Alumni Bios

We want to hear from you! Call or email the Alumni Office with your bio for the fall newsletter. Tell us about your education, career, spouse, children, grandchildren, travels, hobbies, pets, and more. Fill in the Alumni Form and Call 510-234-4433 ext. 1104 or email Henry Moe at hmoe@salesian.com.

Carissa Clarkson ’96 Carissa graduated Summa Cum Laude from San Francisco State University with a BA in Liberal Studies on May 27th, 2006 – slow and steady wins the race. She is currently working in San Francisco’s financial district with a firm that provides statistical risk analysis for private passenger auto insurance companies. She lives in Albany with her miniature basketball team – Magic Johnson and Julius “Dr. J” Irving – the felonious felines. With no plans to add to the team, the season has been postponed until further notice. (No one wants to be a cat-lady at 28 years old.) Carissa is looking forward to the ten-year reunion that she and her classmates have been planning for this summer. Check out the Salesian96 group at yahoo for more information. 

Jerry Glover ‘71 Jerry graduated from UC Berkeley with a BA in biology. He moved to St. Louis 17 years ago and led the industry and public affairs organization at Monsato, a major agricultural company focused on vegetable biotech. Jerry and Gina have been married 30 years now and they have three children. He coached at Salesian with Dan Shaughnessy in the late 70’s and 80’s. 

John Dura ’67 John graduated from St. Joseph’s University in Philadelphia in 1971. He went into the Navy in 1971 as a supply officer on the USS Dyess (DD-880) until 1974.  After he left the Navy for Fordham University, John earned an MA (ABD) in Mathematics in 1978. He taught for one year at the Marymount School in NYC and then joined AT&T as a systems analyst doing network cost analysis until the breakup of the Bell System. At that time, he joined Bell Communications Research to continue work in network cost analysis. In 1989 he was awarded the title of Distinguished Member of the Professional Staff – at that time the highest technical award at Bellcore. John retired from Bellcore (renamed Telcordia) two years ago after 25 years of net service. He married is college sweetheart, Mary, and has two lovely daughters - one attending the College of New Jersey and one at his alma mater St. Joseph’s.

Fr. Bryan Silva, OMI ’72 Bryan joined the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate and has been an ordained priest for 21 years as of June 21, 2006. After all the academic degrees (two bachelors and two masters’ degrees) and parish work, he is now in administrative works with the Oblates, working with clergy misconduct issues. Fr.Bryan just completed his Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at Pepperdine University in Los Angeles, CA. He said “It was a long haul for an old man like me. I needed all the vitamins I could get.” He tries to keep in touch with Fr. David Purdy, SDB, the current provincial, who was the Assistant Principal when he was a student … that gives you a clue how old Fr. Purdy really is. Fr. Bryan thanks the Alumni and Development office for working hard to keep Don Bosco’s spirit alive in the alums.

Steve Fadelli ’86 After four enjoyable years at Salesian I graduated in 1986.  I attended the college of San Mateo for two years and then went to San Jose State and graduated with an Advertising degree with a Marketing minor.  After I graduated, I moved back to Albany and started working at Berkeley Cement (family business).  I got married in 1997 and have three children. We now live in El Cerrito and I am still working at Berkeley Cement as the company Dispatcher and Residential Estimator.  

Maria Rodriguez ’99 Graduated from SFSU in spring 2004 with a BA in Industrial Design and a minor in Multimedia. I work for Kooler Design Studio as an In-House Graphic Designer and I also continue to study Italian and French. My fiancé and I started a Design business called unusualmedia.com. I am taking some time off from school to enjoy and live life. After the break, I plan to get my masters in Industrial Design.  

Ryan Rubio ’00 Graduated from the University of California at Davis (BA Communications). I am currently working at Wells Fargo in the Software Department for Online Banking as well as a Realtor/Loan Consultant for the company Triadco in Daly City .  

