defense” and “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie” at every possession, and these students are a formidable force. Meanwhile, the close quarters in McKeon Pavilion seem to magnify the Force’s impact. “Gael Force brings excitement to the games and intimidates the other teams because they

[the fans] are so close to the court,” said transfer junior forward Rob Jones, a transfer student who wasn’t used to this kind of fan support at the University of San Diego. “At McKeon, fans show up and are loud at every game,” he said. “It’s exciting to play here.”

reputation as a challenging place to play. “Is this the atmosphere that they have for every game?” asked Davidson’s head coach, Bob McKillop. “It just blows my mind that they have this kind of crowd. Saint Mary’s deserves credit for having a crowd that’s that supportive.”

Cross-court cheers between the student and the alumni/community sections have become popular, too. Mike Johnson ’87, a loyal fan who lives in Orange County, brings signs to lead the crowd in “Go Gaels” cheers. He came up with the idea after, “loss of voice the day after a game,” he joked. If it were up to him, the crowd would be even louder. Gael Force has also contributed to McKeon’s

For Bennett, the crowd support is a tremendous motivator for the players. “Gael Force has really helped turn McKeon Pavilion into one of the best environments for college basketball in the country. Their passion energizes our players and really helps give us an edge over our opponent every time our guys go on the court.” – Ca itlin Gr aveson ’11

continue to turn in stirring performances.

onships. The Dutch standout drew national attention after knocking

Senior point guard Mickey

off the No. 1 player in the nation

McConnell became a household

during the spring season, going

name among fans of college

undefeated in the WCC and earning

basketball when he hit a thrilling

league Player of the Year honors.

last-second game-winning shot

in SMC’s big win at Gonzaga. He

teams finished among the top

was named the WCC Player of the

three in the West Coast Confer-

Year and represented the Gaels at

ence — men’s basketball, women’s

for the intercollegiate athletics

the national college all-star game.

basketball, men’s tennis, women’s

program at Saint Mary’s. From the

McConnell joined Rob Jones and

tennis and volleyball — and numer-

men’s basketball team’s first West

Matthew Dellavedova as all-WCC

ous Gaels earned all-league and

Coast Conference regular-season

honorees.

academic all-conference honors.

title since 1997 to the women’s

tennis team’s second straight

Alex Poorta became the first Gael

Gaels athletics: SMCGaels.com.

invitation to the NCAA

ever to be invited to play in the

– Courtesy SMC Athle t ic

Tournament, the Gaels

singles draw at the NCAA champi-

Communicat ions

A Great Year for Gaels It has been another great year

Alex Poorta

Senior women’s tennis player

Overall, five Saint Mary’s sports

For complete information on

Saint Mary’s faculty enrich their teaching and contribute to the community of scholars through research and publishing activities. Financial Crises and Recession in the Global Economy, Third Edition, 2009

Managing Your Future: An Educational Guide, 2010

Roy E. Allen, School of Economics and Business Administration (SEBA)

Belal Kaifi, SEBA

In this newly revised and updated edition, Allen documents and explains major financial instabilities and trends across the global economy since the 1970s, including the crisis that began in 2008 and the long boom preceding it.

Faculty BOOKS

The author analyzes 21st century education and offers practical advice in this comprehensive guide to getting into the best colleges, choosing a major, succeeding academically, balancing time and money and starting a career.

Undermining Race: Ethnic Identity in Arizona Copper Camps, 1880–1920, 2009

Stalker Girl, 2010

Phylis Martinelli, School of Liberal Arts (SOLA)

This young adult novel is about a girl whose curiosity about her ex-boyfriend’s new love interest starts a little harmless online research and spirals out of control.

The author re-examines the history of race, immigration and labor in the copper industry in Arizona, focusing on Italian immigrants and their relationships with Anglo, Mexican and Spanish miners (and at times with blacks, Asian Americans and Native Americans).

“Selected Poems” in Days I Moved through Ordinary Sounds: The Teachers of WritersCorps in Poetry and Prose, edited by Chad Sweeney, 2009

Christopher Sindt, SOLA This collection documents 15 years of the National WritersCorps program, a successful experiment in which accomplished writers offered creative writing workshops in juvenile detention facilities, homeless shelters, inner-city schools and centers for newly arrived immigrants.

Cohen’s Law, 2010

Stephen Sloane, SOLA

Rosemary Graham, SOLA

Crown of Dust, 2010

Mary Volmer, SOLA Disguised as a boy, a young girl runs from her past into the rough and tumble Gold Rush-era town of Motherlode. She is the first to strike gold and finds herself fighting to protect her secrets and her life. In the process, she also discovers friendship, redemption and even love.

Corporate Governance Failures: The Role of Institutional Investors in the Global Crises, 2011.

The book’s intrepid hero stumbles through life, hunting for that most elusive prize of all — happiness. On the way, he tries to make sense of a nonsensical world, rejecting expectations of family, religious belief, scientific method, lessons of education, comforts of wealth, illumination of literature and wisdom of philosophy. How can he achieve a goal that eludes so many?

James P. Hawley, Shyam J. Kamath and Andrew T. Williams, SEBA

“Towards a New Political Economy of Central Banking,” a chapter in After the Crisis: Rethinking Finance, edited by Thomas LagoardeSegot, 2010.

Audits of Banks, Savings Institutions, Credit Unions, and other Financial Institutions, Third Edition; American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), 2011

Roy E. Allen and Kristine Chase, SEBA

Professor Tom Cleveland, SEBA

The contributors to this book illustrate new paths in economic research by examining the 2007-2010 financial crisis from perspectives that fall outside the conventional theoretical paradigm and, by virtue of their nonconformity, provide a fresh viewpoint.

A continuing professional education self-study.

“Locating the United States in TwentiethCentury World History” in Essays on Twentieth Century History, edited by Michael Peter Adas for the American Historical Association, 2010

Literacy Leadership to Support Reading Improvement Intervention Programs and Balanced Instruction, 2011

Carl Guarneri, SOLA The contributions in this collection cover key themes, the literature and the debates in American history from 1870 through the early 2000s, all by leading historians with expertise in the wide variety of sub-fields explored.

This collection addresses the largely unexamined role of large institutional investors in the recent global financial crisis and how shareholding organizations exposed themselves and their clients to risky investment tools, failed to effectively monitor them, and ignored corporate governance principles and best practices.

Professor Mary Kay Moskal, Kalmanovitz School of Education (KSOE) Packed with vivid examples from actual schools, this book explores specific ways literacy leaders can partner with teachers to meet all students’ instructional needs.

www.stmarys-ca.edu 9

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Hisham Ahmed By Richard C. Paddock

Hisham Ahmed is in the West Bank this summer serving as an observer in local Palestinian council elections. He was photographed near the wall between East Jerusalem and Abu Dis. 10

SUMMER 2011

Tanya Habjouqa

hen the Berlin Wall came down in 1989, a friend brought Hisham Ahmed a small piece of the wall — a souvenir to mark the end of an era of injustice. Ahmed, now a professor of political science at Saint Mary’s College, carried that rock with him wherever he went. In 1995, he returned to his childhood home, the crowded Dheisheh Refugee Camp near Bethlehem in the West Bank. By then he was an international scholar and his visit coincided with Israel’s withdrawal from the West Bank and the handover of power to the Palestinian Authority. For a brief time, there was no central government overseeing Dheisheh. When Israeli soldiers abandoned the entry checkpoints, residents rushed from the camp to Bethlehem to celebrate their newfound freedom. Ahmed, however, had his own celebration in mind. He hired a man with a bulldozer to knock down the hated concrete wall and barbed-wire fences that had long kept residents hemmed in. Ahmed rode shotgun and they spent all evening on the bulldozer Faculty knocking down barriers and fencing. Profile When the residents returned, they were elated. “I decided to tear down that wall to signal that this was the beginning of freedom for people to move in and out,” he said. “When I think about it today, nothing makes me happier.” He kept a piece of that wall too. Ahmed is one of the few to escape the squalid camp for life as an academic. Now 48, the soft-spoken professor received a bachelor’s degree from Illinois State and a master’s and doctoral degrees from UC Santa Barbara. He was a Fulbright scholar in Palestine in 1993 and 1994 and taught political science at Birzeit University in the West Bank before coming to Saint Mary’s. But perhaps most extraordinary about his story is that he has been blind since birth. Ahmed, who has authored a study on suicide bombings and a book on Hamas, is often called on to comment on events in the Middle East. He applauds the current wave of democratic rebellions across the Arab world and hopes that the turmoil in Libya ends with the ouster of dictator Muammar Kaddafi by his own people. The much-delayed democratization in the Middle East is important not only to end injustice, he said, but to prevent extremism by offering peaceful means to bring about change.

