Any alumni news is welcome!
Please send to: guardian@SASalumni.org
or to the address on the "Contact Us" page.
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Al Rosen (Class of 1957) wrote about his good friend, Joe Gilson:
Click on the PDF file below:
A STEADFAST FRIEND
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An Alum's Story About His Passage to America:
Click on the PDF file below, and read all about Fred Aquilina's (Class of 1957) Big Adventure:
FRED'S PASSAGE TO AMERICA - PDF
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An Alum's Autobiography:
Click on the PDF file below and read about Jay Kilroy's (Class of 1949) Life:
JAY'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY - PDF
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Fr. Joe Chinnici, OFM, Class of 1963, has written a book, American Catholicism Transformed: From the Cold War Through the 2nd Vatican Council. It is also available on Amazon.
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George Stenger, Class of 1966, has written a book of poetry, Beginnings. It is available on Amazon
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Fr. Nevin Ford, OFM, (Class of 1947) passed away at 92 years of age on July 21, 2021. He was 74 years professed and 66 years ordained. Fr. (John) Nevin Ford took the religious name ‘Nevin,’ who is an obscure 5th century saint. Nevin’s first assignment after ordination was to teach at SAS; and he once stated that he was asked to teach Algebra there because he happened to be good at it in high school. But art, in any form, was his passion! He usually was found in his campus ‘studio’ working on his latest projects, be it the mosaic Stations of the Cross, or limestone statues, or even a unique welded crucifix. He taught hundreds of students the appreciation of art,… from the paintings of the truly great masters, to helping with stage set designs, or with the simple art of silk screening a class mascot onto T-shirts. Other times he was out building rock walls! He, and many students, built a wall across the back of the SAS campus; and he, and many students, built a wall around the perimeter of the playing field. Both walls still stand to this day. He impressed upon his students the recognition of artistic beauty not just visually, but also intellectually! Rest in peace, Fr. Nevin.
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Like to read blogs? Bill Jennings, Class of 1952, has informed us that he writes a blog at www.jurnee.com . Check it out if you get a chance.
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It is with great sadness that we pass along news that Fr. Warren Rouse, OFM (Class of 1949) has died on April 25, 2020. For several years he was the music teacher and choir director at SAS. He taught many boys about the appreciation of many types of music from classical to gregorian chant, and almost everything else in between! May he now rest in the peace of Jesus, and may he and Leo Nestor fill the heavens with song! Fr. Warren was also the editor of the WestFriars newsletter. He published WestFriars for many years about the ongoing work of the friars in the Santa Barbara province.
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Leo Nestor, Class of 1966, passed away on September 22, 2019. It was a privilege to witness his amazing musical talent! He was a true prodigy and a gentle spirit, starting in his freshman year playing the chapel organ whenever he got the chance; and then, under the direction and the teaching of Fr. Warren Rouse, OFM, Leo was soon able to play those 3 keyboards with the hands of a master! When he would ‘pull out all the stops,’ the chapel walls literally seemed to shake! Leo also played accompaniment for two of the Franciscan Choristers’ record albums. Throughout his lifetime, Leo impacted thousands of lives with his music as a composer, director, and choral instructor at the Catholic University of America. He often spoke of the joy in composing and conducting liturgical music. Rest in Peace Leo!
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Hans Bertsch, SAS Class of 1962, wrote an article for The Way, a Franciscan magazine, in 1974, about the intriguing work of the late Fr. Elias Galvez, OFM, among the people of the Harquahala Valley. You can read the article by clicking here.
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Fr. Kenan Osborne, SAS Class of 1947, died on Good Friday, April 19, 2019. He was 88 years old, 70 years professed, and 65 years ordained. Many have stated that he was the epitome of the Franciscan spirit, and a paragon of virtue. For many years he was vocation director, and was also a teacher at SAS.
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James Pfleeger, SAS Class of 1964, has written a book, Ego Sum: The Christ Codex. It is available at www.amazon.ca and it sound very interesting.