Diego Flores ’92 Graduated from San Francisco State earning a BA in Speech Communications. Diego is currently a substitute teacher and enjoys traveling, languages, playing the keyboard and making new friends. (Ed. Note: and long walks on the beach!)  

Genevieve (Delane) Villaruel ‘96 Graduated from UC Davis in 2000 with a BA degree in Sociology and a minor in Psychology.  She works in Human Resources at the Jelly Belly Candy Company in Fairfield and is also a certified wedding consultant. Genevieve was married in 2004 and is expecting her first child in April. She and her husband currently live in Vacaville with their Miniature Pinscher, Grigio (named after Saint Don Bosco’s dog).  

Cecilia Vega ’95 Graduated from American University with a BA in French and Journalism. Cecilia works as a reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle where she covers politics in City Hall. She resides in San Francisco .

Mark Shelton ’72 Mark and his wife Ronica (a Presentation grad) have three children, two are Salesian Alumni and one is currently a freshman, a terrific dancer and cross-country runner. His oldest daughter is in medical school at UC Irvine and his son hopes to transfer to Cal Poly SLO’s architecture program next fall. Mark remains active in many Salesian activities, while still getting in a game of golf, a mountain bike ride, a little fly-fishing or pheasant hunting in his spare time.  

Michael Bruggman ’05 Michael was the recipient of the James and Lela Fulmor Scholarship and is a freshman at UC Davis, recently he attained the Eagle Scout Rank in El Cerrito . Michael is active in soccer, golf and racquetball clubs at Davis , and he plans to major in political science and attend law school. 

David Linn ’64  He was born and grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and attended high school at Salesian in Richmond, CA.  He earned a BA in Political Science from the University at California, Berkeley, and a Master’s Degree in International Relations from North Texas State University, Denton, Texas.  David served 26 years with the United States Air Force as a Special Agent in the Office of Special Investigations conducting criminal, fraud and counterintelligence investigations. He retired in 1994 as a Colonel, Director of Computer and Communications Systems, AFOSI.  He worked for three years with the National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology center, Department of Justice identifying new technologies and standards of law enforcement equipment and information systems. Since 1997 David has been Director of Technology with responsibility for the computer, network, data, radio and mobile data systems for the 1600-person department in the Montgomery County Police Department.   He and his wife, Carmen, have three children. The oldest is a high school teacher, and the others are students – one is at Virginia Tech and the other is a senior in high school.

Justin Resuello ’01 Justin Resuello holds the position of Associate Analyst in the West Regional Team of Moody's Investors Service, where he covers a diverse portfolio of local government credits. Justin joined Moody's in January 2007, serving as a Senior Associate, supporting the West and California regional teams. In that role, Justin provided critical support to Moody's San Francisco-based regional teams.

Justin is a PPIA Fellow of The Heinz School of Carnegie Mellon University, has a B.A. in Business Management Economics from University of California, Santa Cruz, and received his M.P.A. from The Maxwell School at Syracuse University.

David Escobar ’77 Where can I start? I graduated from Salesian in 1977. I commuted every day for 4 years from Oakland – the first 2 years on the 72 bus. For those of you who remember me, I was always into bowling, and guess what? I still am.  After graduation I really wasn't sure what I wanted to do. I went to Laney College for a bit and got some Television Production training. Then I decided that college wasn't for me, so I started working.  In 1985 I was blessed to have a daughter and have been married for 15 years.  We live in San Leandro with our 14 y/o son, and our 3 cats. For the past 16 years I've been working for Sherwin-Williams in Emeryville, with the past 3 as a production supervisor. This past year I met Janet Wilks at Salesian and have been talking to her about a possible reunion - in 2007 it'll be 30 years. So if anyone from class of 1977 is interested, call Janet to have her get a hold of me.

Doug Gist ’76 After graduating with the Class of '76 I attended community college in San Pablo before moving to Reno, Nevada in 1977.  I attended the Truckee Meadows Community College and University of Nevada, Reno.  I recently retired at the rank of Captain from the Washoe County Sheriff's Office after twenty-five years of service, ending with my dream assignment of commander over patrol operations.

