Considered the golden child among his family, Gaetano De Mattei ’50 was the perfect combination of his energetic, entrepreneurial mother, Rose, and his inventive, mechanically gifted father, Tony. At the age of 10, Gate was already off on adventures navigating San Francisco’s ferry and bus system to reach the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition. This […]

John deRegt ’50 died Jan. 14, 2023. Jack has a successful career in construction and development after serving in the Army during the Korean War. He went on to become president and CEO of Bay Area construction giant Carl Holvick Co. and ran his own contracting firm, Holvick, deRegt and Koering, until 1985. Jack was […]

Growing up, Francis Rooney ’50 spent countless hours helping his father on their hop ranch in Sloughhouse, CA. That dedication shone through during his time teaching at the Sacramento City Unified School District and in how his students were always happy to see him even years after they’d graduated. Francis began playing senior softball in […]

While George House ’50 had an extensive career in education as principal of James Lick and Santa Teresa high schools he was also an accomplished athlete and sportsman. At Santa Clara University, he played four years of football and was on the 1950 winning Orange Bowl team. He also served two years in the Navy […]

Veteran and Bay Area native Robert Kemper ’50 died June 20, 2023. After graduating from Santa Clara, he entered the U.S. Army as a second lieutenant. He served in the 155th Field Artillery in Korea in 1952 and was awarded the Bronze Star for meritorious service by leaving shelter in the bunker while under enemy […]

Robert Ferrari ’50 was an odd mix of accountant, gambler, and entrepreneur. Bob and his wife had many friends, and they threw epic parties with sought-after invitations. Neighborhood parties with tricycle races may or may not have injured the inebriated, but they were always the talk of the town. He created a family BBQ sauce […]

Harry Wenberg ’50 was a native of the Valley of the Heart’s Delight. After graduating from Los Gatos High, he enlisted in the Navy during World War 2. He then received a degree in chemical engineering from Santa Clara University. After marrying Jean in 1963, they lived in Cambrian Park, then moved to Saratoga where […]

One of the original car dealers on Modesto’s 10th Street, Guido Peter “Pete” Teresi ’50 started business in the early 1960s. He was also a wizard at woodworking, evidenced by the many violins, violas, and cellos he created after taking up the craft of luthier. Before he settled in Modesto with his wife, Pete served in […]

Richard Charles Caletti ’50 built his family company Standard Structures, expanding their engineered products. At its peak, the company employed 450 people. He was a longtime advocate for the United Way and was honored with its Leadership Award. He enjoyed playing tennis, snow skiing in Tahoe with his family, and dancing with his wife. Many will […]

William D. Ward ’50 was never afraid to get his hands dirty and worked from the ground up. After graduating from SCU, he accepted a job with Worthington & Skilling Structural Engineering Co. Bill stayed with the company for 40 years, becoming the president of one of the largest structural engineering firms in the country. […]

Each year John “Jack” Smrekar ’50 spent his vacation with his wife Liz and the kids at Lake Tahoe and later at Pinecrest, where the family enjoyed long summer days at the lake, dinners on the deck, board games at night, and movies at Pinecrest’s outdoor theater. His other devotion was to sports. Friends recall him watching […]

For over 30 years, George Stevenson “Steve” Holeman, Jr. ’50 worked at San Jose City College. In his brief role as Dean of Student Activities during the 1960s, Steve met fascinating characters, including Eleanor Roosevelt, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Louie Armstrong. Steve himself played a part in history when he served as a medic […]

John (Jack) Louis Regan ’50 died on December 30, 2020, at the age of 93. He attended Santa Clara University for one year before enlisting in the Army, stationed in Korea where he drove an ambulance and entertained the troops by playing the piano. Jack went back to Santa Clara University, graduated in 1950, and obtained […]

Jesuit educated in high school at Bellarmine College Prep and then through at SCU, Robert Gosselin ’50 worked in the family grocery business in Washington state. He opened Bob’s Totum Market in Tacoma and ran it while still finding time to volunteer with the state local Serra Club, his parish, and the Boy Scouts. Bob […]

After being drafted into the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, George Edward Schauf ’50 studied engineering at Santa Clara University before earning a master’s degree in psychology from San Jose State University. He went on to earn an M.D. from St. Louis University in 1957. George practiced family medicine for 53 years […]

William (Bill) Richard Veale ’50 was born on Feb. 5, 1923, in San Francisco to Richard Veale and Zona May Hodges. As an only child growing up near Turlock, California, he graduated from Turlock High School in 1940. After receiving an associate’s degree from Modesto Junior College, he served in the Navy from 1943 to 1946 […]

William Henry Striegel ’50 was born In San Francisco on Dec. 30, 1927, to his parents Harry and Marie Striegel. After Bill graduated from Chico State University, he began working at Pfeiffer Electric Company in San Jose before joining the Air Force in July of 1948, where he was stationed at Mather Air Force Base. […]

Born on July 21, 1928, to Albert and Georgia Ravizza, Eugene A. Ravizza ’50 was raised in Sunnyvale with his sister Aline and brother Armand Ravizza ’62. As a child Gene learned the value of hard work, helping his parents at their ranch on Wolfe Rd. He attended Fremont High School and SCU, graduating as […]

Ernest Lowell O’Banion ’50 was born on Feb. 2, 1929, to Ernest L. and Bernice O’Banion. He spent his childhood in Oakland where his love of singing began. He attended St. Mary’s High School and SCU and spoke fondly of his time at the University, looking forward to visits with former classmates at school reunions […]

Born in the old St. Joseph’s Hospital in Eureka on June 28, 1926, to Clark and Mae Bugbee, James Bugbee ’50 was raised in Ferndale, California. He attended Grizzly Bluff School and graduated from Ferndale High School in 1944. He married Marie Martin in 1949, and they moved to Eureka, where they raised their family […]