After earning his master’s in 1968, John Fox ’66 was drafted into the U.S. Army, leading him to serve at the Pentagon. It was in Virginia, playing rugby for Team Sudamericano, that he met his future wife, Judith. The couple made Maryland their home, and they raised two sons. John’s commitment to his community shone […]

Jeff Manchester ’66 led an eclectic life, taking on many roles from bank manager to Naval officer to treatment center director to hiking guide in the Sierras. He found stability and spirituality through 45 years of sobriety and the many connections made through AA. He found love and joy with his wife, Ann Manchester ’66, […]

Loren Acker MBA ’66 had an inquisitive, creative mind, which led to him becoming a successful entrepreneur when he created a company that transformed the medical equipment industry. In 1976, he founded Engineering Research Associates, Inc., a company that revolutionized the blood collection processing industry through innovative technology such as radio frequency-based tube sealers. Loren […]

After serving in the Army, Frank Dirksen ’66 structured his life so he could spend his time serving others. He drove seniors to church on Sundays, made daily visits to nursing homes (always with fresh fruit to give to the residents), and coached hundreds of youngsters in basketball. If helping others was his mission in […]

Christine Pratt ’66 wanted to explore the world. After finishing most of her schooling in California, Chris was ready to explore new horizons and spent a year abroad in Rome. From there, she worked as a research assistant in the psychology laboratory at the Denver Veterans Administration Hospital in Colorado, where she met her husband, […]

Born and raised in Willow Glen, Robert Pasquinelli ’66, J.D. ’69 was passionate about carrying on his mother’s contribution to the founding of the neighborhood’s lawn-Christmas tree tradition in the 1950s. He and the love of his life, Jean, established their own family tradition, cutting down their own Christmas trees at Four Winds Ranch in […]

For Joseph Finnerty MBA ’66, life was full of surprises just waiting to be savored. He served in the Army Air Force during the tail end of WWII. He married Angie, moved to Arizona, and raised six children. In retirement, Joseph volunteered to record for the blind and dyslexic. He also enrolled in a “Reminiscence […]

 Joan Whitehorn ’66 grew up attending San Francisco 49ers games as her father, Marshall Leahy, was a longtime attorney for the team and later general counsel for the National Football League. Joan was among the first class of women to be admitted as freshmen to Santa Clara University. Following graduation, she worked as an executive […]

Michael Priest J.D. ’66 had a singular sense of humor and a gift for telling stories, some of which were even true. He had a long and varied career, including serving in the U.S. Army, practicing law, and working in business, culminating in a position as CEO of Bay Area Credit. Above all, Michael loved […]

William “Bill” Jewell ’66 had a long career in electrical and mechanical manufacturing before becoming an ordained minister. He officiated many marriages and religious services, and when he wasn’t bringing people together in matrimony, he served with the Red Cross to reunite families in tragedies. As a volunteer with the Red Cross, he helped lead […]

A stellar professional baseball player, Peter Magrini ’66 had a competitive nature and strong work ethic. In his seven-year-long baseball career he played for the Minnesota Twins, the Boston Red Sox, and the New York Yankees. After baseball, the car business became his second passion and Peter quickly developed into a well-known business leader. Even […]

James Taylor MA ’66 died at the age of 85 in February 2023. He was a loving husband to Patricia Taylor ’73 for more than 61 years, a proud father of four children, and a high school and community college English teacher for 35 years,  earning teacher of the year recognition twice. Taylor was a gifted […]

Karen Albanese ’66 graduated from Notre Dame High School and earned a degree from SCU in 1966. She was a loving mother of two children and worked in property management, banking, and real estate. Albanese enjoyed music, walking on the beach, photography, and gardening. She was immensely proud of her family, leaving many beautiful memories […]

The childhood home of James Green ’66 in Westlake backed up to the 4th hole of the Ocean Course. As a child, he would jump the back fence to enjoy the links in all their glory and develop his passion for golf. He established a successful law practice in San Francisco. Jim was an avid golfer […]

J. Allen Hayes ’66 had a simple red: faith, family, and country. Together with his wife, they received the 1995 Norman Vincent Peale Foundation “America’s Award” – The Nobel Prize for goodness from President Ronald Reagan, the Ignatian Award from Santa Clara University Alumni Association in recognition of distinguished service to humanity, and the First […]

Christos Chrones M.S. ’66 spent 25 years in the electronics industry. In 1986, after moving to Capitola, he and his wife started Pacific Yachts in the Santa Cruz Yacht Harbor, a yacht brokerage which they kept for almost 35 years. They owned and sailed numerous boats on the Californian coast and took one of them […]

In July 1966, a month after law school graduation, Michael P. Diepenbrock J.D. ’66 was drafted into the U.S. Army and the Vietnam War. His first Army supervisor and roommate would later become his brother-in-law and lifelong friend upon Michael’s marriage to Viorica Marian. Like his big brother, San Francisco lawyer Anthony B. Diepenbrock ’51, […]

Monk, priest, scholar, teacher, Reverend Richard Paul Vaggione ’66 died Oct. 23, 2021, in Kingston, New York. Father Vaggione authored numerous scholarly books and articles on the history and theology of the movements of the Christian patristic period. He served as parish priest in Episcopal churches throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and in Greater Toronto, […]

Carl H. Backers MBA ’66, also known as Grandpa, Pops, Great-Grandpa, and, back in his early days, “Heinie” (a popular old German nickname for a young boy), died on May 12, 2021. Born and raised in Nebraska, Carl loved hunting, fishing, horseback riding, Nebraska (Big Red) football, and card games, especially cribbage. He worked as […]

Margaret Stewart ’66 would write writing special prayers for friends and coworkers in their times of need. Her giving spirit was present in her work—she had a long career in bilingual education in Salinas. Margaret died Sept. 11, 2021, in Monterey, where she lived for many years.