Paul Vangelisti '63

MY FOOLISH HEART

for Thelonious Monk

The truth in the tale, the tale and/or teller,
here now, speak up, in the wind carving time,
ever lost is everything you couldn't find
or found and lost again to that flame of words,
loosing it one more last time in the name
of growing older, here there, now and then,
neglecting to hear anything but that shame of rime
in the world, words whistling in time to wind
under the fine dazzling bone of something
somebody might care to lend a whisper to.

Mostly time was when it wouldn't be said
or wasn't spent in the wind winding up
now like a world in those stark hands that
know whose lips are much too close to mine

"My Foolish Heart," comes from Paul's most recently published collection, Border Music. Paul Vangelisti has published some 30 books of poetry and is a noted translator from Italian. In 2015 he edited Amiri Baraka's S.O.S.: Poems 1961-2013, for Grove Atlantic, and in the same year his book of sonnets, Solitude, appeared in a bilingual edition in Italy, as well as Border Music, a new collection of poems from Talisman House in 2016. Vangelisti lives and works in Los Angeles.

Minnijean Brown Trickey of the Little Rock Nine, a civil rights pioneer, met with SI's Photography 1B class last week to discuss how documentary photography in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1957 was a change agent in the desegregation of her high school. She told students that "photography saved our lives."

James (Jim) Laveroni passed away peacefully on March 28, 2018 surrounded by friends and family. Jim was born on April 26, 1953, the son of the late Edward and Michaela Laveroni. He is survived by his adoring wife Carol, his brothers Rich (Ann), Paul, Bill (Patty), and Steve (Patricia), and his sisters-in-law Diane (Dennis ) O'Leary and Marilyn (Mark) Kuklinski along with many nieces and nephews. Jim was raised in San Francisco, a graduate of St. Ignatius High School and University of San Francisco. He was a thirty-year veteran of the Novato Police Department where he retired as a lieutenant 10 years ago.

Jim was very active in retirement as a teacher at Santa Rosa Police Academy, an accomplished drummer in a number of bands, and host of a radio show (Percussion Discussion) on KRCB in Rohnert Park. He lived life to its fullest, enjoyed friends and family, and could always bring a smile to any person he met. His passions were his loving wife Carol, music, his dogs, family, and close former Novato police friends. A Celebration of Life will be held Sunday, June 24 at 3pm at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Windsor, CA. In lieu of flowers, please contribute to your favorite charity in Jim's name.

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On April 22, the Spanish elective class Música del Caribe enjoyed a concert at the SF Jazz Center: John Santos with special guests. Students had a chance to converse with local percussion great John Santos after the show, which honored Puerto Rico and its continued legacy of musicians who have defined their art through progressive movements of social change. Back row, from left to right are Max Prentis, James Beard, Trevor Williams, John Santos, Shannon Buckley, Jenna Hovan, Sydney Kistler, Alyssa Downs, and Sofia Quiñonez. Front row from left are Alyssa Tabucao, Indiana Peters, Lindsey Merrigan, Kira Barnes and Sophia Marchesotti.

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Beauty

At a sushi joint I went to infrequently
there was a waiter I called Beauty.

I was tickled by his dark eyes
& his hip-length black apron.
I thought his dad must have been Russian,

he was so tall.

He only ever served me once.

When I'd pass by the restaurant, I'd always look in
to see if Beauty was there.

There was another waiter, looked like Beauty.
Sometimes at first I'd think he was Beauty,
but then he'd come toward the window,
showing some customers to a table,
& I could see it wasn't Beauty.

Sometimes I couldn't tell right away
because of the reflections of cars in the window.
And I was afraid if I peered in too intently,
Beauty would see me, and know.

One night I took Beauty home.
Took? His long legs loped
up the stone steps ahead of me.

I unlocked the door to my apartment
& followed him in.
But when we were face to face,

I didn't know what to do with him.

I didn't want to hurt him
(any more)
I didn't want him to take me in his arms
(any more)
so I let him vanish.

I let him go.

I let him go back to his body.

I let him escape
the violent eye
that fastens on beauty
to possess or destroy.

George Stanley is a native of San Francisco, and a graduate of SI (1951). He now lives in Vancouver, Canada, where he has published eight books of poetry. 'Beauty' is from After Desire (Vancouver: New Star Books, 2013).

Gil will be inducted into the SF Prep Hall of Fame along with Levy Middlebrooks '84 on May 19. Read about Gil here.

