“Nothing gets done at SCU without Joan’s approval,” colleagues would say of Joan Murphy ’42. After raising six children, Joan went back to work at Santa Clara, where she first served as secretary to Walter Schmidt, S.J., and later the executive secretary to three University presidents: Thomas Terry, S.J., William Rewak, S.J., and Paul Locatelli […]

The last living member of the original San Francisco 49ers, Ken Casanega ’42, died October 10, 2021. A football legend, educator, and grandfather to many, Ken was always an active and caring man. At 97, he was still golfing with his wife of 77 years, Helen. At 98, Casanega was the 49ers’ honorary game captain […]

Austin Spencer ’42 was born in Mountain View in 1918 to Herbert Joseph Spencer and Maud Louise Spencer; he was the youngest of five children, all of whom are deceased. He is survived by his spouse, Eleanor, and his two daughters, Paulette and Suzette. Austin was a proud member of the Palo Alto Elks lodge […]

Bertram Ward Depew ’42 was born on June 24, 1921, in Sacramento, California, to Frank Healy Depew and Agnes Ward and was raised with three siblings. After high school Bert graduated from SCU with a degree in mechanical engineering. He worked for General Electric for 11 years and started his own company, Heat Engineering and […]

Gerald Richard “Gerry” Graham ’42 passed away with his family at his side at his home in Saratoga, California, on January 29, 2017. The son of Stephen and Irene Graham of Sacramento, he was born on October 27, 1920. When he was one year old, the family moved to Oakland, California, where his father opened […]

Joseph Francis Franzoia ’42 was a native Sacramentan, born Sept. 4, 1920 to parents Sabino (John) and Rosina Franzoia, preceded in death. Passed away peacefully, Monday, April 21, 2014. He graduated from Christian Brothers High School and Santa Clara University. He joined the army serving in Italy during World War II with the Allied Control Commission. After […]

William Howard Royer ’42 (April 11, 1920 – April 8, 2013) was an American politician and a member of the Republican Party. He served as a U.S. Representative from the 11th Congressional District of California from 1979 until 1981. Born in Jerome, Idaho, he earned his B.S. at Santa Clara University and did graduate work at what is […]

Alvin Hugh Storch ’42 was born in San Francisco, California on Oct. 20, 1920. He departed on Apr. 15, 2013 and resided in Cupertino, CA.

Daniel C. Willis ’42 was a resident of Arcadia, Calif. He was born in 1920 and died on Feb. 5, 2013. He was 92.  

John F. "Lefty" Collins ’42, a resident of Pleasant Hill, passed away peacefully at his home in Pleasant Hill on January 28, 2013 at the age of 92 with his loving family at his side. John, a lifetime Bay Area resident, was born in San Francisco to Francis and Alice Collins on May 14, 1920 […]

James Denver Rickert ’42 passed away April 10, 2011 just a few days past his 93rd birthday. He was born in Greenville, Penn. on April 2, 1918 to George and Florence Rickert. Jim is survived by his wife of 64 years, Eva, and his sons Jim (Mary), Randy (Debbie), and David (Joel), and daughter Jan […]

Alex J. Hart ’42, the final family owner of Hart’s Department Stores, died peacefully on Aug. 8 in Saratoga, one month and a day shy of his 90th birthday.No single word can describe Mr. Hart. He was a philanthropist, a businessman, a civic and community leader, a social arbiter, a charming host, a gentleman and […]

Martin Thomas "Marty" Fredericks ’42, born May 12, 1921, in Petaluma, died suddenly of heart failure in Sonoma, his home of many years, on Father’s Day, June 20, 2010, at the age of 89. The son of Martin T. Fredericks Sr. and Mary Cline Fredericks, his family has lived in Sonoma County since after the […]

Col. Raymond K. Lutz. Col. (USAF Ret.) ’42  passed away on Nov. 9, 2009 at home.  He was 89 years old.

George Poppin ’42 on March 1, 2010.  He was the loving husband of Dorothy Edith Ritter Poppin; adored father of Nancy Ann Umland (Art) of Marysville, Thomas George Poppin (Lyn) of Palo Cedro, Joan Marie Mickelson of San Francisco, and Deborah Kathleen Jeffries of Hoopa; precious grandfather of  Matthew and Mark Posey, Thomas Poppin, Jr., […]

Frank R. Petersen ’42 passed away peacefully on January 16, 2009, at home surrounded by his family. Frank was born February 10, 1919 in Reno, Nev. He was raised by his mother, Louise, who was blind.  Frank graudated with honors form Reno High School in 1937.  He was elected to the Reno High School Hall […]

Grover James O’Connor Jr. ’42 passed away at age 90 in the early hours of April 1, 2009, at his home in Windsor, Calif., following a short bout with pancreatic cancer.  Grover was born at St. Mary’s Hospital in San Francisco, on Nov. 4, 1918, during the closing days of World War I.  His parents […]

Herman R. Roesti, June 3, 2008. He is survived by his wife, Patricia, and two children. 

Robert McDonald, Nov. 15, 2008. A native of Reno, he attended SCU until he joined the Army Air Corps in 1941 as a second lieutenant. He was a member of the 54th Fighter Squadron that was sent to the Aleutian Islands in June of 1942, two days after Dutch Harbor was attacked by the Japanese. […]