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Fr. Mel Bucher OFM, SAS Class of 1953, and Editor-in-Chief of the Franciscan Bridges newsletter, passed away on March 6, 2019. He was a Franciscan priest for 58 years in the Santa Barbara Province. He kept many SAS and SLR alumni in touch with their fellow classmates, and informed all of us of the provincial news of the day. His tireless work was immensly appreciated. May he rest now in the peace of Jesus.
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Gene Fazio, Class of 1964, is the director of a non-profit organization called Make A Difference Foundation. It is a literacy program for helping students to tutor other students. Both parties enjoy success! Reading scores have gone up in all the schools that have tried it. Congratulations Gene on a job well done helping our high schoolers in Arizona!
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Current officers as of July 2018 going forward are Steve Raths, '67, Director (President) and Treasurer; Rick Lang '80, Archivist and Reunion Organizer; and Bob Aldrette '69, Scribe (Secretary). All the best to these, your fellow alums, for helping to continue the SASAA!
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Congratulations to Bob Murray OSF, (SAS Class of 1959), on his appointment to the Immaculata Fraternity in Riverside, California in November of 2016! To read more about them, check out this link:http://www.stfrancisregion.org/media/Fraternity/Newsletters/Immaculata.p...
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Fr. John (Manuel) Vaughn OFM, SAS Class of 1947, passed on to God on October 10, 2016. Fr. Vaughn was a former SAS student, SAS teacher, Theology teacher, Provincial, and Minister General of the Franciscan Order. Over the years he ministered at Mission San Miguel, St. Francis Parish in Sacramento, St. Anthony's Seminary, Old Mission Santa Barbara, the provincial office in Oakland, and in the office of the Franciscan Order in Rome! He was a very special, gentle, humble man for all seasons! May he rest in God's peace.
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Hardy congratulations go out to Leo Nestor, (SAS Class of 1966), who, after 32 years as the music director at Catholic University and the Catholic Basilica in Washington DC, was, upon his retirement, in May of 2016, named professor emeritus; and was also inducted, as a knight, into the Catholic Order of St. Gregory in recognition of his lifetime service to the Church! Fr. Warren Rouse OFM, Leo’s former music teacher at SAS, said this about Leo in the July edition of the WestFriars Newsletter: “It was my second year of teaching choral and organ at St. Anthony’s when a young Leo Nestor entered the seminary. I was strapped for an organist, and there he was, quiet, studious, and a fine organist! He was a mainstay in my choir at the school. Over the years I have followed his amazing career, his recordings and compositions. I am indeed very proud of Leo’s talent, generosity, and inspiration. He has been a blessing to me and to so many others!” Congratulations Leo!
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Steve Raths (SAS Class of 1967) and his wife, Cecile, celebrated their 40th Wedding Anniversary on June 18, 2016!
Over the years they have enjoyed several Franciscan retreats at the Casa de Paz y Bien in Scottsdale, AZ. Congratulations!
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Fr. Alberic Smith OFM , (SAS Class of 1951), former SASAA Director, passed away on May 31, 2016. He led the SAS Alumni Association from 1992 thru 2007, and during that time he organized and oversaw 15 all-class reunions! Fr. Alberic was an SAS science teacher in the early 1960s and again in the late 1970s and 1980s. He was also an SAS administrator during the 1980s. Other assignments throughout his career included teaching at St. Francis Seminary in Oregon; science teacher at San Luis Rey College; pastor at Mission San Xavier del Bac in Tucson, AZ; Guardian at Old Mission Santa Barbara; and Chaplain to the Poor Clares in Spokane, WA. He was 84. Rest in peace Fr. Alberic.
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Fr. Xavier Harris, OFM, (SAS Class of 1940), died on January 9, 2015. An SAS graduate, he was later a teacher, and administrator at SAS in the 1960s and early 1970s. He initiated the idea of taking SAS students to forensic tournaments throughout the southern California area. He also began inviting the greater community of Santa Barbara to get more involved in the weekly liturgies. Fr. Xavier was 92.
