Along the classic South Bay Jesuit education path—Bellarmine College Preparatory to Santa Clara University— Daniel O’Donnell ’54 MBA ’63 made life-long friends. He went on to serve in the U.S. Army and worked at IBM and in the aerospace industry. Dan found his happy niche teaching computer science at De Anza College. He is survived […]

Paul Raymond Nussbaum ’54 loved hunting, fishing, and sports—particularly coaching and cheering on his children and grandchildren. He was married for 62 years to Shirley. Paul died in Burlingame on July 26, 2020.

 James “Jim” Delaney JD ’54 passed away at age 92 on Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020. He arrived at SCU Law after he was discharged from the Army Air Force, a career that took him to the Hanford Atomic Bomb Project and Greenland. It was while Jim attended SCU that he met Jo Ann Cardwell, who […]

After majoring in civil engineering at Santa Clara Jay Philip Murphy ’54 served in the U.S. Army as a Private First Class topographic surveyor at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia. Jay worked with his father in the family business, Murphy Pacific Co., which built several major infrastructure bridges in the western U.S., including the San Mateo-Hayward bridge in the […]

Following graduation from Santa Clara University in 1954 to 1956, Robert A. “Bob” Bonnel ’54 was a 1st Lt. for the U.S. Army specializing in artillery. He was employed by McKesson for 37 years as one of the region’s leading representatives. Upon his retirement in 1993, he and his wife, Dorie, moved to Livermore, and […]

Bill McPherson, who won five Super Bowls as a highly respected longtime assistant coach with the 49ers, died Tuesday. He was 88. McPherson is one of the few individuals with five Super Bowl rings from the championships the 49ers won following the 1981, ’84, ’88, ’89 and ’94 regular seasons. He spent more than a […]

Originally from Antioch, Raymond Ernest Salazar ’54 was born on June 2, 1932, as one of three kids of immigrant parents. He was a high school football star who went on to play at SCU, where he built a community of friends that would last a lifetime. After college and a short stint in the […]

After graduating from Bellarmine College Prep, class of 1950, Kenneth Ravizza ’54 attended Santa Clara University on a football scholarship. That same year he married the love of his life, Norma Goncalves, and together they began their nearly 66-year marriage. After two years in the Army as a second lieutenant, he began a career with IBM […]

Joseph Daniel McNally ’54 was born on June 15, 1931, in Tacoma, Washington. He graduated from Bellarmine Preparatory and SCU with a chemistry degree, served in the Army before marrying Patricia Masonic, and graduated from the University of Washington Dental School, where he became a longtime Husky fan. He subsequently opened a family dental practice in Tacoma, […]

Joseph P.D. Kern ’54, J.D. ’60 was a lawyer in Fillmore for over 60 years, serving 19 of those as city attorney. A longtime member of St. Francis of Assisi Parish, he was also an active Rotarian for over 50 years and was honored as a Paul Harris fellow. It was the privilege of his […]

Albert “Al” Torres ’54 graduated from Bellarmine High School and SCU. He was an officer in the Army, a founder of California Land Title Company, and later became senior VP of Old Republic Title Company in Santa Clara County. At the age of 88, Al passed away in his San Jose home surrounded by family on […]

David Joseph Toomey Jr. ’54 was born to David Joseph and Catherine Creegan Toomey on March 1, 1933, in Visalia, California. He attended schools in Visalia and graduated from SCU. Upon graduation, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Army. After serving his country, Dave returned to Visalia and began his career on the […]

Robert Laubacher ’54 was born on March 4, 1933, in Oxnard, California, to Benjamin Daniel and Evangeline (Carroll) Laubacher. He graduated from Santa Clara High School and SCU in with a business degree. He was an outstanding athlete and lettered in three high school sports. Pitching his senior year for the SCU Broncos, he threw […]

Richard Ellsworth Akin ’54 was born on Oct. 17, 1932, in Placerville, California. He was the firstborn of Leo and Gladys Akin, with brother Ed following 18 months later. Born of pioneer stock, Dick was the fourth generation to make Placerville his home; three of his great-grandparents settled in the new state of California just […]

Edwin Gregory Abate ’54 was born in San Jose, the son of Richard Abate and Vivian Panopulos Abate. Growing up in a modest family, Ed’s early years included being an altar boy at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, working at his mother’s coffee shop, and spending his summers working at Falstaff Brewery. Upon graduation from Bellarmine […]

The son of Benjamin H. Zuppan and Mary Johns, Benjamin Zuppan ’54 was born in Crockett, California, on Oct. 8, 1932, and spent most of his childhood there. He graduated from John Swett High School in Crockett in 1950, where he played football and the saxophone. He attended SCU and graduated with a bachelor’s in political science. Ben was […]

With a lifetime spent on building a career in finance, beginning with Kaiser Cement and Gypsum and then opening his own boutique investment banking firm, Strategic Capital, James Rowe ’54 was a tireless entrepreneur with a quick sense of humor. Born May 24, 1932, in Stockton, California, to Jack M. Rowe and Irene Pezzi Rowe, […]

John George Berger ’54 was born on Aug. 4, 1929, in Oakland. He grew up in San Anselmo, attending St. Anselm Grammar School, St. Ignatius High School in San Francisco, and College of Marin, and graduating with a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from SCU. He started his engineering career working for Link Belt before retiring […]

Born April 18, 1932, in Sacramento, California, Robert E. Bradley ’54 went to be with the Lord on December 16, 2016, at the age of 84. Bob was a first lieutenant in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. He is survived by his loving wife, Frances, brother Harrison (Barbara), and son Chuck; stepchildren Kim […]

The passing of 84-year-old Walter “Bud” Hartman ’54 on June 15, 2017, was a huge loss, but it was certainly heaven’s gain. He had a deep love for his wife, Sally, and his children, and was steadfast in his dedication to his faith, family, work, and country. Bud truly relished each day of his life […]