The Widows’ and Orphans’ Aid Association of the San Francisco Police Department held their monthly meeting on Zoom technology, on Tuesday September 13, 2022.
Roll Call: President Rob Forneris, Vice President Lou Barberini, Secretary Mark McDonough, Treasurer Dean Taylor, Trustees Ryan Walsh, Leroy Lindo, Ray Kane, Jim O’Meara, and Maureen Leonard, and Administrative Assistant Sally Foster were present.
Approval of the Minutes: Trustee Jim O’Meara made a motion to approve the August 2022 minutes. Trustee Ray Kane seconded the motion. The motion passed.
Receiving Applications; Suspensions and Reinstatements: There are no new applications for membership this month. There were no suspensions or reinstatement. Last month we listed the suspended members who were dropped from our roll due to non-payment of dues. Two names were not spelled accurately: Nicholas Thompson (previously appeared as Nicole) and Eileen Connor (previously appeared as O’Connor). Trustee Ray Kane will present the WOAA membership to the 276th San Francisco Police Recruit Class this week.
Communications and Bills: Treasurer Dean Taylor read aloud our monthly bills and beneficiary claims. Beneficiary Claims were received by the listed beneficiary of passed members Salvatore Priolo and Mike Wells. Our annual website fee of $222.40 is now due. Our payroll filing fee of $150 is also due. Trustee Leroy Lindo made a motion to pay the all the bills and the beneficiary claims. Trustee Maureen Leonard seconded the motion. The motion passed.
Report of Trustees: We received the sad news of the passing of our following member(s):
Gary Fox, age 77: Gary Bernard Fox entered the San Francisco Police Department on September 2, 1969 at the age of 25 after working as a Metals Inspector. Gary was assigned to Star #788 and worked the following assignments during his 30 plus-year career: Mission Police Station (January 2, 1970), CPHC (February 28, 1971), Mission Police Station (January 21, 1973), Co.K Traffic Company 3 Wheelers (February 22, 1978), Ingleside Police Station (February 13, 1980), Personnel and Training (June 26, 1980), Background Investigations (September 25, 1980), Co. K/Admin (August 8, 1982), Personnel and Training (March 23, 1983), FOB/Admin (October 24, 1983), Mission Police Station (September 17, 1984), Inspector’s Bureau (August 4, 1990, Hit & Run Detail (January 19, 1991 and Promoted to the rank of Police Inspector on March 2, 1992), Management Control (June 19, 1993), Burglary Detail (July 16, 1997), S.I.D. (January 16, 1999), Burglary Detail (April 17, 1999). Awards: Gary Fox was awarded a Silver Medal of Valor for services rendered on May 5, 1970 at 2205 hours. Officers Fox, and Richard Estrada, and Patrol Special Officer Raymond Adkins observed a suspect aiming a pistol at them in front of a Tavern at 3098 16th Street. The suspect fired one shot at the Officers and missed. Fox, Estrada, and Adkins advanced on the suspect, disarmed him and placed him under arrest. The suspect had just fired four shots into the ceiling of the Tavern prior to exiting. O, 1970fficer Gary Fox was awarded with a Bronze Medal of Valor for services rendered on November 27, 1970 at 0030 hours. Officers Gary Fox and William W. Murphy investigated three subjects who were engaged in unorthodox behavior. One of the subjects threatened the Officers and then brandished a firearm and pointed it at the Officers who quickly grabbed the suspect and engaged in a violent struggle. Fox and Murphy disarmed the suspect and placed him under arrest. Gary Fox was awarded with his second Bronze Medal of Valor for services rendered on Sunday February 15, 1975.Officer Fox responded to a call of a man with a gun walking south on Valencia Street from 24th Street. Officer Fox located the suspect who when approached pointed an automatic weapon directly at the Officer. Officer Fox grabbed the suspect’s gun hand and arm, and engaged in a physical struggle with the suspect. Fox disarmed and arrested the suspect. Officer Gary Fox was awarded with his third Bronze Medal of Valor for services rendered on Friday June 27, 1975 at 1253 hours. Officer Gary Fox and his partner Officer James Balovich responded to a call of a man in possession of a knife (222) in a Tavern on Castro Street. Fox and Balovich entered the Tavern and spoke to the Bartender who stated the suspect attempted to attack him with a knife and was presently in the restroom. Officers Fox and Balovich ordered the suspect to exit the restroom. The suspect charged out of the restroom with the knife overhead and yelled “I’ll kill you” to Fox and Balovich. The suspect lunged at Fox and Balovich with the knife. Fox and Balovich struggled with difficulty to disarm their assailant but were able to overpower him, disarm him, and place him under arrest. Gary Fox lost his 15 plus year battle with Prostate Cancer. Rene Laprevotte served with Gary on the “Old Tac Squad” team #3 under Sgt. Ralph Schaumleffel in the mid 70’s and stated there wasn’t a finer man in the S.F.P.D. I received information from Rene of a Eulogy by Gary’s 1st cousin, retired Homicide Inspector Frank Falzon. Frank stated that after his own father passed, his Uncle and Aunt share their home with Frank’s Mother and her four children. The Fox family was all about family love. Frank lived with his Uncle and Aunt and cousins for two years. Gary was more like a brother to Frank. Frank stated Gary was a big man in so many ways, a terrific Police Officer, loving father, and an outstanding husband. Gary excelled at rebuilding old broken-down cars into classic collectibles. On the ball field Gary was an All-Star and a terrific hitter. Gary was also a competitive golfer who also loved to hunt with his two Policeman sons Jason (S.F.P.D.) and Matt (Daly City P.D.). His daughter Kim and his wife Kathy were the loves of his life. Gary kept his impending death quiet because he did not want his many friends to feel bad on his behalf. San Francisco lost one of its finest! I wish to thank Rene LaPrevotte for forwarding this information of Gary Fox and his family. My thanks also go out to Frank Falzon who as part of the Fox family, shared Fox family memories and history. Our sincerest condolences go out to the entire family of Gary and Kathy Fox.
Report of Special Committee: No report this month.
Old Business: No report this month.
New Business: No report this month.
Good of the Order: No report this month.
Adjournment: President Forneris led the WOAA Board in a moment of silence for our recent and all fallen members. President Forneris adjourned the meeting and scheduled our next monthly meeting for Tuesday October 11, 2022.
To All Members: WOAA members can access a beneficiary form from our website sfwidowsandorphans.org if they wish to make a change. Click the Resource box on our face page and follow the link. Print the form and complete all required information. The forms must be signed by a Notary, or one of our Board Members. Send the new completed form to WOAA, P.O. Box 4247, San Rafael, CA 94913-4247. I can be contacted at 415 681-3660. Each month we express our thanks and gratitude to the following people who assist our efforts to bring our members the best customer service possible: Retired San Francisco Police Captain and the current Defense Administrator of the San Francisco Police Officers Association (SFPOA) Paul Chignell, retired San Francisco Police Lieutenant and the host of the Gold Country Reaper email Rene LaPrevotte, retired San Francisco Police Sergeant and the long-standing editor of the San Francisco Police Officers Association Journal newspaper, Ray Shine, Risa Tom of the San Francisco Police Commissioner’s Office, and David Ng of Personnel.