A r c a d e While some in the West have been surprised by the democratic uprisings in the Arab world, Ahmed said what surprised him the most was that it took so long for the revolutions to occur, particularly in Egypt where President Hosni Mubarak stepped down in February after 30 years in power. Mubarak had long abused his power, milking the country for his personal enrichment and institutionalizing corruption. “Mubarak’s rule had completely destroyed any creativity and talent in Egypt,” Ahmed said. “It planted the seed of radicalization and extremism in a country that was known to be rather pragmatic and open to the rest of the world. The imprisonment of so many people created an atmosphere of despair and frustration. Not everybody knows how to handle despair and frustration, and many resort to extremism.” Ahmed praised the discipline and peaceful methods of the Egyptian uprising at its beginning. And he said the leading role of women in the protests was a major step forward for Arab nations, where women are constant victims of discrimination and harassment. “The revolution in Egypt was long overdue and it was a most beautiful role model for other societies to follow,” he said. The Egyptian rebellion, and the revolution in Tunisia that preceded it, inspired protests throughout the Middle East that threatened to sweep neighboring dictators from power. But in Libya, the willingness of Kaddafi to slaughter civilians slowed the pace of democratization and emboldened other autocrats in places such as Syria, Iran, Morocco, Yemen and Bahrain. Ahmed applauded the United States and its NATO allies for establishing a no-fly zone in Libya and expressed hope that the Obama administration would continue to Hisham Ahmed navigate the delicate middle ground between helping the rebels and heavy-handed intervention. “Kaddafi’s behavior has really disturbed the rhythm in the Arab world, and if he succeeds that could be a very dangerous precedent for other dictators in the Arab world to follow,” Ahmed said. “We are at a standoff between two trends, the Egyptian model and the Libyan model. The fall of Kaddafi would certainly speed up the fall of other ruthless dictators in the Arab world. Other dictators, I believe, are looking at the Libyan experience and saying to themselves, ‘Brute force might do the job. Let’s do what Kaddafi is doing.’” For Ahmed, growing up in a refugee camp under Israeli occupation instilled in him a passion for combating injustice. Remarkably, he bears no bitterness toward a society that trapped his family and a

generation of Palestinian refugees in misery. Looking back, he wonders how he managed to survive the harsh conditions of the refugee camp. In 1948, the new Israeli state evicted Ahmed’s family from their home in Zakariyya, where they had owned hundreds of acres, Ahmed said. His parents fled to the teeming Dheisheh camp, where they lived for years in a tent. His mother gave birth to five sons and a daughter who all died in early childhood. Two other daughters survived, along with Ahmed and his younger brother, who also was born blind. Many years later, Ahmed learned that their blindness was likely caused by a vitamin E deficiency when their mother was pregnant. “Life in the camp was terrifying at times, especially as a child,” he recalled. “There were soldiers everywhere. A bullet pierced the house and missed my brother by an inch.” The family managed to move from the tent to a one-room structure with a zinc roof that leaked whenever it rained. The fence around the camp and the checkpoint manned by soldiers were always a hindrance. “For me as a blind person it was doubly difficult to get in and out of the camp,” he said. When Ahmed was four, his father took him to Egypt to see a leading eye specialist. The doctor said there was nothing he could do to give young Ahmed his sight and urged his father to focus on the boy’s education. It was a message his father took to heart. He arranged for Ahmed to attend schools for the blind until the ninth grade, when he transferred to a public high school. Ahmed studied hard, knowing it was the only way he could become independent. In 12th grade, Ahmed took the national exam that would determine his future. He placed third in the entire occupied Palestinian territory, enabling him to study in the United States. “When I view my own experience and wonder how I managed to overcome the many hardships, it is not computable,” he said. “I made it against all odds and adversity. It was a constant struggle from day one.” Living in Dheisheh, he learned resilience, perseverance and determination. He developed a passion for human rights and a hatred for walls that trap people. “No people should be confined in such a large prison,” he said. “It deforms people’s lives and character and behavior.”

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Shomari carter

“A good teacher is one who refreshes his or her mind constantly with new information through research. Certainly field research to meet players and makers of public opinion gives the most valuable of information, and I make sure to bring that to my students.”

Richard C. Paddock is a former Los Angeles Times reporter and foreign correspondent. During a decade overseas, he reported from nearly 50 countries, including Russia, Indonesia,

Burma and Iraq.

Great

The

Divide By Teresa Castle

‘‘

You Lie!

’’

These words shouted at President Obama during a fall 2009 health care speech to Congress raised the hackles of legislators on both sides of the aisle and prompted a call for greater civility in our national political debate.

And for a while, it seemed like things were calming down. But angry rhetoric in political debate and on the nation’s airwaves tends to ebb and flow with the nature of current events and whatever high-stakes issues are on the table. For example, last fall, Maine’s Republican gubernatorial candidate Paul LePage told an audience that if he were elected, they’d see newspaper headlines reading “LePage Tells Obama To Go to Hell.” And this spring, Democratic Rep. Louise Slaughter accused right-wing Republicans of coming to Congress “to kill women” when they held up budget negotiations with demands to cut off funds for Planned Parenthood. Through it all, media pundits ramped up their own inflammatory rhetoric to the point that observers wondered if rules of civility even apply anymore. It’s not a stretch to conclude that America is more polarized than ever and that civility in politics is a thing of the past. But this is really nothing new, according to Steve Woolpert, dean of the School of Liberal Arts at Saint Mary’s. “Angry, uncivil discourse has a long history in American politics,” especially during periods of 16

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upheaval, he said. Today, Americans are grappling with the trauma of an economic meltdown and a dramatically changing demographic. “We’re in an age of anxiety and insecurity. If people feel that they’re politically impotent and that other people can’t be trusted, you have a society that is going to lose civility,” said Woolpert. This time it’s different, though, said Robert Reich, the former U.S. Secretary of Labor in the Clinton administration, who spoke this year at Saint Mary’s as part of the January Term Speaker Series. “There’s a kind of anger out there that I have not witnessed before,” he insisted. Reich believes that the political divide is rooted in the growing income gap between the working class and the wealthy elite in America. The last time the gap was so wide was in 1928 — just before the Great Depression. “Times of economic hardship breed demagoguery,” he cautioned. “If the wage imbalance is not redressed, American politics will get angrier and uglier.” Woolpert agrees that history is full of demagogues who have riled up anger against the elite during hard times. “It accentuates polarization and fragmentation. Our sense of common purpose is sacrificed, and that’s dangerous. I am concerned about it because, if we’re faced with a common threat, we’ll be less willing to respond for the common good.” Saint Mary’s alumnus Frank Howard Jr. ’79, who heads Howard Consulting Group, a public affairs advocacy firm in Washington, D.C., holds a different view. While he agrees that politics have always been partisan, with strident ideological battles, he thinks that’s not such a bad thing because “we live in perilous times. We need serious people who are involved in government. I’d rather have the debate than not, and I’ll fight for the freedom of each person in the country to express their opinion.” Nevertheless, Howard, who has served in key staff positions on numerous Republican political campaigns, including the presidential runs of Ronald Reagan, Jack Kemp and George W. Bush, feels that politicians today have to jump over more hurdles to find common ground. “There are more difficulties in bringing the sides together now because the issues really touch people’s lives — jobs, health care, education, the environment.”

The Role of the Media But what about the tenor of the national conversation? Has it become too vicious, particularly in the media? Today, instead of Walter Cronkite and Dan Rather, we have the likes of Fox News’ Glenn Beck or MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow. Instead of hard news, we have “the news of assertion and opinion,” said Father Mike Russo, who teaches journalism and communications at Saint Mary’s and is an expert on the interaction of politics and the press. “There’s a place for that, but a steady diet has driven us all crazy.” It often seems like we are at each other’s throats, Russo said, pointing to the explosion of media resources — from newspapers to the Internet, cable TV, talk radio, blogs and Twitter — as a factor in the fragmentation of public opinion and hardened stances. A 2011 survey by the Pew Research Center for Excellence in Journalism bears that out. Fifty-five percent said the Internet increases the influence of those with extreme political views, and people on both sides said they often relied on news sources that reinforced their own views. “People gravitate to information from and conversations with like-minded others, perpetuating one way of looking at things,” said Barbara McGraw, professor of social ethics, law and public life, and director of Saint Mary’s Center for Engaged Religious Pluralism. “This has always happened, but it seems much easier in our current media climate. The more people are balkanized in their little groups, the less effective is our discourse in the public square. When people are stuck in their camps, there isn’t a free exchange of ideas and people are much more likely to become radicalized.” In such a media climate, the temptation to use inflammatory language to boost ratings or win followers also seems irresistible. “The media is, in effect, inviting a food fight,” Russo suggested. The result is what he calls “holy ignorance” — a tidal wave of uninformed but outraged opinion. www.stmarys-ca.edu 17

“I’d rather have the debate than not, and I’ll fight for the freedom of each person in the country to express their opinion.” Frank Howard Jr.

