The monthly meeting of the Widows and Orphans Aid Association of the San Francisco Police Department was called to order by President Al Luenow. The meeting commenced at 1:45pm, on October 14, 2014, at room #150 of the Hall of Justice.
Roll Call of Officers: President Al Luenow, Vice-President John Keane, Secretary Mark J. McDonough, and Trustees Sally Minkel, John Centurioni, Leroy Lindo, Ray Kane, and Jim O’Meara were present. Treasurer Dean Taylor was excused.
Approval of the Minutes: Trustee Sally Minkel made a motion to approve the minutes from last month’s meeting on 09-09-14. Trustee Leroy Lindo seconded the motion which passed without objection.
Receiving Applications for New Members; Suspensions and Reinstatement: I responded to the San Francisco Police Academy on October 1, 2014 at 11:00 to present our WOAA membership sign-up for the 243rd recruit class. Approximately 35 recruits signed up. The remaining 15 or so recruits were undecided. Academy Staff retains the applications until all the proper identification information is available to complete the forms. I was scheduled on the first day of the Academy training for the 243rd class. In the future, Academy personnel will schedule us for the last week of training to ensure that all necessary information is available for the application process.
I also responded to the S.F.P.D. Retirement Seminar on September 25, 2014 at Sigmund Stern Grove. I provided the majority of attendees with copies of their WOAA file, and new beneficiary forms if they chose to make a change. Several attendees were surprised to see that their beneficiary forms were in need of change. Several attendees made the changes immediately and personally handed me their new forms and changes which I witnessed and signed. The attendees and Host Michael Hebel were grateful and appreciative to be given the opportunity to see their file paperwork, and to make their changes. The primary purpose of our scheduled segment to remind all WOAA members that their direct deposit for the WOAA will end or expire upon retirement from the city. Members must then create a new direct deposit with their chosen financial institution for January of each year.
Communications and Bills: Trustee John Centurioni made a motion to pay our regular monthly bills which consist of telephone bills, website fees, floral arrangements, and salaried positions for our website and WOAA administrative management. The motion was seconded by Trustees Ray Kane and Sally Foster. The motion passed without objection. We passed the death benefit expenditures paid out to the listed beneficiary of our deceased members, until next month when Treasurer Dean Taylor will be present. Three members passed away and their obituaries can be read in our ‘Report of Trustees’ section.
Report of Visiting Committee: No report this month.
Report of Trustees: We received a report of three member’s deaths this month:Warren Mahan, age 80: Warren “Bud” Mahan was born on April 14, 1934 in San Francisco, California. Warren graduated from Lincoln High School in San Francisco and attended City College of San Francisco before joining the United States Coast Guard in 1953. Warren then worked for Pacific Bell Telephone Company before joining the San Francisco Police Department. On October 22, 1958 Warren entered the San Francisco Police Academy and was assigned to Star #799. On 3-9-59 Warren transferred to Northern Police Station. Later that same year, Warren was transferred the “Big Apple” Co .A/ Central Police Station on 12-7-59. On 9-26-60 Warren transferred to Mission Police Station and finished his Police Career at the Traffic Division when he transferred to the Co. K Solo Motorcycles on 4-9-62. Warren continued serving the city of San Francisco but he continued his career in Civil Service as a San Francisco Fireman. Warren “switched-over” to the S.F.F.D. on 2-1-63. To the best of my recollection on information that I vaguely recall from my father (retired from the S.F.P.D. in 1983), a San Francisco Police Officer could “transfer over to the Fire Department” after passing a physical agility exam. I do not have any specific information on the agility exercises or when this policy began and ended. Warren Mahan began his fire-fighting career in 1963 in San Francisco. Warren retired from the San Francisco Fire Department in 1989 as a Lieutenant. Warren was the proud Owner/Operator of the Big Bear Fire Extinguisher Company from 1978 until his death on September 24, 2014. Warren “Bud” Mahan was a lifetime member of the Marin County Motorcycle Association and a member of the BSA Owners Club of Northern California. Bud touched many lives and will be greatly missed. A celebration of his life was held at the Stonetree Golf Club in Novato, on October 3, 2014. Warren was survived by Diane, his wife of 52 years, and their four children Jill (Ken), Steven (Gina), Dawn (Greg), and Lynn (Jeff), their six grandchildren (Danielle, Dylan, Amanda, Hunter, Allison, and Kamryn), and brother-in-law Al Smith.
Harold McCoy, age 84: Harold McCoy was born in Marshall, Texas in 1930. Harold was a Parking Controlman before joining the San Francisco Police Department on 06-17-63 at the age of 33. On 9-8-63 Harold transferred to Co.G, and was transferred to Co. C on 4-10-64, to Co. K C&P on 5-2-66, and to the Juvenile Bureau on 3-1-70. Harold remained in Juvenile until leaving the S.F.F.D. on 3-2-79 with a Disability Pension. Harold McCoy was promoted to Q-35/0385 Inspector on 1-1-72. Harold is survived by his wife Opal McCoy. The McCoy’s lived in Suisun City, California.