I have been married to my wife and best friend for twenty three years and we have two grown daughters.

Kris and I just returned from a summer long trip through Alaska with our truck and fifth wheel.  Now it is time to explore other career opportunities that will still allow us to enjoy more freedom than my first career did! Thanks and take good care

Dennis Ragsdale ’70  I graduated from Salesian in 1970 and graduated from St. Mary's College in Moraga after spending a semester at Loyola's Rome Center in Italy in 1974. I was on the road for a year after that with Gary Raffanelli (a fellow Salesian grad, also Class of '70) playing guitar and singing. I was accepted to Berkeley School of Music in Boston for the fall of '75. However, an opportunity came up that summer and I started a wholesale textile distribution business called J.C. Supply, Inc. right there in Richmond on Central Ave. that lasted from 1975 until we sold it in 1993. We supplied blank Tees and sweats mainly to silk screeners who in turn helped supply rock concerts, marathon runs and Colleges, etc. I built a big house in Alamo, Ca. near Walnut Creek and lived there from 1984 until I sold it and moved to Reno in 2000. I learned how to fly small airplanes and was involved in financial consulting from '93 through '99.

In Reno I've managed a gym (for 24 Hour Fitness) and sold cars for Ford for awhile until I found my true niche. For the last two years I've been involved with Reno Sunrooms, Inc. as one of their main Design Consultants and Salesmen. We add on solariums, cathedrals and studios usually to the backs of houses, along with hot tubs, lattices and solid patio covers. We represent Home Depot and Wal-Mart here and it is indeed a lot of fun.

I have a wonderful wife and two great kids. My oldest is in the sophmore year at U.N.R. and a V.P. in Delta Gamma sorority and my youngest is in 4th grade and quite possibly the funniest kid on the planet. I get back down to the bay area 4 to 5 times a year to visit friends and family.  I send my very best to all of the rapidly aging Chieftains.

Happy in Reno,                                                                               

Dennis Ragsdale

Joseph Madden ’89 A quick bio - after graduating from Salesian I went to Cal State Hayward. From there I was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies and played pro baseball for 8 years, until 2000. I'm still the best baseball player ever to come out of Salesian.  J

I live in Pleasanton and I am an Account Executive for a company called ACT 1 Technical. I have no kids and I am getting married July 2006.

Robert Garcia ’73 has been married since ’77 and has two children – a son, 25, who graduated from SFSU this year, and a daughter, 21, who is married and living in Germany.  Bob’s worked for Chevron for 27 years as a  Health, Environment, Safety & Emergency Preparedness Specialist.

Joe Orth ’50 Joe received a BA from Don Bosco College in 1954. He got his Masters from the University of San Francisco in 1966.  Joe taught over 8,000 students over the course of his 50-year career in education. In July 2004, Joe was awarded the “Medal of Freedom” by Senator George Allen for the three philosophy poems he wrote on freedom, civilization and life code. He is married and has three children. He would like to thank Salesian for teaching him what is “true, good and beautiful.”

Here is one of Joe’s poems:

Be Brave

Mike Mangiaracina ’64  Mike is a police officer and cadet trainer in Carson City, NV.  The following is from an article in the “Daily Republic”. When he lined up on the offensive line for the “Community Bowl” football game in Fairfield, CA he was the oldest player on the field. The event was benefiting tsunami relief efforts and the American Cancer Society. He played in the community bowl as both a community service and as sort of a stress outlet. “As a police officer we get in trouble if we hit people” Mangiaracina said as he waited on the sidelines to get his first piece of action. “So it’s a stress reliever. As a matter of fact, I told everybody, ‘I’m going down to hit some people.’” After seeing his first snaps at defensive tackle, Mangiaracina ran over to the sidelines clapping his hands and yelled, “That is just so much fun! It’s heaven out there,” he said. “A lot of hitting and those boys ain’t tough. I figured somebody 30 years younger than me would be kicking my butt all over the field, but it’s not happening.”