Divided — or Not? The resulting partisan divide is evident at the highest levels. A 2011 Gallup Poll indicated that the most recent two presidencies have been the most polarizing since the survey began in the mid-1950s. While 81 percent of Democrats approve of Barack Obama’s presidency, just 13 percent of Republicans do. Only George W. Bush’s term produced a greater gap in the presidential approval rating. But Morris Fiorina, a senior fellow at the Hoover Institute, a conservative think tank, argues that despite their differences over the president in power, Americans as a whole are not more polarized than in the past. He points to surveys of U.S. voters that show the political spectrum has hardly changed since the 1970s. Consistently, about 40 percent of Americans say they’re political moderates and less than 5 percent say they’re either strongly liberal or strongly conservative. The parties, on the other hand, are becoming more polarized, if Congressional voting records are any indication. Why? The civil rights and anti-war movements of the 1950s and ’60s and the rise of the Moral Majority in the 1970s and ’80s resulted in a sort of ideological purification process in the two main political parties, Fiorina explained. As a result, few politicians are willing to cross party lines to vote with the other side, making it much harder to strike a bargain, as we saw during this year’s federal budget standoff. Furthermore, he noted, “Democrats are appealing to their left flank and Republicans to their right flank. The public face of politics is these activists. It has an enormous effect on politics, to the frustration of the vast percentage of the American people.” More and more, Fiorina said, people are fleeing the party system altogether and registering as independent or “decline to state.” As a result, winning elections depends on winning the swing voters, he noted, and politicians may be resorting to ever more extreme rhetoric to woo this fickle new force. It’s a risky gambit. Woolpert thinks this current political climate, characterized as it is by personal attack, seems too dangerous to ignore for long. “On the other hand, we don’t want to overreact and rout out rudeness at the expense of robust, vigorous debate,” he said. “There are times when outrage may be an appropriate response.” McGraw, too, stresses the importance of protecting the freedoms we value, including freedom of speech, despite the strain it sometimes places on our society. “The moral heart of our political system is the Bill of Rights, the keystone of a nation committed to liberty and equal justice for all. It’s what frames America’s identity — not as it is but as it should always strive to be.” she said. “That’s why people everywhere are still drawn to its message and long for freedom, self-expression and the ability to pursue a good life for themselves and their families.” 18

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Angry rhetoric “accentuates polarization and fragmentation. Our sense of common purpose is sacrificed, and that’s dangerous.” Dean Steve Woolpert

So, What’s the Answer? Perhaps we need a new model of leadership, said Ken Otter, director of Saint Mary’s Leadership Studies Programs, which focus on creating change through civil discourse rather than contentious debate. Our political dialogue is an artifact of outdated models of leadership, he said. This “habit of argument, debate and advocacy” just serves to amplify problems instead of leading us toward consensus. “Politicians are public servants, but many have lost track of it because of the intoxication of power,” he observed. In the process, the old adage that “politics is the art of compromise” seems to have fallen by the wayside. And while confrontation does seem to stimulate interest, offered Woolpert, “it also erodes social capital — the glue that holds us together — trust, democratic tolerance, willingness to hear and engage with those who don’t agree with you.”

How Can We Bridge the Political Divide? For Reich, the outlook for any immediate return to civility in American politics seems dim. “In the short term, I expect more partisanship,” he said. “Longer term, we may see a ‘realignment’ — a new consensus emerging about the role of government, business, Wall Street and the working middle class.” Woolpert stressed the value of a liberal arts education as a critical factor in building the social capital that we need to hold our nation together. “It shows us how to engage across differences and listen to the voice of reason,” he said. For her part, McGraw would like to see the nation return to what she called “our sacred ground” — the principles upon which the country was founded. “Our founding fathers believed that in order to build a good society from the ground up, it was important to have the free expression of many voices,” she said. “The current sharply polarized thinking between Left and Right tends to take all the oxygen out of the public square.” Paradoxically, it seems, greater civility may be essential if we are to preserve the free exchange of ideas the founders valued so highly. Otter, however, believes that our increasingly complex world — and the prospect of permanent gridlock on important policy issues — will force people to adopt a radically new approach to political discourse. “If we’re going to make any progress in the world, we have to go beyond our personal positions, roles and ideologies,” he said. “We need to focus on generating outcomes that go beyond self-interest to the social good.” www.stmarys-ca.edu 19

Working Across robert durell

Alumni Stories from

the Aisle

the California State House

By Daniel Weintraub

Is bipartisanship

dead in California? If itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s alive, it is definitely on life support. Lopsided political districts, term limits and highly partisan primaries have combined to create a Legislature in which the two parties stare each other down like warring nations on either side of a disputed border. Legislators who dare to discuss solutions with members from the opposite party are branded as traitors by their colleagues and outside pressure groups. If they break ranks and vote against the wishes of their party leaders, they risk being targeted in a contested primary or even a recall election. Their hopes for higher office are all but dashed. Still, even in this polarized climate, there have been moments in 22

SUMMER 2011

Susan Kennedy — often described as tough, savvy, influential, lengendary — relaxed in Governor Schwarzenegger’s famous smoking tent at the Capitol.

Susan Kennedy MBA ’07

robert durell

recent years where the parties worked together to solve problems. Former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger struck an independent pose, sometimes working alone with Democrats and sometimes bringing his fellow Republicans into the fold. And here and there legislative working groups with members of both parties have quietly found common ground on contentious issues. Three Saint Mary’s alumni who have seen the State Capitol up close recently discussed their views on bipartisanship. Susan Kennedy ’07 was Schwarzenegger’s chief of staff from 2005 through the end of his term earlier this year. Guy Houston ’82 MBA ’87, and Joe Canciamilla ’82 tried, mostly without success, to work across party lines from opposite sides of the aisle. Here are their stories.

usan Kennedy knows a few things about bipartisan governing. A lifelong Democrat and a longtime party activist, she had never even voted for a Republican until she went to work for one — as former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s chief of staff. In that job, Kennedy helped engineer several deals between Schwarzenegger and the Democrats in 2006 that propelled him to re-election by proving that he knew how to govern. Schwarzenegger and legislators won voter approval for the biggest-ever package of public works, passed a budget with a minimum of rancor, increased the state’s minimum wage and, most famously, passed a bill to make California a leader in fighting the carbon emissions believed to be the cause of global warming. Later, Kennedy was in the room when the governor and Republican leaders struck a landmark budget deal with Democrats in 2009, combining deep cuts in spending with temporary taxes. She also was witness to difficult, bipartisan budget agreements that rolled back pension benefits for new state hires, repealed automatic cost-of-living increases for health and social programs and placed a proposed rainy-day budget reserve on the ballot. The key to all of these deals, she said, was leverage. It would be nice if legislators reached across the aisle out of a belief in good government or mere magnanimity. But Kennedy said it is unrealistic to expect such behavior in a heated political climate. Especially in California, where lopsided political districts and highly partisan primaries have left the Legislature deeply polarized. The trick, she said, was to present a united front of Republicans that would force the Democrats to take them seriously. Until this year it took a two-thirds super-majority to pass a budget, so that is where Republicans drew their line. “We combined our seat at the table with the Republicans’ two-thirds vote on the budget,” Kennedy said of Schwarzenegger’s approach. “We consolidated the Republican position. There were two parties at the table who had equal power and so we were then able to negotiate as adults. All these things we got were because there were two parties at the table that had enough power to negotiate with each other.” Kennedy, who earned a degree in management from Saint Mary’s in 2007, believes that two reforms Schwarzenegger supported — open primaries and an independent commission to draw district lines — will change the way the Capitol works over the next decade. The reforms will force legislative candidates and incumbents to win the votes not just of their fellow party members but also independents and even voters from the opposing party. “When redistricting reform takes hold and open primaries take hold, and you change a little bit of the culture, we will have more bipartisanship,” she said. “We will know it has arrived when legislators are more afraid of the voters in the general election than they are of a primary challenge from within their own party.” www.stmarys-ca.edu 23