The Admiral Daniel Callaghan Society held its annual essay contest dinner April 25 and honored the three winners of the contest — Angela Yang '18 (first place), Blake Carter '19 (second place) and Tessa Keane '20 (third place). Rear Admiral Richard Rodriguez '83 spoke at the event and was honored with SI's Spiritus Magis Award, which recognizes excellence in one's professional life. The citation for the speech is below, followed by photos from the event. For all the photos, go to our slickpic site.

Read the winning essays here. (They are listed in order, from first to third place.)

Today we are honoring Rear Adm. Richard Rodriguez '83 with SI's Spiritus Magis Award, which recognizes excellence in one's field. In Adm. Rodriguez's case, however, we can choose from so many fields in which he has shone.

One of the top 10 ranking Navy SEALs , Adm. Rodriguez has been deployed six times and has seen combat each of those times, starting with Desert Storm.

As President of Dunhill Homes, he has helped thousands of families move into their first homes, thanks to his commitment to building affordable housing.

As CEO of Emaar Properties, he also oversaw the construction of the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai, which opened for business in 2010.

Most recently, he helped with U.S. efforts to allow a stable democracy to flourish in Somalia by training members of the Somali military "to fight on their own to support a government that can support the greater good."

He currently serves as deputy commander of the Navy Special Warfare Command based out of Coronado, Calif.

His story would make a phenomenal book or movie, but he wouldn't want that, given his humility and his belief in the SEAL creed, one that stresses faithful service. "You can't flip on Fox News without seeing former Navy SEALs exploiting the trident. That goes against our ethos. We don't advertise our work or seek accolades. We do what we do for love of country, not fodder for our next book."

Admiral Rodriguez knows the value of humility first-hand, having grown up in Pacifica, where his family relied on Food Stamps to make ends meet. As poor as they were, they never applied for financial aid to send Rich to SI and his brother, Robert, to Sacred Heart.

Instead, Rich's father Anthony, who owned and operated Molloy's in Colma, would take home change he made in tips and turn quarters into rolls to deposit at their bank just in time to make their tuition payments. His mother, Joann, served at Macy's for 30 years in Serramonte. Both worked long hours, with Anthony closing his bar at 2 a.m. Rich adds that sometimes he would reopen the bar at 2:30 a.m. to serve cops who were just getting off work.

Rich decided his life needed to change after one instance when he used Food Stamps to pay for groceries. "I was 13 or 14, and the clerk gave me a look that spoke to his disgust. That stuck with me forever."

At SI, he played football for Ray Calcagno and found mentors in many teachers, including Bill Isham, Shel Zatkin, Mike Silvestri '67 and Cameron Ayers. In Brother Douglas Draper, S.J., he found a perfect model of discipline. 'I'm a Navy SEAL who has been around the world, and this man, to this day, strikes fear in me — one that is born from a desire never to disappoint him. He could do more with a look than others could do with all the authority in the world."

In Bill Isham, he found another model for discipline — the kind you need to craft a solid five-paragraph essay. "I used one of my freshmen essays at the Naval Academy and even gave it to my children to teach them how to write. Bill set the stage for good study habits and good discipline."

At the Naval Academy, his battalion officer was Major Jim Mattis, currently Secretary of Defense. He thrived there and even stayed on just shy of a year to serve as an assistant football coach before leaving for Coronado, Calif., to begin SEAL training at the Basic Underwater Demolition School.

To earn that spot, he had to pass the tortuous SEAL training that is "designed to weed out people by testing mental fortitude. Can you think clearly when your body is telling you to quit? Can you overcome hardships, stick to your ethical principles and continue a mission when your body is telling you not to dive into freezing cold water? You come into yourself during training. I never thought about quitting once. The same was true at SI. As tough as SI was academically, quitting was never an option. There was no way I was going to let down all the people who helped me get there."

After earning entry into SEAL Team One, he met LeighAnn, whom he would later marry; they now have four sons and a daughter.

His first of six deployments came during the first Gulf War, which featured the first use of GPS and laser-guided munitions. "We were on the forefront of these technologies, ones that we take for granted now. They were cutting-edge at the time."

After transitioning to the Reserves in 1994, he was called back four times, including a 2009 deployment to Iraq. "That was bloodier than my previous times, with more face-to-face conflict. We grew close to the Iraqi soldiers with whom we worked. They were fighting to give their families a better life and to create a stable government."

Real combat, he added, "isn't what you see in a Hollywood movie. We devise our plans to involve zero loss of life. A few times, when we were clearly outgunned and outmanned and had to get out fast, we would go back to our training. These days, however, I am more diplomat than warrior."