Check out a great picture of Mike and his daughter below. “Let the 2005 graduates know what they can do with God’s blessing 40 years later.”

Ed Burns ’69 B.S. NY State Univ; working on Masters in Psychology/Military History and a credential in Chemical Dependency. In the last newsletter I saw an article on the soccer team; quite interesting since I was on the first soccer team Salesian had. I was the MVP, Captain and All–CAL of SHS soccer team.  For several years we were a club team and then got official status in 1969. We didn’t have a great team but we got some goal posts donated from the Luso-American Portuguese-American soccer club I played on. I work as an administrator for low income housing in San Diego for the last 15 years. I am divorced with one daughter. I spent 11 years in the Marine Corps and proud to say earned several medals (non-combat) for outstanding duty (photojournalist and broadcaster). I got my B.S. degree (finally) in 1992 from New York State University, working on Masters in psychology/military history and chemical dependency (counseling) credential. I volunteer my time working with kids at the local detox center once a week. My hobbies are softball (went to Nationals last year and on several championship teams) soccer and motorcycles. All I can add is that my years at Salesian were great years. I was at a turning point, headed to juvey like many of my gang, and then my parents decided maybe Catholic education would straighten me out. It did – Fr. Zago – who coached me in soccer. Fr.Zago was extremely instrumental in turning my life around (as well as Br. Luna, Bro Noel, Fr.Brainard, Mr. Martinez, - soccer coach, and the custodian – whose name escapes me – and many many others). Anyway it was 9th grade, freshman, and didn’t do to well first semester (truant for several weeks, bad grades and lots of fights). My family was poor so I had to do work study for my four years there. All of a sudden someone – I think Fr. Al- called me in for counseling. They asked what they could do and I was silent – I wanted to go back to public school with my friends. So Fr. Al asked in the meantime, before I make my final decision, to help this priest from (then) Yugoslavia by the name of Fr. Zago. “He needs help with his English” and that became my after-school work for my tuition that year. Fr. Zago could speak better English than I could but he convinced me that playing football would be good way he could learn his English and get some exercise in ( I believe he left for Philippines the next year). I thought he was talking American football but he wasn’t – it was soccer as we call it. He said I’d make a very good goalkeeper and he trained me every day and I grew to love the sport. Soon it became my passion. Eventually I got on some ethnic soccer teams (me being the only American usually) and became quite good at the game. I told you about my soccer accomplishments at the beginning but Mr. Martinez our coach (and Spanish teacher) was pivotal in getting the sport recognized at Salesian and mentoring me and others ( and I was a ball boy at Oakland Coliseum for the Oakland Clipper pro soccer team). Went to Merritt college and Feather River to play soccer, then won the East Bay Championship adult soccer with the Portuguese team (the one that donated the goal posts for Soccer/football) in 1972, went to the Marines then earned MVP in Hawaii and championship, got to play soccer at Chico State (14th in the nation) and then went back in the Marines for another decade, playing soccer thru-out that time. While I never played pro, I’ve never forgotten those early years at Salesian and soccer. I went from a below average student to honor roll the next three years. Sports and education was taught to me at Salesian (and we always were a great sports powerhouse: Raymond Vargas a close friend of mine until he passed away led Salesian to football greatness in the late 70’s and 80’s I believe). I play softball mostly now (I play on several leagues and at age 55, I am the oldest in every league I play – God has blessed me). Please convey congrats to the young lad who plays soccer and wrote the article. And keep up the good work.  Salesian is in my heart and soul. Blessings to all and please convey my best – particularly to the soccer team!  “Salesian took a poor kid headed down the wrong path and turned me around.” Prayers for the Pope who has left this world and prayers for the new Pope.