Associated press / Rich pedroncelli

Joe Canciamilla ’82

s a state Assemblyman for three terms, 2000–2006, Joe Canciamilla was a rebel. He spoke his mind, voted how he pleased rather than how his Democratic Party leaders told him to vote, and carried on a highly public legislative partnership with a maverick Republican, Assemblyman Keith Richmond. In the end Canciamilla’s independence did not amount to much. He and Richmond were ostracized by their parties, and they attracted few followers. Some of their ideas were eventually adapted and adopted by the full Legislature and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. But they both left behind a Legislature that was even more polarized than the one they had entered six years earlier. How bad was it? Canciamilla recalls that when he and Richmond started what became known as the “bipartisan group,” a small collection of lawmakers who would meet for dinner a couple of times a month, the legislators had to meet in private homes because they could not risk being seen together in public. 24

SUMMER 2011

“The whole idea of going outside the (Capitol) building was that there would be a certain level of privacy and we would not be seen as plotting outside of the dictates of the leadership,” he said. “The structure in Sacramento has been and continues to be leadership-directed, controlled by the majority leader as much as possible, and the minority leader. The idea that you would have a dialogue outside of their control was just going to be suspect from the very beginning.” Canciamilla blames term limits for preventing legislators from establishing meaningful relationships, and the rise of independent campaign committees that can dump hundreds of thousands of dollars into a single race to influence the outcome. The result, he said, is a highly partisan atmosphere in which fewer and fewer members are willing to break ranks. “It’s quite striking how hard it is for people who have the ability to get elected to a legislative position to then stand up and show any backbone once they get to Sacramento. That was one of the most astounding things I saw, how quickly people seemed to lose their independence.”

Associated press / Rich pedroncelli

Guy Houston ’82 MBA ’87

uy Houston’s six years in the state Assembly convinced him that bipartisanship in California government is on life support. He blames gerrymandered political districts, which helped elect the most conservative Republicans and liberal Democrats, and term limits, which create such rapid turnover that lawmakers barely get to know each other before they move on. “With the districts the way they are, most legislators just worry about their base, because you know if you win the primary you are going to win the general election no matter what,” Houston said. “Term limits have also hurt. You don’t have people there long enough to have any kind of relationship. People are not there long enough to have a rapport and relationship and a trust. In the old days people were there longer, and even though they had sharp differences they could communicate.” Houston actually represented a district in the East Bay that was one of the few competitive seats in the state. That made him a constant target of Democrats, not only at election time but in the Legislature, where, he said,

they were determined to keep him from recording any wins. But his own party’s leadership was not much help, either. Houston said Republican leaders wanted everyone to stick together, so they discouraged members from talking to legislators from the opposite party. “If you never reach out to the other side, we’re never going to understand each other or get things done. It’s always going to be World War III. If there’s more discussion, formal and informal, among members, we’d be better off.” Houston did have one bipartisan achievement of note. He worked with Democrats to tweak school funding formulas to help suburban and rural districts, which had long been disadvantaged compared to the big urban districts. Daniel Weintraub has covered California politics for more than 20 years for the Los Angeles Times, the Orange County Register, the Sacramento Bee and the New York Times. He edits the California Health Report at healthycal.org www.stmarys-ca.edu 25

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www.stmarys-ca.edu 27

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www.stmarys-ca.edu 29

SUMMER 2011

www.stmarys-ca.edu 31

itting with

friends in a dorm room late at night, gathered at a table in Oliver Hall, walking along the arcade — to talk about. And we all come from different backgrounds and perspectives — which makes it We ponder who we are, why we are here and what waits in our futures.

we have a million things

interesting.

Talk, Talk, Talk By Kelly Fisher ’11

Whatever it is, we share our thoughts

SUMMER 2011

and experiences with each other in order to better understand. Late at night, early in the morning, between classes or during meals…

Sometimes our discussions turn into debates and

shine a clearer light on a subject. Maybe these conversations stem from seminar, or from a class, from a social justice issue or the latest gossip column.

…our conversations bring us closer together and closer to what we are all about.

Q U a d

Five Alumni Honored

sold-out audience of alumni, family and friends was on hand Saturday, April 2, at the Lafayette Park Hotel to honor five exemplary Gaels at the annual Alumni Awards Dinner.

De La Salle Award Bill McLeod ’64

When you talk to Bill McLeod, you get the distinct feeling that the world is going to be just fine after all. He possesses a calmness and optimism that must have come in handy during his 24 years as Saint Mary’s dean of students and vice president of student affairs. The most rewarding part of the job was guiding and mentoring students, McLeod says. “You just have to hold them accountable for what they do. And sometimes you have to make hard decisions. You really hope they don’t make mistakes that are too severe, but it’s all part of growing up.” McLeod decided early on to go into education, inspired by the Christian Brothers who taught him at San Joaquin High School in Fresno and at Saint Mary’s, where he earned his bachelor’s degree in history in 1964. After graduating from college, he returned to his old high school to teach and became vice principal a year later. “I’ve been with the Brothers a long time,” McLeod says. “A major reason I went into education was to assist young men and women in their formative years, as the Brothers helped me as a young man.” In 1969 McLeod was named superintendant of schools for the Catholic Diocese of Fresno, making him the youngest layperson in the nation to occupy such a post. It wasn’t an easy job, McLeod says. During his three years in that post he had to close 12 schools. Then former Saint Mary’s 34

SUMMER 2011

President Brother Mel Anderson asked McLeod to come to Saint Mary’s in 1972, and he’s been with the College for 39 years, taking on new roles, as needed, including vice president for administration, chief financial officer, and most recently as a major gifts officer, raising millions of dollars for the College. He also has dedicated time to serving as the president of the West Coast Conference executive committee and has been a trustee of the East Bay Scholarship Fund since 1994. This year, after 47 years in education and having touched the lives of thousands of students and alumni, McLeod has retired. He says receiving the De La Salle Award — named in honor of Saint John Baptist de La Salle, the founder of the Brothers of the Christian Schools and the patron saint of teachers — is the honor of a lifetime. Alumna of the Year Rena Fischer ’99

to capture the market for online payment. More than the financial rewards, though, Fischer views her PayPal experience as a once-in-alifetime opportunity for professional growth. “The learning curve was straight up,” she says. “We were creating something that didn’t exist.” When PayPal was acquired by eBay a few years later for $1.5 billion, Fischer went to work for eBay, first in San Jose and then in Berne, Switzerland, as the company’s global cash manager. Most recently, she served as director of operations for

Clarium Capital Management, a global macro hedge fund. Fischer says her Saint Mary’s education prepared her to seize great opportunities when they come along. “The college imparts the ability to think critically,” she says. Nevertheless, her best memories of Saint Mary’s are the friendships she made. “I met my girlfriends at Saint Mary’s. When I became a regent, I met the person who became my dearest friend,” she says. “It’s a relationship school. And all the people who’ve attended make the school.”

“You need to understand what you have from Saint Mary’s and then give that back,” she says. “It has to come full circle.” Fischer has given hundreds of hours to Saint Mary’s. She serves on the Board of Regents, the President’s Athletic Council and the Sesquicentennial Planning Committee. She is also co-chair of the Women in Philanthropy Committee, which put together the “40 Years/One Night Gaela” in November to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the first undergraduate women to enroll at Saint Mary’s. The event raised more than $30,000 for the Sister Clare Wagstaffe Endowed Scholarship to benefit female students at SMC. “It was inspiring,” Fischer says. She also volunteers for St. Francis Catholic High School in Sacramento, which she attended, and the Selamta Family Project, a community modeling project for creating sustainable families in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

When Rena Fischer came to Saint Mary’s, she knew exactly how her career would play out. Her goal was to work in the audit department for one of the “Big Six” accounting firms. By the beginning of her senior year, she already had a job offer in hand from accounting powerhouse KPMG, and she went to work for the company right after receiving her B.S. in economics. But her life took an unanticipated turn less than a year later when she got an offer from a fledgling dot.com company called PayPal. Her friends urged caution; after all, this was in the midst of the dotbomb era. Only her father thought it might work out, she recalls. His advice? “You’re young. Does the business model make sense? If it does, what have you got to lose?” She left KPMG and jumped in feet first. “Don’t be afraid to take risks out there,” she says. “The one thing I didn’t have was the fear of failure.” Her risky decision turned out to be very wise. PayPal went on www.stmarys-ca.edu 35

Q U a d

Brother President Ronald Gallagher and George Clark ‘66, enjoying the fun.

