Jerry Nix MBA ’79 served as a staff sergeant in the Army Reserves from 1961 to 1967. He then worked 32 years in the defense industry and 18 years to the automotive industry, excelling as an executive director specializing in the design and manufacture of tracked and wheeled vehicles. He enjoyed genealogy and traveling, visiting […]

Deeply committed to helping others succeed, Judith Heyboer MBA ’79 was a great Human Resources executive. She served as SVP and CHRO at Acuson and Genentech before founding her consulting business, specializing in executive coaching and organizational interventions. Judy was the go-to person for advice among friends and family, and her dedication to nonprofit causes […]

Born in Cuba, George Reyes MBA ’79 came to the U.S. at the age of 7 and enjoyed a whirlwind of a career in finance, ultimately retiring as the chief financial officer of Google. He was named 2008 CFO of the Year by the San Francisco Business Times and recognized as one of the 100 […]

Known for being a tough but fair teacher, Bruce Allen ’79 didn’t just teach subjects—he opened doors to art, music, theater, and travel for more than 25 years. From helping students get into college to sparking a love for literature and classical music, Bruce touched so many lives. He died Nov. 19, 2023.

Earning a degree in electrical engineering gave John Katsaros MBA ’79 the itch to move to California, where he co-founded the Internet Research Group, a security and infrastructure research agency. John earned an MBA from Santa Clara and authored two books, Selling High Tech: High Ticket and Getting It Right the First Time. John met […]

A true product of Jesuit education, John Nunes ’79 was always a “man for others.” John attended Bellarmine College Prep, earned a degree in biology at Santa Clara, then went to medical school at Georgetown University. He completed his residency in obstetrics and gynecology while a commissioned officer in the U.S. Air Force. In his […]

Ann Stuart J.D. ’79 was never one to let lifelong ambitions pass her by. At 45 years old, Ann reinvented herself from elementary school teacher to lawyer. After enrolling at Santa Clara Law School and passing the California Bar Exam on her first try, she practiced family law then joined District Attorney’s Office of Santa […]

Charles Chaffin M.A. ’79 was a natural teacher and students loved being in his class. He kept up with many of his former students through the years. To Chuck, learning was a life-long activity that extended well beyond one’s school years. During a sabbatical from teaching, Chuck earned a master’s degree in climatology and started […]

Avid outdoorsman Benedict Giese ’79 spent countless hours hiking, fishing, and camping with his family, sharing his knowledge and love of the wilderness with those around him. Ben loved sitting by the campfire and telling stories to his sons. He also had an extraordinary talent for painting watercolors, loved flying remote control airplanes, and creating […]

While he navigated a successful career as a real estate broker, Christian Mendoza ’79 also pursued a wide range of passions, from singing to oil painting to cooking to studying medicine. Christian was especially passionate about music: singing in church, playing the piano and singing songs by Frank Sinatra, The Three Tenors, and Rod Stewart. […]

After graduating from SCU, John “Jay” Cattermole ’79 went to work for Chevron before moving to Constellation New Energy, where he worked his way up to western region vice president. Jay’s work brought him great joy, success, and, most importantly, lifelong friendships. In May 1995, Jay married Maureen Nunes in Modesto. They raised daughters Emily and […]

 Dorothy Gray J.D. ’79 died Jan. 2, 2022. She led a classic 1950s southern California teen existence of beaches, mountains, and the freeways in between. After graduating, she worked for local papers and later ventured into screenwriting. Her scripts included episodes of “I Love Lucy” and “The Fugitive” among other shows. Next she ventured into politics […]

John O’Connor ’79 cherished and lived by his family’s legacy of hardwork and steadfast faith. He met the love of his life, Maureen Dennehy ’81, at Santa Clara University. After graduation, John worked for and later led Luppen & Hawley, Inc. for over 25 years. His time in the mechanical contracting industry left him with […]

Timothy Bonnel ’79 devoted his working life to expanding student access to higher education, becoming one of California’s most respected leaders in student financial aid advocacy through his work with the California Student Aid Commission and the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office. Friends and family knew Tim as a proud grandfather and purveyor of pistachios and […]

Centenarian and lifelong traveler Lorrainne McLaughlin M.A. ’79 loved every moment of her life. While she worked primarily in the insurance industry, she held a soft spot for children and enjoyed working as a substitute teacher. Her greatest joy was being a eucharistic minister at Stanford Hospital in the children’s ward and at Holy Trinity […]

Kevin Duncan ’79 died on January 28, 2021, at the age of 64. Kevin’s family provided extraordinary care while he fought frontotemporal dementia—requiring advanced medical and memory care—for well over 10 years. Kevin was the second youngest son of a proud Irish family with five boys. His parents raised him to be principled, stubborn, honest, hardworking […]

Leigh Ellen (Carter) Halvorsen MBA ’79 met and married met and married Ronald Halvorsen while in college. After he died, she moved to Santa Rosa, CA in 1989 and then to her own ranch in 1998. Leigh worked as a systems analyst, controller, and accountant for many tech companies. Leigh always had a black cat and raised […]

A fabulous golfer—three hole-in-ones—and an amazing storyteller Ray Wagstaffe ’79 died March 10, 2020. But not before he could fit a great life into 63 years, despite facing cancer and diabetes. Wagstaff worked in international sales for Texas Instruments, among other jobs, witnesses Matt Cain’s perfect game, and shared more stories than is possible to count. He […]

The son of Lee O. Torr III and Regina E. (Cuneo) Torr, Lee Torr IV ’79 was a lifelong resident of Monte Rio, attending Monte Rio Elementary School and graduating from Santa Rosa’s Cardinal Newman High School (class of 1974) before graduating from SCU. In 1979 he joined his father in the real estate and […]

Elgin Harry Martin Jr. ’79 was born in San Jose and passed away at the age of 63 on Oct. 20, 2019. He was predeceased by his parents, Elgin Sr. Martin and Ruth Anne Martin (Gill). He is survived by his wife, Monica Freeborn; his children, Elgin III, Shannon, and Nicole; his grandchildren, Elgin IV, Miles, […]