The regular meeting of the Widows' and Orphans' Aid Association of the San Francisco Police Department was called to order by President John Centurioni at 1:50 PM in the Conference Room of Ingleside Station.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: Led by President John Centurioni.
ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS: President John Centurioni, Vice President Matt Gardner, Treasurer John Fewer and Secretary Mark Hurley. Trustees Bill Gay, Bob Mattox, Mark McDonough and AI Luenow. Excused Harold Vance. Also attending was Junior Past President Joe Garrity.
MINUTES OF THE MARCH MEETING: Motion by Mark McDonough that the minutes be approved as published. Seconded by Joe Garrity. Motion carried.
BILLS: Treasurer John Fewer presented the usual bills. Motion by Bob Mattox that the bills be paid. Seconded by Al Luenow. Motion carried.
WE HAD SIX DEATHS THIS PAST MONTH:
ERNEY C. ELLISON: 82 years old. Erney was born in San Francisco and grew up in the Sunset. He went to Poly High School to get his PHD. He served his country in the Army. Upon his discharge, he went back to School and a short time later in 1949 he entered the Police Academy. His first assignment was Potrero Station. He was the station 3-Wheeler when he was transferred to the Photo Lab in 1957. In 1964, he was appointed an Assistant Inspector and Full Inspector in 1966. Erney remained in the Photo Lab the rest of his outstanding career. He retired in 1979.
JAMES ROGER SEIM, 65 years. Jim was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His family moved to Portland, Oregon. After high School he served his Country in the Army. He was stationed in Germany. After his discharge, he came to San Francisco and worked at Air Freight before he entered the Police Academy in 1971. His first assignment was Taraval Station. Two years later, he went to Central. Four years later, he went to Park Station. After a short time at Park, he went back to Central. In 1980, he went to Southern. He was detailed to the Crime Scene Investigations in 1984. In 1986, he made Sergeant and was assigned to Ingleside. Jim went to college and earned a double Masters in Administration of Justice and Organizational Change. In 1986, he went back to Southern and was detailed to Management Control for a short time before going to Muni Transit Detail. Jim worked the Muni detail and also Homeland Security. Jim retired in July of 2009 due to a serious cancer problem, which he fought, to the end.
ROBERT H. WARDLAW, 90 years. Bob was born in San Francisco and grew up in Noe Valley. He went to Sacred Heart High School. He served his country in the Navy during WWII. Upon his discharge, he returned home and was employed as an auto mechanic before he entered the Police Academy in 1947. His first assignment was Potrero Station. In 1949, he was assigned to Co. K Solos. He worked on the bikes for fifteen years before going to APB. He made Sergeant and was assigned to Potrero in 1975. Bob retired in 1976
JAMES FRY, 65 years. Jim was born in San Francisco and grew up in the Richmond. He attended Saint Ignatius High School on Stanyan St. Jim attended USF. He also served his country in the Army Reserves. Jim also worked as a maintenance man before he entered the Police Academy in 1967. His first assignment was Ingleside Station. Two years later, he went to Potrero for two months before being assigned to the Crime Prevention Unit. He also worked Northern Station and then the C.S.T.F. He made Sergeant and was assigned to the new Muni detail. After ten years at Muni, he went to Communications. He made Lieutenant and was assigned to The Property Control Unit. He then went to Taraval and Richmond. Jim retired in 2002. Jim spent 35 years in the Department. He lived in the Richmond his entire life buying a home next door to his Family Home. He loved to remodel and work on various projects in his home doing a great job on one project before starting another. Jim was a good cop and could carry a good conversation during his watch.