The value of service was one of the most important lessons instilled at Saint Mary’s, Fischer says. As she put it when she accepted her “Alumna of the Year” award: “In the classroom, I was given the opportunity to learn and develop academically; outside of the classroom through my experiences at Saint Mary’s, I learned how to develop altruistically. In simple terms, I learned how to serve others.” Meritorious Service Award

Victoria “Tori” Verber-Salazar lives the Saint Mary’s College mission of service to community. Since 1987 Tori has worked in the San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office to prosecute gang-related homicides, but through her volunteerism she strives to keep young people out of gangs and make better lives for themselves. She co-founded Girls in Transition, to help female gang members get out of gangs and back into society. Verber-Salazar also counsels female inmates on how to survive and thrive after release and uses video of inmates serving life sentences for gangrelated homicide to show fifth grade through high school students the reality of life behind bars. She also dedicates herself to helping kids who are homeless or living in shelters. 36

SUMMER 2011

Gregory Teshara ’02

Joe Buenavista MBA ’04

membership, while contributing in numerous other ways to the College’s fundraising outreach efforts. In the seven years since Joe Buenavista received his Saint Mary’s MBA, he has dedicated himself to refining the mission of the Graduate Business Alumni Chapter, which he and two peers resurrected in 2004. He has focused intently on increasing the achievements and contributions of this alumni group and integrating

it with the overall alumni community. He was likewise influential in the establishment of a Graduate Business Alumni Outreach directorship. Joe has served as the chair of the graduate business alumni golf tournament for several years, including the upcoming August 15, 2011 event. A proud undergraduate alumnus of the U.S. Naval Academy, Joe has demonstrated the same sense of loyalty and service to Saint Mary’s College.

bIkING cROSS cOUNTRy TO bREAk THE cycLE OF POVERTy IN AMERIcA. Tori Verber-Salazar ’87

G.O.L.D. (Gael Of the Last Decade) Awards

As a recent graduate of Saint Mary’s, G regory Teshara — who majored in economics and business and recieved the De La Salle Award in 2002 — has already amassed a record of dedicated service to the College, staying closely connected to the school and his peers. Greg joined the Alumni Board in 200405 and became its president in 2007, leading successful efforts to increase fundraising, chapter outreach and board participation. Following a path he began as a student, when he and his peers began an endowment that would eliminate the required student body fee, Greg continues to raise funds for SMC, this year celebrating a decade of President’s Club

www.LVsRIDE.com JUNE 14 - AUGUST 14, 2011 O r e g O n

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J e r s e y

RIDE VOLUNTEER GIVE

A Vicious Tremor Beneath Our Feet The earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan in March had an overwhelming effect on the lives of our alumni there, who represent the largest contingent of our graduates overseas. Here are excerpts from their emails to us.

Initially,

I thought I started feeling dizzy, but I soon knew that a real vicious tremor was beneath our feet. So I grabbed (my wife) Yoshiko’s arms and rushed to an open space in a nearby park, where dozens of other people converged within minutes. Kiyoshi (Joe) Ikemi ’57

I hope

I hid

my son under a table but decided to go outside a few minutes later … because the earthquake seemed different from any of the ones I’d experienced in the past, and I was scared the building would collapse. Mariko Sato ’95

To read the full messages of these and several other Saint Mary’s alumni the world has witnessed in Japan, go to stmarys-ca.edu/japan what’s happened in Fukushima and the impact of this … We should really stand up and start using other energy sources while shutting down all the nuclear power plants … We are hoping that the thousands of lives lost in this won’t be wasted. Antonio Cancemi ’00

Only

when I got home past midnight did I begin to learn about the scale of the disaster that wiped away thousands of lives, dozens of towns. Tears trickled down my face as I watched various images of the destruction. I went to bed around 3 a.m., but strong aftershocks kept me awake all night. Akiko Takata ’03

JAPAN

Somehow

I strongly feel this is my destiny as a Japanese whose country has been fragile, with natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, typhoons. That is why Japanese must be tough, patient, industrious, intelligent. Taiichi Yamabe MBA ’95 Come Back Home Reunion 2011

MIYAGI

Kesennuma

Sendai

FUKUSHIMA

Tokyo

cafeteria, and check out the newly

with Brother President Ronald

renovated food court. Participate

Gallagher; listen to live music at

in the Reunion Golf Tournament

the Redwood Grove; and dance the

Relive your days at Saint Mary’s

at Boundary Oaks Golf Course

night away at the Reunion Dance

Reunion 2011 on July 15–17. Your

in Walnut Creek; join Brother

featuring local celebrity enter-

reunion committees have been

Raphael Patton, Saint Mary’s his-

tainer “Diamond” Dave Hosley. All

working hard all year to make

torian, for a special history tour of

this and much more. You’ll have

this the best reunion ever. You

campus; enjoy a barbeque lunch,

a wonderful time with old friends

can come to one, two or all of the

beer and wine at the Family Picnic

and you’ll share — and create —

events scheduled for the weekend,

in the shaded confines of the De

fond memories.

and you can even stay on campus

La Salle Hall Quad; toast Saint

in the dorms, eat breakfast in the

Mary’s at a special cocktail hour

stmarys-ca.edu/reunion11

For all the reunion details:

www.stmarys-ca.edu 37

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7 Jerwyn (Carriger) Sendaydiego ME, ECR ’09 recently traveled to India for a three-week cultural immersion program while finishing the second year in a doctoral program in psychology in marital and family therapy at the California School of Professional Psychology at Alliant International University, Sacramento. He is currently working and gaining hours toward his licensure as a marriage and family therapist intern at Rio Vista CARE, Inc., in Rio Vista, performing school-based counseling with adolescents and individual/couples/family therapy. 8 Jillian (Duffy) ’09 married Lt. Morgan Veyna ’08 in the Chapel on July 3, 2010. The wedding included alums MaryEileen Young ’09, Brittany Zboralske ’09, Scarlett Miers ’09, Katherine Cooper ’09, Gianna Henke ’09, Mike Fitzpatrick ’08 as well as Brother Donald Mansir ’71. Their wedding was featured in the magazine “Real Weddings” and they currently live in North Carolina, where Morgan is stationed with the Marine Corps and Jillian is a contracts specialist for Northrop Grumman Corp.

9 Victoria (McDonald-Cassidy) ’07 and Tyler Jensen were married February 12, 2011, at V. Sattui Winery in Saint Helena. The bridal party included Saint Mary’s alumnae Katherine Lucchese ’07 and Allison (Sillman) Searle ’07 and was attended by a large number of other Saint Mary’s alumni. Victoria and Tyler bought their first house together last summer in Lafayette and are expecting their first child this summer.

2005 Adam Callan was hired in August as athletic director at his alma mater, Marin Catholic High School in Kentfield. For the past 5 years Adam has acted in 12 video games, including 9 as lead in the MLB2K baseball video game series. In summer 2010 he landed a part as an extra in the movie “Moneyball,” filmed at the Oakland Coliseum.

2004 Maureen Sertich just completed her master of science degree in environmental management and sustainability and an MBA from the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. She also spent a month in India this year exploring business opportunities there. She is excited to enter the next phase of her life and hopes to obtain a position working with a large corporation on their environmental initiatives.

2002 Megan Montefusco has moved to New Jersey and is currently an account manager for Trajectory, a marketing firm in Morristown. Diane Reboy MS and family welcomed their first granddaughter on Oct. 4, 2010. Maralyn Ann Reboy was born on her great-great grandmother’s 110th birthday. The proud parents are Jess and Mark Reboy. Since it’s been all boys to date, the family is crazy for this girl. Ysabel (Herlihy) Zachman married Erik in Mill Valley on June 5, 2010. Her wedding party included SMC alums Melissa Holder, Lizzi (Carty) Boyle, Kelly (Breen) Smead, Veronica O’Boyle, Nicole (Marinos) Haggerty ECR ’03, and Rebecca Yuen ’03. Ysabel is a district business manager for Johnson & Johnson. She resides in the Sunset district of San Francisco, with her husband, Erik, who is an artist.