Ernest Raabe, age 94: Ernest Raabe was born in Bremerton, Washington. Ernest Raabe’s previous occupation prior to the San Francisco Police Department is listed as a Molder. Ernest served his country as a member of the United States Navy in WWII. He returned to San Francisco and joined the S.F.P.D. on 4-21-47 and entered the Police Academy. After leaving the Police Academy on 5-5-47, Ernest was assigned to the following units as a Q-2 Police Officer: Co.I (47), Co. K (49), and Co. I (52). Ernest was promoted to Sergeant on 12-16-54 and worked the following units as a Q-50: HDQ (1954), and returned for a third time to Co. I (55), and to Co. G (56). Ernest was promoted to Lieutenant on 10-16-65 and worked the following assignments before being promoted to Captain: Co. H (65), Co. K AIB (66), for a fourth time to Co. I (67), to Co. E (67). Ernest then received his promotion to Captain on 2-11-70 and was assigned to CPC (73), a third time at Co. K (74), Co. F (78), and for a fourth time to Co. K (E&I in 1979). Ernie is listed as having been awarded a silver medal of valor for work performed on 11-28-48. Ernie and his partner responded to a 459 in Progress. Ernie and his partner stopped the suspects in a stolen vehicle and disarmed one of the suspects who was armed with a firearm. Ernies and his partner recovered the stolen property from the Burglary. Captain Ernest Raabe retired with a service pension on 7-31-79. Ernie shared his time in retirement between Maui and San Francisco, enjoying his favorite pastimes, including his family, friends, a good party, golf, gardening, traveling, and especially the hours he spent at his workbench. Ernie died at his home of natural causes on September 27, 2014. Ernest is survived by his daughters Jan McKay (S.F.P.D.), and Kathleen Burke; grandchildren Derek (Sabrina) Taaning, Renee (Shannon) Jean, Devin and Tori Burke; great-granchildren Skylar and Ethan Jean; nieces and nephews, and by his devoted care-giver, Ferna. Ernest was predeceased by his beloved wife Kathleen and daughter Beverly Harrington, parents Catherine Descagnia and Charles Raabe; brothers Larry, Martin, and Joseph Raabe, sister Catherine Collins and companion Margaret Jones.
The WOAA Trustees discussed an “Old Business” topic of selecting an attorney to review our Constitution and By-laws Re-write project. POA Journal Editor Ray Shine and WOAA Past President Bob Mattox worked together and re-writing our Constitution and By-Laws with current up-dates and new language to reflect the present political climate and societal changes. Our attempts to secure an attorney from a San Francisco Police and Fire Department Family never progressed past a verbal agreement. Trustee John Centurioni has contacted the Paul Chignell of the POA. Paul, who has been a “go-to guy” for us since he was hired by the POA after his S.F.P.D. retirement, provided the names of possible attorneys. Trustee Jim O’Meara also provided the name of a probate attorney who will also be asked to review our Constitution and By-Law re-write draft, and the probate issue of beneficiary disputes regarding divorces and failure to update beneficiary forms. The Trustees agreed to Trustee O’Meara meeting with the named attorney for a proposed agreement to review both issues, probate law, and providing us with findings and recommendations. Trustee O’Meara will report to the WOAA board at our November meeting. The motion to proceed with O’Meara’s proposal was made by Trustee Leroy Lindo. The motion was seconded by Trustee Centurioni and passed without objection.
Report of Special Committee: Trustee Sally Foster sent floral arrangements to the spouses and beneficiaries of the deceased members for the past month. Cynthia Zuniga (Henry, her father), Opal McCoy (spouse of Harold), and Diane Mahan (spouse of Warren) received flowers sent by the WOAA.
Unfinished Business: Our unfinished business was discussed in the Report of Trustees. See the above listed information in that section.
New Business: No report this month.
Good of the Association: It was brought to our attention that two additions to our website were needed. Past Prresident Robert Mattox will have his name added to the list of past presidents, and a SFPCU payroll form will be added to the website at ‘sfwidowsandorphans.org’.
Adjournment: President Luenow moved for a moment of silence for our fallen members. President Luenow set the next meeting for November 4, 2014 at 1:45pm. The meeting will take place at the Hall of Justice 850 Bryant St, room #150. President Luenow then adjourned the meeting.
To All Members: Please visit our website “sfwidowsandorphans.org”. Members can access beneficiary forms when clicking on the “resources’ box on the upper right portion of the tool bar. Please use this form for beneficiary changes, and for address and/or contact number changes. The beneficiary change requires a signature of a Board Member as a witness, or the signature of a Notary Public. Please mail your forms to our address: WOAA, P.O. Box 880034, San Francisco, California, 94188. I can be contacted at 415 681-3660, or at my email address of “markmac825@comcast.net. We continue to give thanks to the following people for their continued assistance and support for our cause: Paul Chignell of the POA, Jon Voong and Lt. Troy Dangerfield of Personnel, and Inspector John Monroe of the Police Commission Office.
To Current Members: All members who are active in the SFPD will be transitioned in January to a payment of $72.00 per year. The $72.00 will be taken from the member’s paycheck every January. This will transition ALL members to a’ once-a- year a payment’ every January.
To recent retirees: Please understand that your direct deposit payments to the WOAA expire upon retirement. Direct deposits must then be re-created at your choice of financial institution. The dues are $72.00 per year, and they are due every January. If you retire during the year, please send the remainder of your year, per $6 every month remaining in the calendar year, to the WOAA. Any member who does not pay their dues for a six month period is subject to suspension by our Constitution and By-Laws. Any member who does not pay for a period of one year is subject to being dropped from our membership. The WOAA address is listed above in the section ‘To All Members’.