In his most recent deployment in Somalia last year, Adm. Rodriguez worked with the U.S. Ambassador there to help take the country through its first successful election in 20 years. "We saw democracy at work, even though it wasn't perfect. I felt overwhelmed, though, watching the Somalis move their society forward."

He harbors no illusion that things will be perfect in Somalia in the coming years. "We can't eliminate corruption, but we did create structures to reduce it. Change didn't come from the front end of a gun but from sitting down and meeting with government and military officials. That was a big win for us. Our people worked 23 hours a day to make this happen

This kind of leadership role is typical of high-ranking Naval officers. "American officers carry weight abroad with our coalition partners. They look to see what Americans will do. You are thrust into leadership roles whether you want them or not. When you walk into a room with the American flag on your chest, you automatically have a seat at the table."

In his civilian roles, Adm. Rodriguez has also advanced to leadership roles. He began working in real estate development in 1996, including a stint with Arvida, with which he built 17,000 homes and advanced the art of home-building using innovative processes. "We also used tried and true methods. Building a home in many ways resembles Mr. Isham's way to build an essay."

He eventually became CEO of Emaar Properties and was tasked with the construction of the Burj Khalifa, which stands nearly 830 meters tall. He worked with an international team to get the job done. "I doubt I'll ever duplicate that kind of success again," he noted. Still, it's not the job he's most proud of. As President of Dallas-based Dunhill Homes, he makes sure that his company does more than build $5 million beachfront mansions. "You can get caught up in that. But I take greater pride in the 2,000 homes we build for families in Dallas who are outgrowing the apartments they live in. It's gratifying to see families pick up the keys for their first homes. It represents security for them. I still remember how excited I was buying my first home. I snuck around it the night before we closed to peek in the windows with flashlights."

One final note about Adm. Rodriguez. Like St. Ignatius of Loyola, the admiral is Basque, and like Ignatius, who is the patron saint of Catholic soldiers, Adm. Rodriguez is more interested in service to others than to himself.

His experiences have also taught him to find God and good in all things. "The vast majority of people I met overseas, whether in the Middle East, Africa or Europe, are good people who want security for their families, order in their lives and the freedom to worship the way they want to. I'm gratified I can be of service to them, to my God and to my country."

Pat Dwyer '63 and Dick Brennan '63 present service medals to Mike Timboe, whose father, Richard Arthur Timboe '62, died in the early days of the Tet Offensive in Vietnam

From left: Dick Wall '52, the founder of the Callaghan Society, Rear Admiral Richard Rodriguez, Tessa Keane, Blake Carter, Callaghan Society President Dennis Murphy '77, Essay Contest Coordinator Ben Harrison '83 and SI President Eddie Reese, S.J.

Admiral Rodriguez holding his Spiritus Magis citation and standing next to his cousin, Anthony Cuadro '02, who nominated the admiral for the honor.

Adm. Rodriguez with Caitlin '99 and Larkin '01 Callaghan, great-granddaughters of Admiral William Callaghan and great-grandnieces of Admiral Daniel Callaghan.

Read the SF Examiner story on the loss to SHC, which sends the trophy to our cross-town rivals ... at least until for now!

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Last Wednesday, SI hosted a STEM Evening Summit to champion more girls and students in color in STEM. Speakers came from a variety of creative areas including : American Conservatory Theatre, JP Morgan, Microsoft, YouTube, Neighborly, VidCode, Wells Fargo and others. Alumni James McKenzie '79, Sam Yen "91 and Catherine Avendano '99 were inspirational speakers for the SI students. Learn more here. Event sponsors include Girls Who Code and August Capital. If you're interested in getting involved or attending next year, email Director of Education Technology and Innovation Jen Gaspar-Santos.

See photos from the event here.

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June 4, 1936 - April 13, 2018

Gerry passed away peacefully at his home in Davis with his family by his side following many years of heart and lung issues, which he handled with courage and grace.

Born on June 4, 1936 in San Francisco, he was raised in Bernal Heights, the sixth of seven children. His father, Daniel O'Hara, was a firefighter and his mother, Elizabeth Payton O'Hara, was a hard-working and loving mother.

After earning an Honorary Classical Diploma from St. Ignatius College Preparatory, he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from the University of San Francisco in 1958.

He served in the U.S. Army from 1958-1960 at Headquarters Company, Fort Ord, as Chief Clerk. He admitted to ducking an assignment to the commanding general so he could regularly date the love of his life, Linda Keane O'Hara, whom he had recently met a cousin's wedding. They were married in 1961 at Carmel Mission, returning several times a year during their 57 years of marriage.