SUMMER 2011

1 Becky Glover ’06 is newly engaged

4 Ashley Cahill ’08 recently traveled

to Aaron Iverson ’04, MS ’07 who proposed at Point Arena lighthouse in March. They met in 2002 during her freshman year at Saint Mary’s. Becky currently works in residential education at Stanford University, frequently drawing on her own experience as an RA in Becket and Moore Halls. Aaron works at Wells Fargo Securities in San Francisco and recently became operations manager. Aaron is also CFO of L.A.-based fashion design start-up Tsunami Hip Design. Becky is looking forward to returning to campus in July to see fellow classmates at the Alumni Reunion Weekend and encourages everyone who can to attend.

to Spain and Morocco with a friend she met during her SMC semester abroad (Rome-fall ’07). When she’s not traveling, Ashley lives in Turlock. She works as the Central Valley outreach coordinator for Academy of Art University, San Francisco.

2 On November 6, 2010, Head Softball Coach Jessica Hanaseth ’01 married Justin Rodgers at the Saint Mary’s College Chapel. 3 Karen Reid ’07 is now working in project management and support for the Department of Neuroradiology at UCSF after having graduated from the Public Administration Master’s Program at USC. Karen is still working at Concannon Vineyards in Livermore on the occasional weekend and holiday.

5 Crystal Riggins ’05 congratulates her husband, John Fernandez, on his admission into the Saint Mary’s Trans-Global Executive MBA Program class of 2012. She is proud that he is now a fellow Gael. 6 Army CPTs Sarah (Pargett) Stockton ’04 and Nathan, who met while deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom, were married Sept. 4, 2010, in San Andreas. In attendance were bridesmaids Mary Kate Tschida ’04 and Cecilia Sandoval ’04. Also present were Ted and Marilynn Terstegge from the Saint Mary’s Development office, cousin Dr. Patricia (Pargett) Michels ’00 and cousin-in-law David Lenser ’07. Nate and Sarah are stationed at Fort Bragg, N.C.

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10 Rashaan Alexis (Meneses) MFA ’06 and Phillip Jackman Sanders married June 21, 2010, at San Francisco City Hall and exchanged vows on Ocean Beach in San Francisco. Rashaan will have a personal essay forthcoming from the online journal In the Grove and a short story she workshopped in SMC’s MFA program was recently published by UC Riverside’s “Coachella Review.” The couple lives in Berkeley. 11 Choua Yang ’06, as the oldest daughter of seven children, has always had a passion for youth development. Now she oversees the largest high school afterschool program in the U.S. at the high school in Sacramento where she graduated. In her career-come-true as an afterschool program manager, Choua enjoys building collaborative networks to better the high school as well as its surrounding community. She is currently working to bring back an agriculture program that hasn’t existed in her high school since she graduated.

12 Jessica Bonnett ’06 graduated from Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine in June 2010. She is currently doing a residency in family medicine in Redding.

13 Courtney Carmignani MA ’08 and Christoph Lohmann MS ’05 were engaged at The Cross on the Saint Mary’s campus in early 2011 and are planning their wedding in the Chapel at the end of the year. Courtney is currently associate director of alumni and volunteer engagement at the College and Chris is vice president of capital markets and real estate investment advisory for a boutique real estate investment firm in Orange County. 14 Karie Jones ’05 got engaged to Miles DeGraffenreid while visiting her favorite vacation spot, Yosemite, for the second time last year. The two are planning to say their vows with Half Dome in the background on Sept. 10, 2011, at the Ahwahnee Hotel, and then take off to Costa Rica for two weeks.

15 Hendrik Van der Meulen ’05 reports that life has been rather exciting since graduating from Saint Mary’s: “I have a wonderful job, as a master technician at a local company that has really benefited me professionally and personally. It has been an exciting year: I just bought my first home, large enough for my entire family to live with me. Looking forward to the future, but often think about the great times I had at SMC.”

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2000 David Biles MS ’99 EdD ’07 is now a lecturer at Saint Mary’s College in the Credential Program. He is also teaching at Los Medanos College and at John Swett Elementary in Martinez. Check out his website at the Biles Research Group.

1993 Damien Fairbairn married Angelin Tan in Palo Alto on Sept. 18, 2010. Many Gaels were in the wedding party, including Sam del Castillo, Rich Aguirre and Dan Culbertson. “Angelin and I spent our honeymoon in Argentina and then Honolulu visiting my family,” he writes.

1989 Carolyn West EE was elected to the board of directors of East Bay Trusts and Estates Lawyers.

1988 Christopher Baue is a San Francisco filmmaker. He produces environmental programs for KQED’s Quest series. His most recent film for QUEST was California’s Lost Salmon. The film was featured in the BLUE Ocean Film Festival, the Sonoma Environmental Film Festival and is a finalist at the upcoming S.F. Green Film Festival.

1984 Richard Hemmerling EMBA spent over 30 years in software development, including stints at ROLM, IBM and Xerox. During his last six years in this field, he held the position of vice president of engineering. In 2002 Rich left the grind of high tech and made a significant career switch into health insurance and employee benefits, creating an insurance brokerage firm, Sedona Benefits, offering health, dental, vision and life insurance. He has offices in Santa Clara and Sedona, Ariz.

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1983 Louis Lotorto Jr. appeared in the play “Opus” at the Santa Barbara Ensemble Company February 2–27, 2011. He performed in “The Rainmaker” at Sierra Repertory Theatre in Sonora from April 1 to 23, 2011.

16 Cherise Adkins ’03 moved to Maryland after graduation. She works as the weekend 6 p.m. producer at WTTG-TV, a Fox News affiliate in Washington, D.C. She is pursuing a master’s degree in strategic public relations at George Washington University. She attended the 2010 wedding of Rita (Cole-Pennewell) Owens ’02.

18 Rev. Linda S. Powers EE ’02 was ordained in

17 Cia Restaino ’03 ECR ’10 met husband Ben Mat-

19 Torin Simpson ’03 just finished his second year work-

tress in Australia while earning a master’s degree in 2004. They began dating in Los Angeles where Cia worked as a broadcast producer and Ben worked in film. They moved to Singapore in 2008; Cia did volunteer teaching in Vietnamese and Cambodian orphanages. Back in the Bay Area, Cia graduated from the SMC multiplesubject credential program in 2009. The couple volunteered at Saint Mary’s Secondary School and Child Rescue Center in Kenya. They were married June 18, 2010, in Kauai by Saint Mary’s Father Tom McElligott, who traveled there to perform the ceremony. Cia now teaches third grade in San Francisco; Ben is a visual effects artist in films. They live in San Mateo.

ing for the San Francisco Giants. He is the senior video editor/ producer working on television shows, Internet content and game board show production. Days after the Giants won their first World Series, his wife, Khelli, gave birth to a healthy baby boy. His name is Logan Morgan Simpson and he is psyched to be here.

SUMMER 2011

December 2008 as a Presbyterian chaplain at VOICES, a community center in Napa for transitional age youth (16-24 years old). VOICES’ focus is on youth emancipating from the foster care and probation systems. Rev. Powers’ focus is to make sure the youth are well and whole in mind, body and soul.

20 Rebecca (Adam) Teames ’02 and Austin Teames welcomed their first child, Leah Marie, on Dec. 7, 2010. She weighed 8 pounds, 3 ounces, was 22 inches long, and is the best Christmas gift they could ever ask for!

21 Jaime and Kim (Brown) Montenegro ’02 had an extra helping of blessings this past Thanksgiving morning. Their second daughter, Jayme Grace Montenegro, was born at 5:08 a.m. at home. Never ones to miss out on a party, the Montenegros hosted Thanksgiving at their house later that afternoon. 22 Jessica Dold ’99 married John Giambruno on Dec. 18, 2010. Her man of honor, instead of maid of honor, was Damon Tighe ’01. Also in the bridal party were SMC graduates Rebecca Cope ’99 and Holly (Ethington) Peterson ECR ’02. The couple spent their honeymoon in Disney World.

23 Lindsey (James) Brisimitzis ’98 and her husband, Jim, welcomed their daughter Kyra Marie Brisimitzis on Dec, 11, 2010. Older sister Ava, 3 1/2, adores her sister. Lindsey and Jim reside in Kirkland, Wash. Lindsey is a stay-at-home mom but continues her event planning work for Microsoft.

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26 Rachel’s sister, Elena Harder; school friend Katherine Walker; Joe’s sister, Michelle Nelson; Joe’s brother-in-law, Brandon Nelson ’99; school friend Jonathan Hacker ’99; and Rachel’s brother, Mark Nethercott.