Tom Butson ’70 I currently reside in Modesto CA. . I graduated from the Univ. of Portland in 1974. I have been married for 24 years and have three children. My oldest is a grad student at Georgetown University, the middle child is a college sophomore and the youngest is a junior in high school. I have been employed as a Sales Manager for Healthcare at Sysco Foodservices of Central California for 20 years. I have been in touch with Steven Pardini and Bryan Millsaps.

David Sanchez ’81 Major, US Air Force. Stationed McGuire Air Force Base, NJ. Graduated D’Youville College B.S./M.S. Physical Therapy. I am married with two children. After graduating from Salesian in 1981, I joined the Navy and served as an air traffic controller for 15years, 10 years active duty and five years in the reserves while attending college. After graduating, I switched to the Air Force as an officer. I enjoy exercising and I am active in triathlons. I plan on retirement from the service after one more assignment.

Christian Galatti ’86 Lettered in 5 sports (Cross Country, Water Polo, Soccer, Swimming and Track) at SHS. Elected Class President in  1986 but “impeached by Mrs. Chin.” I turned down Berkeley School of Engineering and accepted UCLA Political Theory. I graduated UCLA in 1991 with honors and a double major in Political Theory and History. I finished my thesis in three years, granted funding from Mellon Foundation to do research at Berkeley with Dr. Rogin on race relations. In 1992 became a stockbroker at AG Edwards. In1996 became vice president at Bears Stearns. In 1999 became associate director at Bears Stearns. I am currently working in the Bay Area since I became the director at Shemano in 2003. Outside interests include sculpture, athletics, modern art, philosophy, quantum physics and space/time concepts and limited music.

Erik Lindquist ’87 He would like to hear from classmates and hopes for an interactive Salesian alumni site. Currently Group Director, Product Marketing for Siebel Systems' Business Analytics product line (based in the Bay Area).  Basically, Product Marketing is the group of folks who go out and talk to customers / potential

customers, gather requirements from them, specify how the software should work / look / perform and then work with Engineering to get product built and delivered to the market. After Salesian, went to UCLA and majored in Japanese with a Business Administration specialization.  Upon graduating I went directly to Japan -

my well-considered plan at the time (*ill*-considered in hindsight) was to master the Japanese language and business culture in one year and return to find a job in accounting or consulting.  Well, clearly one year was

insufficient so I decided to stay on for a little longer.  All told, I was there for four years.  I worked initially at a small Japanese company doing Western skills training in English and some sales in Kyoto.  Beautiful city

and learned quite a bit in my time there (approx 18 mos).Decided that it would be a good time to move on when the company went bankrupt (:P) and found a job doing consulting for a great client, Procter &

Gamble, in nearby Kobe.  Great experience and one of the best managers I have ever had - he pushed me toward the MBA track.  This encouragement plus realizing that life is short - lived in one of the worst hit neighborhoods during the great Kobe Earthquake in '95 - spurred a move to go back to business school and accelerate my life.  Also, I met my wife in Japan and we wed in 1996, three days before I started school(!).

Ended up going to the University of Pennsylvania for a dual degree program - MBA from The Wharton School and an MA in International Studies (focusing on Japan) from the Lauder School.  One of the best experiences of my life.  After Wharton, I took a job doing mergers & acquisitions and operational finance at Johnson & Johnson but after two years wanted to go home to the Bay Area.  After looking at several options, I decided on Siebel Systems.Started in the Business Development group negotiating major in-license deals and ended up running the group within two years.  After one more year, I decided that I wanted to do something different so moved to product marketing and have been there ever since. Sachi and I recently moved to Seattle for lifestyle and work reasons and live here with our two year old daughter.  We like the area and are

very happy with the move. Whew!  Perhaps not so "brief" - hope you are still awake...

Scot Murdoch ’99 Graduated from CSU Sacramento in December 2004 with a B.A. in Communications and a  B.S. Criminal Justice. I am currently taking some time off from school and working to enjoy Sacramento and the snow.