In 1966, Gerry joined the staff of the California Teamsters Public Affairs Council as a legislative advocate and moved to Davis.

Governor Ronald Reagan invited him to sit on the first Cal/OSHA Standards Board and reappointed him before leaving office. Governor Edmond G. Brown, Jr., when elected, appointed Gerry chair of the Standards Board. He served a total of 16 years, becoming familiar with all the standards as they were reviewed three times during his tenure. He had no uncertainty as to the value of a state plan.

He became Director of the Public Affairs Council in 1975, retiring in 2001 after many challenging and interesting assignments.

His heart and soul was with all issues related to labor and he quickly became widely known throughout the state as an astute expert on worker legislation, particularly occupational health and safety and workers' compensation. Democrat and Republican governors tapped his resolve and knowledge to serve on many commissions and boards. He was also very involved in legislative matters related to social insurance. He was very proud that his 2001 appointment to the Cal/OSHA Appeals Board in the "public member" position was not opposed by any group, even though he had retired from labor.

Gerry was a daily 6 a.m. swimmer with the Davis Aquatic Masters for 30 years, a photography hobbyist since his pre-teen years, an avid book collector and reader concentrating on presidential biographies and American history, a volunteer tutor for a local adult literacy program and a classic car aficionado.

He is preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, Daniel, Thomas, Timothy and Helen O'Hara, as well as Patricia Shannon and Catherine Elizabeth Adams.

In addition to his wife, Linda, he is survived by his children, Martin (fiancée Lynn Spradlin), Brendan (Crystal) and Colin. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Sean and Connor; and Aily and Nolan and their mother, Karen Davis O'Hara.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at Saint James Church, 1215 B St., Davis, on Friday, May 11, at 11 a.m. with a lunch reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or the Saint James Building Fund.

See photos from the Banner of Love event, organized by the Janet Pomeroy Recreation and Rehabilitation Center, which honored board member Ed Reidy '76 and SI's Pomeroy Club, which presented the organization with a check. See photos from the event here, courtesy of Bowerbird Photography.

Sonnet with Swan and Long Tall Sally

Robert Thomas '68

What if we're the crux, the diamond lynchpin?
What if creatures in other galaxies
have a vague sense that something is missing,
but don't know it's Little Richard, Shakespeare,
and cornbread with plum jam? They have their songs,
but like the Rolling Stones' Voodoo Lounge, not
Exile on Main Street, or as if Monet
stopped painting before the water lilies;
their idea of sex is what dogs do or
Nixons. Their squidy eyes would see the most
gauche galoot of us as Baryshnikov
dancing Swan Lake on gold wires, dulcimer
strings over water. And for what that dark
lake is made of their language has no words.

"Sonnet with Swan and Long Tall Sally." First published in The Yale Review. (https://yalereview.yale.edu/three-sonnets) Robert's most recent book, Bridge, is a lyrical novella published by BOA Editions and received the 2015 PEN Center USA Literary Award for Fiction. His first book, Door to Door, was selected by Yusef Komunyakaa for the Poets Out Loud Prize and published by Fordham University. www.robertthomaspoems.com

Bart, who directed plays at SI and who received SI's Spiritus Magis Award two years ago, also saw his play receive 10 Tony nominations. The awards wil air June 10. Bart has won several Tonys over the years, including one for directing South Pacific. Read more here.

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Alexa Contreras '05 will soon begin her role as SI's Alumni Relations Officer. She is the fourth person to hold office since the role was created by Jim Dekker '68 in the 1980s. Past directors include John Ring '86 and Tim Reardon '86. Her brothers are Cesar, who graduated from the last all-male class of 1992, and Eric, who was part of the first coed class of 1993.

Alexa brings to the job a variety of international experience. She last served as director of operations for Project Production Institute, a global research institute dedicated to the optimization of the largest energy, industrial and civil infrastructure projects in the world. She previously spent seven years in Spain, originally interning for the Spanish Congress in Madrid and later founding A.C.E. Events in Barcelona, a production company specializing in new market launches and team building. Alexa graduated from the University of San Diego in 2009 and also received a certificate in Innovation and Entrepreneurship from Stanford University in 2016. A scholar of languages and an avid traveler, Alexa has lived in eight cities around the world and visited 27 countries, where she dedicated time to volunteering at soup kitchens and orphanages.

Read more here.