Known for his self-deprecating laugh, willingness to mentor young entrepreneurs, and teach pickleball, George Koo MBA ’75  died Sept. 24, 2024. George was born in China and raised in the U.S. after his family fled the Chinese Civil War. He earned a scholarship to MIT, where he met his wife, May. His career spanned engineering, […]

Known as “Mr. Science and Nature,” Joseph Reader ’75, J.D. ’78 died on July 27, 2024. Joseph was a special agent for the Treasury Department and spent 20 years as a deputy district attorney in Santa Clara County. At 53, he retired early to pursue his passion for aviation, becoming a certified aircraft mechanic and […]

James Hurley ’75 was a magnet to anyone seeking warmth and joy, thanks to his gentle, cheerful spirit. He was a great listener with a delightful sense of humor. Jim’s lovely sing-song voice and infectious laughter added to his appeal, making every interaction enjoyable. People eagerly anticipated his presence at meetings for United Leukodystrophy Foundation, […]

Growing up in Watsonville, James Maleta ’75 excelled in sports and was loved by all his classmates. After earning a degree at Santa Clara in business finance, Jim would find work as a property land manager for Granite Rock, and later as a stock broker for Morgan Stanley. Jim’s family was the most important part […]

Michael Leonardo ’75 loved growing up in a small town atmosphere. In the agricultural community of Fowler, California, Michael learned to play the trumpet and guitar, formed a band with his best friend, and played at backyard parties and even for a local telethon. He majored in psychology at Santa Clara and spent his 30-year […]

Whether on the playground, in the classroom, on the golf course, or in the courtroom, Barry McCarthy ’70 JD ’75 shined. Everything he did, he did well. Barry’s law practice spanned several decades and included extensive work in energy law. Barry was widely lauded as an expert and mentored others in the field. He delighted […]

Delia Zambetti-Picone was a proud member of the Santa Clara University Catala Club and of the Italian Catholic Federation. She loved her role as a nona and remained active in all of her grandchildren’s lives. She enthusiastically cheered at many baseball, basketball, soccer, and volleyball games and attended countless dance recitals over the years. Nona […]

After working as a lab technician, Karen Pettibone ’75 stayed at home with her six children, including Carolyn N. Starr ’96, Lisa C. Pettibone ’98, and Maureen R. Pettibone Ryan ’03, that she raised with husband Donald W. Pettibone ’74. She then later worked at the children’s school, Faria Elementary School, first as the GATE […]

Raymond McCarthy MBA ’75 was a dedicated and supportive father to his three children and an even prouder grandfather. He raised his family in Los Altos before moving to Aptos full time in 2000 to fulfill his dream of living by the beach. As his family grew through the years, he embraced the role of […]

Philip Bird J.D. ’75 graduated from Santa Clara University School of Law cum laude. He went on to work in the attorney general offices of Hawaii and California. Philip also served in the High Court of the Marshall Islands Nuclear Claims Tribunal. Survived by his wife, Philip died on June 17, 2021.

Born in the Bronx, Martin Kaufman M.S. ’75 loved math, exercise, the outdoors, classical music, and dining out with family and friends. He traveled extensively and found joy and friendship in religious and community groups in retirement. Marty moved with his family to San Francisco at the age of 11, and later attended UC Berkeley and Santa […]

A woman of endless faith and love for her family, Patti J. Eichenberg ’75 died on May 20, 2021. Patti was a generous soul, often giving to strangers and local charities—anyone who met her, instantly liked her. While her husband James was stationed in Germany during the Gulf War, Patti traveled alone to Romania to […]

A loving grandmother, tireless mother, and tenacious woman, Susan Kayser Grace ’75 died on Nov. 6, 2021. Susan had a great zest for life and worked tirelessly to provide for her sons, who were the center of her universe. Her greatest joy was jumping on the trampoline or going to the park with her grandsons. She […]

Nancy Kay Gritta ’75 always had her head in the game, competing for many years in tennis across the United States. Outside the court, she rose through the ranks in the accounting world before becoming finance director for the City of Woodburn, Oregon. Later in life, Nancy went on to teach accounting courses at both […]

A Palo Alto resident since 1966, Gloria W. Finston M.A. ’75 knew the city like the back of her hand. She enjoyed hiking at Foothills Park and in the Bay Area Foothills, as well as gardening, aerobics, swimming at the local Eichler pool, attending TheaterWorks Productions at the Lucie Stern Community Center, tandem biking with […]

During his life, Stephen M. Fukuchi M.S. ’75 was surrounded by ohana. He loved to spend time with his family, and with the families he made at the Santa Clara Judo Club, in his ukulele group Da Strummers, and as a member of Hui Ilima, a Hawaiian social club in Santa Clara. A Hawaii native, […]

John Stephen Bushman ’75, J.D. ’80 of Silver Spring, MD. John grew up in Wolf Point, Montana and was a member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa. He was a native rights attorney who served as Chief Counsel to the Senate Indian Affairs Committee. He was a loving father, brother, grandfather, uncle, and husband, […]

Receiving a teaching credential wasn’t enough for Harry A. Bettencourt M.A. ’75. Always learning, he found himself earning advanced degrees from Stanford, Santa Clara, and San Jose State universities. He taught as much as he learned, working as an educator/school administrator through the Fremont Union High School District. Harry joked that he failed retirement as he […]

One of the most renowned figures in Hawaii high school sports history, Johnston Kaipo Spencer ’75 was a star quarterback in football and guard in basketball at Saint Louis School in Honolulu. Even as a teen, he was more popular among most local sports fans than University of Hawaii athletics. Kaipo went on to break […]

Robert A. Heise ’75 was born Oct. 10, 1946, in Columbus, Ohio. Bob was a graduate of Worthington High School and The Ohio State University. He served as an intelligence officer in the Army for 20 years followed by 20 years as a high school math teacher culminating at Hilton Head High School. Along the […]