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Fr. Joachim (Clifford) Hulings, (SAS Class of 1954) passed away in July of 2014. He taught at SAS for several years in the 1960s. He was known for his wonderful stories of his exploits in the Merchant Marines, and for his ever-present pipe! He taught history with a special flare all his own! Rest in peace Fr. (Clifford) Joachim.
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We were recently notified that two of our former teachers at SAS have passed away.
Fern Sayovitz, who died on Sept 6, 2012. She was the first female teacher at SAS, hired in August of 1965 to teach Junior English Literature to the Class of 1967, and she also “starred”, in a supporting role, in the Senior play that year, A Man for All Seasons. And, she apparently made it thru no worse for wear that year, because Fern continued to teach at SAS for the next twenty-two years!!! According to her will, there was to be no formal funeral service.
Also, on July 19, 2012, Pascual (Angel) Martinez (SAS Class of 1952) died in San Diego. Some of you may remember him as a Franciscan who taught at St. Anthony’s. He was also the baritone-voiced narrator on the 1962 green vinyl Christmas Album…”These are the voices of the Franciscan Choristers…” He later left the order, married, and became very involved in counseling and social work.
May both these fine people, who in so many ways touched our many lives, rest in peace. Both were a special part of the history of St. Anthony’s.
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Fr. Richard Ochiltree, CSSR, a Redemptorist priest who taught at SAS in the 1970s, died on July 9, 2011.
Here is one commentary, of many, about Fr. Dick:
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Fr. Martial Luebke, OFM, (SAS Class of 1932 ), SAS teacher, and Prefect, passed away on May 17, 2011. He was 96 years old. "Fr. Martial was a priest who represented the highest ideals of the Franciscan order. He was talented in so many ways -- as an administrator, as a disciplinarian, geometry teacher, and musician. He could be both hard-nosed and gentle, and he knew exactly when to be one or the other. All it took was one "stare-down" by him and, miraculously, all funny business going on would come to an abrupt stop. He was part of a wonderful and dedicated group of Franciscan priests and brothers who built St. Anthony's into a place with 200 or so students with a curriculum and study hall schedule second to none. Thank you, Fr. Martial, for helping us through those years, and as that beautiful Gregorian hymn you once taught us goes "May the Angels Lead You into Paradise"."
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Fr Peter Krieg OFM (SAS Class of 1938) passed away on Dec. 12, 2010. Fr Peter was born Raymond Krieg. He was professed in 1941, and one of his first assignments was teaching Latin and Greek at SAS during the '50s and the '60s. After 20 years as a teacher and administrator at SAS, he was assigned to a number of Franciscan parishes, including St. Elizabeth's in Oakland, where he himself attended grade school. He was a very gentle, kind, wonderful man.
"Father Peter was a great Franciscan,
a great teacher, a great human being.
His humor was unique, special.
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Equally at home with A-list socialites and the poorest residents of San Francisco, Fr. Lotito was a passionate advocate for the poor throughout his entire life. In San Francisco, he is perhaps best known for his work with St. Anthony Foundation, where he has served in various capacities since 1968.
"Fr. Floyd affirmed the dignity of each person he met, calling them 'brother' and 'sister,'" says St. Anthony Foundation Board President Fr. John Hardin, OFM. "He used his incredible gifts of communication, presence, planning and charisma to build relationships with people from the entire community, from politicians, journalists, philanthropists and athletes to those living on the margins of our society."
Alfonso Joseph Lotito was born in Los Angeleson July 28, 1934. His father, Joseph, came from a family of shepherds in Bari, Italy. His mother, Filomena Pirri Lotito, was a first generation Californian. He attended DivineSaviorGrammar Schoolin Los Angeles, and then won an academic scholarship to CathedralHigh School. In 1949 he entered St. Anthony Seminary in Santa Barbara, and entered the Franciscan Order on July 12, 1953, receiving his religious name, Floyd. He was ordained a priest on December 17, 1960.