29 Jacquelyn Cammaroto ’00 and Peter Sousa ’02 became engaged in December 2010 and are planning their wedding for September 2011 at Saint Mary’s Chapel. Jacci and Peter are enjoying this time with the loving support of family and friends and are excited to celebrate in September as they begin their new life together.

24 CJ Cammack ’00 ME ’03 ECR ’01, ’03, ’04 and

27 Jake Otsuka ’98 owns and operates Stix & Stones in

Mimi (Clark) ’00 were blessed with the birth of their second child. Gianna Marie Cammack was born Sept. 16, 2010. Their 3 1/2 year-old son Anthony loves his new sister. CJ and Mimi are grateful for the blessings of their children. Mimi is an O.R. nurse at Children’s Hospital in Oakland and CJ works as the director of student services for Martinez Unified.

Walnut Creek, a mobile bicycle repair business doing bike repair and service, and ski and snowboard waxing at clients’ homes. Jake will give Saint Mary’s Alumni 15 percent off parts and accessories.

25 Kristen (Fry) Wallace ’00 ECR ’03 ME ’08 and her husband, Charles, had their first baby, Charles Roy, on Dec. 5, 2010. He weighed 7 pounds, 15 ounces. It was a fantastic journey and we are thrilled to have him with us.

26 Jen (Chargin) Robinson ’98 ECR ’03, husband Duane, and daughter Ava welcomed baby Owen on Jan. 28, 2010. While continuing to teach elementary school, Jen finished her master’s degree in educational leadership and her administrative credential in May 2010. Life is very busy but fulfilling for the Robinson household.

28 Joseph Robert Manifesto ’99, son of Joseph Michael Manifesto ’68 and Sandra Louise Manifesto of Castro Valley, and Rachel Ann Nethercott, daughter of Donald Mark Nethercott and Aprille Celeste Nethercott of Castro Valley, are pleased to announce their engagement and plans to marry Feb. 4, 2012, at Saint Mary’s Chapel, at 3 p.m. Joe is a 1995 graduate of Bishop O’Dowd High School and 1999 graduate of Saint Mary’s College with a bachelor of science degree in biology/pre-med. He is currently working at the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office as a Deputy Sheriff. Rachel is a 2000 graduate of Bishop O’Dowd High School and 2005 graduate of San Diego State with a bachelor’s degree in communications/advertising. She is currently working as a hairstylist at Victoria’s Salon in Pleasanton. Both attended Our Lady of Grace Middle School in Castro Valley. They later met in 2007 at a friend’s wedding in Sunol. The wedding party will include

30 Julie Ann Payne ’02 has returned to her native Walnut Creek after 5 years in Southern California, having accepted the position of real estate manager, Northern California, for Shea Properties in Livermore. She is now among some Santa Clara “Broncos” in the office, but will defend her “Gael” turf. It was a long-anticipated move, as Julie looked forward to spending time with her family, friends and boyfriend, a fellow Gael. 31 Ted Warburton ’98, marina services director at Brisbane Marina, recently received the Harbor Master of the Year Award for 2010 from the California Harbor Masters and Port Captains, a 62-year-old professional organization representing port, harbor and marina interests throughout California. The award was presented at the association’s annual training conference, held late last year in Dana Point. “I am honored and humbled by this award and would like it to be a reminder of all of the hard work countless harbor masters do everyday to keep our State’s waterways clean, safe and accessable,” he writes. www.stmarys-ca.edu 41

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1982 Jim Teich is working as the program manager for support services at the Western Area Power Administration’s Sierra Nevada Region in Folsom. The Western Area Power Administration markets and delivers reliable, cost-based hydroelectric power and related services as one of four power marketing administrations within the U.S. Department of Energy whose role is to market and transmit electricity from multi-use water projects.

1977 Brian Mahaney recently completed his stage at the École Nationale Supérieure de la Pâtisserie in Yssingeaux, France, and is now pastry chef at Formoli’s in Sacramento. He is enrolled for fall 2011 at the Scuola di Arte Culinaria in Florence, Italy.

1971 Dennis Patrick Wood has been a clinical psychologist for the past 35 years, consulting with the Virtual Reality Medical Center, San Diego, since 2006, and is also affiliated with the Crownview Medical Group in Coronado. Most recently, he has worked with U.S. Marines and sailors diagnosed with combat-related post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), using a form of exposure therapy that uses virtual reality, computer technology, meditation and biofeedback. Dennis has co-authored a paper titled “Cybertherapy for Combat-Related Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Pain Management and Physical Rehabilitation Following Stroke” that appeared in the Wounds of War II/ NATO Science for Peace and Security Series, published by NATO in July 2010.

1970 Jim Wood was recognized by The Recorder, California’s legal journal, as one of the top 20 lawyers in the state for 2010 “… who are fighting the federal government on these momentous national issues and winning.” The Recorder notes that Wood led a team of Reed Smith attorneys that obtained a groundbreaking decision from the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals on HIV privacy.

1969 John Newlin was appointed by Mayor Gavin Newsom to another four-year term as entertainment commissioner. Subsequently he was elected as president of the commission and will be focusing on ending violence at clubs while promoting the entertainment industry.

1965 Richard (Dick) Gonsalves retired from public education in 2004 after serving as a teacher and principal for 37 years in Sacramento. He has three children and eight grandchildren. He currently is an administrator at Heald College in Roseville. He and his wife love to travel in Europe and frequently attend Broadway plays. He is looking forward to his 50th class reunion in 2115.

SUMMER 2011

1962

32 Kiki Beach Kurvin ’96 had the opportunity to

Eugene Bowen attended Marquette University Dental School (1962-1966); went into private practice (1966-2001); served as dental director for MACT Health Board, California Indian Health (2002-2007); Pit River Health Services dental director (2007-2008); CDCR dentist Sierra Conservation Center (2008-present). He and wife Christine have five children and four grandchildren. Eugene played rugby at Saint Mary’s (1960-62), and was club president in 1962. He was active in intramural sports (19591962 All-Moraga honoree) and a proud member of the Saki Sippers.

attend Wailea Tennis Center’s “Fantasy Tennis Camp” in November on Maui. She enjoyed her stay and the court time with Lindsay Davenport, Corina Morariu, Tom Gullikson and a few other world-ranked tour pros. She also received a wedding present from Lindsay Davenport — an autographed racket, which she has enjoyed using. “Corina and Lindsay were incredibly down to earth and a real joy to be on court with,” says Kiki.

33 Eric Dunphy ’94 EMBA ’10 earned his MBA from Saint Mary’s College in March 2010. After graduation, he accepted a new role as the regional manager, strategic accounts, at Coupons.com. In December, Eric and his wife, Ann-Marie (Berberich) ’94, will celebrate their thirteenth wedding anniversary. 34 Bob Weisenberg ’83, Anne EdD ’07 and Timmy live, work and play in Woodbridge and Truckee. Bob is Northern California business development director for ACCO Engineered Systems. Anne received her doctoral degree from SMC in 2007 and is a professor of education at CSU Stanislaus. Timmy, who just turned 16, is a student-athlete (water polo and swimming) at Lodi High and plans to go to Cal Poly. If you’re ever in Woodbridge, look us up. Cheers!!

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36 37

Br. Kneale

35 Pat Gemma ’71, Michael Ward ’71, Hon. Donald Byrd ’71 and Mike Distefano ’72, met and became lifelong friends at Saint Mary’s College. Their children have grown up together as they continue to “gather the clan” at least once a year over the last 40 years. Michael Ward is retired as a founding partner in a law firm located in Sacramento. Mike Distefano retired as superintendent of schools and now sells real estate in partnership with his wife. Pat Gemma retired in June as the superintendent of the Sequoia Union High School District and works part time as an educational consultant. Donald Byrd is a Superior Court judge in his hometown of Willows.

38 Laura Pardini ’84 has announced the publication of her new blog, www.MyLALifestyle.com. The site is dedicated to those readers who are intrigued by real estate, style, food, wine, interior and landscape design, health and overall spiritual happiness. Her blog contributors are some of the most sought-after professionals in their fields of expertise.

36 Juanita Hagberg’s ECR ’82 watercolor painting “Breakthrough” has been included in “Splash 11–New Directions,” published by North Light Books. Her article, “The Unconventional Route,” is featured in the June 2011 issue of Watercolor Artist magazine. She discusses a technique for developing abstraction in painting.