JOHN LEHANE, 84 years. John was born in San Francisco and grew up in the Mission. He attended Sacred Heart High School and served his country in the Navy during WW II. After his discharge, he returned home and worked as an electrician before entering the Police Academy in 1947. His first assignment was Mission Station. A year later, he went to Central. Nine years later, he went to Potrero. He worked Potrero for ten years before going to the Permits and License Detail. John was assigned to the Permit Detail when he made Sergeant and remained until he retired in 1976. John worked as a film location manager for some of our best action movies for over 20 years. John was very active in our POA and remained so with the Veterans' Association and was their President and later Treasurer. His expertise was the City Charter of San Francisco and he worked hard for all police officers even taking on the POA with the "Poison Pill" regarding Veteran Police Officers' rights. John knew everything regarding Tier 1 and Tier II pensions. We lost a great worker for his fellow police officers with his passing.
SALVATORE RAGONA, 83 years. Sal was born in San Francisco and grew up on Bernal Heights. He attended Mission High School and served his country in the Coast Guard during WW II. Upon his discharge, he returned home, got married, and started to raise a family as he was employed as a machinist. Sal entered the Police Academy in 1958. His first assignment was Richmond Station. He then worked Central and Northern for a short time before going to The Inspectors Bureau. He made Assistant Inspector in 1970 and full Inspector in 1975. He worked the Fraud Detail and Auto Detail. Sal retired in 1984. He was awarded FIVE medals of Valor during his career. Two Silver Medals: One for his arrest of a suspect who assaulted a man and woman in a Tavern. The suspect went berserk as he was arrested and officers had to use a great amount of force to affect the arrest. Another for his actions in physically taking a shotgun from a suspect who threaten to shoot occupants of a hotel. Three Bronze Medals of Valor One for his arrest of a fleeing suspect who just used a knife to kill another man. The suspect climbed down a fire escape in his attempt to escape and officers had to use their weapons to fire and slightly wound the suspect to make the arrest. Another for his arrest of two fleeing robbery suspects who were armed and just robbed a grocery store. Another for rescuing elderly occupants of a hotel fire. Sal's son, Ray, is keeping the good name of Ragona still on the roles of the San Francisco Police Department working as a Police Inspector.
REPORT OF TRUSTEES: Our Investment Team from Wells Fargo Bank, Mr. Jerome Paolini, Pam Royer, and newly assigned advisor Ashley Daggs, gave a report on the condition of our account. Pam first introduced Mr. Ashley Daggs. Jerome Paolini reported our account is up 6% for the month and 5.4% for the first quarter. We are in a slow recovery and have to be aware of inflation.
COMMUNICATIONS: More from the Trust of Lt. Mortimer Considine: $17,275.55 (and there still a little more to come). A Donation from the Trust of Edgar and Helene Fleck of $27,403.53 (this is half of total amount left to the Widows and Orphans); Retired Captain and Past President of the Widows' and Orphans' George Jeffery donated $100.00.
I looked into the background of Edgar and Helene Fleck. Edgar was born in Frankfurt, Germany. He saw what was going on in Germany prior to WW II and moved to San Francisco in 1937. A short time later, he met his wife of 67 years, Helene. Edgar was the owner of Lesher-Muirhead Oldsmobile in San Francisco. He built a state of art dealership on Serramonte Blvd. In Daly City in 1974. His wife Helene went to Lowell High School in San Francisco and was the guiding force to her husband's success in the auto dealership business. They made up their Trust and gave the Widows' and Orphans" $54,807.06. I like to feel that some police officer made an impression on either one of them and they thought above us when they were making up their Trust.
NEW BUSINESS: Treasurer John Fewer asked for an expense upgrade to paying for time and travel for Officers and Trustees for attending the regular meetings, meeting with the Bank, and special committees. Trustee Bill Gay made the Motion that Officers and Trustees who are physically attending the meetings be given $30.00 per month. The motion was seconded by Bob Mattox. The motion carried.
ADJOURNMENT: President John Centurioni had a moment of silence for our departed members and all those men and women serving their country in the armed forces. He set the next meeting for Tuesday May 8, 2010 at 1:45 PM in the Conference Room of Ingleside Station. Our meeting adjourned at 3:15 PM.
Fraternally,
Mark Hurley, Secretary. |
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