Fr. Lotito received his B.A. from San Luis Rey College and his Bachelor of Sacred Theology from Old Mission Theological Seminary in Santa Barbara, CAin 1961. Fr. Lotito received an M.A. in Speech and Communication Arts from MarquetteUniversityin Milwaukeein 1970. He held a lifetime Californiateaching credential and taught high school for six years, including five years at St. Anthony Seminary High School in Santa Barbara, and one year at Serra High School. He taught English, Latin, Spanish, Italian and speech.
At St. Anthony Foundation, Fr. Lotito served from 1970 to 1981 as Deputy Executive Director, working directly for the founder of St. Anthony Foundation, Fr. Alfred Boeddeker, OFM. Fr. Lotito also worked as Director of Public Relations, Director of St. Anthony Dining Room, and as a chaplain for St. Anthony's. Under his leadership, St. Anthony Dining Room began serving meals on Sundays in 1981. In 1983, he also developed a drop-in hygiene program at a time when few such services were available to homeless people in San Francisco. He also oversaw the People's Picnic in Golden Gate Park in 1984, a day when St. Anthony Dining Room prepared a festive picnic for its guests. Since 1989, he served as a consultant, providing advice and service to staff, donors, clients, and the boards of St. Anthony Foundation.
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From a former student: "Clem, I remember that you were the only one who knew how to make a hamburger taste so good on Track Day. We even called them 'Clem Burgers.' And thank you also for making all those study hall desks. You told me one time recently that they were shipped to the sem in pieces, and that you had to put them all together! (I know that I have difficulty putting together a small entertainment center, and I could never make 200!!!) I know that you made them with a lot of heart and probably a little cussing! You were carpenter, electrician, plumber, friend, helper, counselor and the quintessential laundry man! You faithfully ran those washers and dryers for so many years during those magical years of our lives. I am sure that you were tired every Wednesday after a whole day in that tiny room. You also had the first "digital" clock that I remember seeing. It sat on the window sill of your shop, and it was "strange" to see back in '63. When you and I met again at the big "garage sale" that the sem had in 2004, you told me that you found and bought the "keys to the liquor cabinet" that was in the cloister rec room. You also bought the keys to all our hearts so many years ago. If I end up having one tenth the fun, love, and joy in my life that you have had in yours, I'll be a happy man. You have indeed lived a full life and you have touched many, many lives!
I've never known anyone who has had a more positive influence on so many people as our buddy, Clem Wehe. What a guy!! What a gift to the planet!!"
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Fr. Anthony (Severin) Baumann, OFM (SAS Class of 1938) died on his 89th birthday, January 11, 2008 at McClure Convalescent in Oakland, California. Friar Anthony was born in San Francisco on January 11, 1919. He joined the Franciscans in 1937 as an SAS student, and was ordained a priest in 1945. He was a science and math professor at Saint Anthony's Seminary for many years and a chaplain at Saint Mary's Hospital in San Francisco. He is proceeded in death by his parents, Anton and Antonia Baumann, as well as his siblings Dolores and Joseph.
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Mathilda “Tillie” Schram, chef extraordinaire, passed away on May 20, 2007. Tillie worked in the SAS kitchen starting in 1966 for 15 years until she retired in 1981. When she started in 1966, Tillie broke the tradition of all-male cooks that had dominated the SAS kitchen since its founding. While she worked at SAS, students could definitely see the “woman’s” touch that she added to all of the delicious dishes that came out of the kitchen, such as sandwiches cut on the diagonal or a sprig of parsley with the pork chops. She helped to keep many hungry teenage boys well fed for many years. We thank Tillie for all of her hard work and we ask the Lord to grant her a special place in His Heavenly Kingdom.
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Fr. Benny Bavero, OFM (SAS Class of 1938) passed to his heavenly reward on October 12, 2007. He was the long-time Pastor of Saint Paul of the Shipwreck Parish in San Francisco. I do not have any other information at this time but I do know that he was a SAS classmate of Fr. Severin's (Rev. Anthony Baumann OFM) of the class of 1938.
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2006- HERE WE GO!!! Our "first" Alumni News item: Fr. Alberic Smith, OFM has announced that the SASAA will now be led by the lay alumni, as he is stepping down as director as of June of 2007. THAT'S US, FOLKS!