40 Tim Nevin ’94 and his wife, Katie, welcomed their first child, Caroline Elizabeth, on Oct. 1, 2010. Tim, Katie and Caroline live in San Francisco.

37 Matt Zarcone ’96 married Vaungaylyn (deWitt) on Oct. 2, 2010, in a beautiful lakeside ceremony in Tahoe City. Numerous Gaels were in attendance, including Chris Wright ’96, Greg ECR ’06 and Erin (Edgerton) Haubner ’96, Manny Johnson ’96, Brian ’96 and Kate (Bell) Damiani ECR ’01, and Nick Zarcone ’03 ECR ’07. The couple honeymooned in Negril, Jamaica, and resides in Reno.

39 Jay Conroy ’72 and his wife, Jo Jo (HNC ’72), had an unexpected visitor in their living room in April. Their daughter, Casey, stopped by recently while on tour with the World Series trophy and shared a photo opportunity.

41 Laura (Baldridge) Ruano ’92 and her husband, Ruben, welcomed their first baby girl, Sophie Maria Rose, on Dec. 31, 2010. Laura is a retail manager in the Sacramento area and is ecstatic about being a new mom.

42 After graduating from Saint Mary’s, Tom Roberson ’73 earned a master’s degree in English from Clark University (1978) and an MBA from UC Berkeley (1990). He recently retired from his career as an information technology management consultant for CGI to become a full-time stayat-home dad. He and his wife, Rosette, married in 2004 and have two sons, Tristan (3) and Quentin (7 months).

Saint Mary’s magazine will publish one Glimpse per year for any graduate of the College. To post more frequent updates, go to stmarys-ca. edu/alumni-andfriends/gaelglimpses.

Br. Ruegg

43 Brother Brendan Kneale ’40 MA ’71 recently celebrated his Diamond Jubilee as a De La Salle Christian Brother. He received the Brothers’ habit on Aug. 4, 1944, at Mont La Salle in Napa and completed his Scholasticate at Saint Mary’s College, graduating in 1940. In 1954, he earned a masters degree in mathematics at the University of Notre Dame. From 1949 until his retirement in 1995, he was a member of the Saint Mary’s faculty and administration, serving as professor of mathematics, dean of studies, chair of the Integral Program, acting dean of the School of Liberal Arts and professor emeritus. In 1995, he made his home at Mont La Salle in Napa, where he continues active work as an oral historian for the Brothers of the San Francisco District and as editor of the e-Horizons digital magazine. Brother Brendan shared this 75th anniversary celebration with Brother Dominic Ruegg ’41, who also received the Brothers’ habit in August 1944.

degree key ECR Education Credential EdD Doctor of Education EE Extended Education EMBA Executive MBA HON Honorary MBA Graduate Business MC Counseling

ME Graduate Education MFA Fine Arts ML Leadership MLS Liberal Studies MS Science N Nursing P Paralegal Certificate

www.stmarys-ca.edu 43

i n

m e m o r i A m Family and Friends Dr. Robert J. Albo, parent of Deborah Albo N ’84

Alumni Richard M. Callaghan, Jr. ’53

Monique Carey, current student Elizabeth Coughlin ’78

Patricia “Patsy” Bartolero, wife of John Bartolero ’50 John Joseph Bernie, friend of SMC, toured with the rugby team

Donald C. Donovan ’51

David E. Burnham, parent of Melissa Bacci ’94

Albert Charles Kolar ’43

Mabel Clayworth, friend of SMC

Don “Pete” Kramm ’51

Gerald W. Conlan, friend of SMC

Edward W. LaCava ’36

Frank D. Coppa, parent of Carla Coppa-Fox ’94

Randy Alan Laugel ’95 William F. L’Heureux ’35 Thomas F. Lowney Sr. ’51 Gerald P. Martin, Jr. ’53 Anna Eleanor Govern Mauro ’96 John “Jack” McCaffrey ’51 William C. McCarthy ’51 Shannon M. McManus-Thorn ’07 Hon. Edward P. Moffat, JD ’69 Robert C. Morrish ’67 Scott Peters ’82 John “Jack” Picard ’52 Albert G. Ratto ’42 Clarence O. Shrader U.S. Navy Preflight Program Patrick G. Skelly ’78

Carol C. Edman, parent of Nancy C Burger ’84 and Richard W. Edman ’81 Gary Ellison, father of Michael Ellison ’86 Kenneth Ross Fitzsimmons, Sr., friend of SMC Anthony Garcia, brother of Brother Armando Garcia FSC Matthew Adam Goettsch, son of Dennis Goettsch E ’95 John “Jack” Graves, Jr., brother of Dorothy Cvietusa ECR Joseph Harrison, father of Russ Harrison MBA ’79 Marianne Linggi, sister of Richard Klutz ’68, rugby team traveler Alice M. McNamara, friend of SMC Michael Nelson, parent of Thomas Nelson ’70 Jack Reviglio, parent of Rick Reviglio ’88 and Kari (Reviglio) Woodead ’93

Saint Mary’s magazine runs the names of recently deceased alumni, Christian Brothers and friends who have given to Saint Mary’s. Names of other friends of the College, as well as family members of alumni, faculty and staff, appear in the online version of the magazine.

Christopher Stephenson Papale, brother of Catherine Papale ’05, MA ’10 George D. Picetti, MD, friend of SMC Richard C. Ruffino, parent of Gregory Ruffino ’89 Berta Tsukahara, aunt of Ted Tsukahara ’62 Joanne Voogd, grandparent of Jacob Voogd ’08

SUMMER 2011

Saint Mary’s Benefactor Howard J. Korth Dies Howard J. Korth, a generous benefactor of Saint Mary’s College who contributed to several large campus projects, including the Korth Academic Center in the renovated Arcade and the Korth Tower, passed away in his home in Piedmont, California on February 15 at the age of 90.

Korth was a President’s Club member and a regent from 1981

to 1996; he became a regent emeritus in 1996. He contributed to the Timothy Korth Tennis Complex at Saint Mary’s, named for his son, who preceded him in death. He and his wife, Geraldine, also established the Korth Family Endowed Basketball Scholarship, which benefits men’s basketball players, and the Korth Family Endowed Tennis Scholarship. Most recently, Korth contributed a major gift to the new Joseph L. Alioto Recreation Center. He was born in Saginaw, Mich., in 1920 and graduated from the University of Notre Dame, where he studied engineering and business management and played football for the Fighting Irish. He served in the Navy and was honored with the Navy and Marine Corps Medal of Heroism. After World War II, he became an aviation pioneer. He founded AAXICO airlines in the late 1940s and later acquired or merged with Saturn Airways, Trans International Airlines and ultimately Transamerica Airlines, the largest charter airline in the world. He retired in 1985.

Korth supported numerous Catholic educational and

charitable programs, including Saint Mary’s, Notre Dame and the Cathedral of Christ the Light in Oakland, while also helping needy seniors and children.

Korth is survived by his daughter Barbara Hegarty (George)

of Pleasant Hill; his son Eric Korth (Susy) of Granbury, Texas; his son John Korth (Cheryl) of Troy, Michigan, and 23 grandchildren and spouses and 28 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his son, Timothy, and his parents, William and Edith Korth; his brothers Raymond, William, Alvin and James; and his wife, Geraldine.

A memorial Mass was held on February 21 at the Corpus

Christi Roman Catholic Church in Piedmont.

e n d n o t e

Our Nature Rebecca Farivar

Listen, the geese leave, no thought for the lake, glass jar stuck in mud. Cotton bales stacked in fields— you white-flower turncoats, listen—

Rebecca Farivar’s first poetry collection, Correct Animal, will be published by Octopus Books July 2011. She has published poems in Denver Quarterly, 6x6, cold-drill and elsewhere. Farivar MFA ’06 currently lives in Bonn, Germany.

NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE

PAID OAKLAND, CA PERMIT NO. 1788

P.O. Box 4300 Moraga, CA 94575-4300 www.stmarys-ca.edu Address Service Requested

stmarys-ca.edu/reunion11 Eamon ’86 and Wendy Murphy ’86 experienced Saint Mary’s together as students, and now as a family of four, they are “coming back home” to celebrate their milestone 25th class reunion on July 15–17. As President’s Club donors, the Murphys also make it a tradition to give back to the College every year — but especially during reunion years. Please commemorate your reunion by coming back home … and by contributing to your reunion class gift … in any amount …to any designation.

stmarys-ca.edu/reuniongift2011