The Widows and Orphans Aid Association met on Tuesday August
13, 2019 in room #150 at 850 Bryant Street in San Francisco, California.Roll Call: President Ray Kane, Vice President Jim O’Meara,
Secretary Mark McDonough, Treasurer Dean Taylor, Trustees Lou Barberini, Ryan
Walsh, Leroy Lindo, and Administrative Assistant Sally Foster were present.
Trustees Al Lunenow and Rob Forneris were excused.
Approval of the Minutes: Vice President Jim O’Meara made motion to accept
the July 2019 meeting minutes. Trustee Lou Barberini seconded the motion. The
motion passed without objection.
Receiving Applications, Suspensions; and Reinstatements: President Ray Kane
responded to the San Francisco Regional Police Academy and presented the WOAA
membership to Recruit Class #266L. Ray was able to sign up all five members of
this Lateral Class. There were no suspensions. President Kane authorized the
reinstatements of the following 2019 dropped members to date: Eric Altorfer, Timothy Connell, John
Ferrando, Jason Fox, Russell Gordon, James Bruce Jones, Jody Kato, Harry Keenan
Jr., Belinda Kerr, Kevin Needham, Jason Oryall, Jennifer Thompson, Mark
Williams. There are 22 remaining dropped members who need to pay their dues
and fines, and submit a doctor’s note that they are in good health. The dues
are $100 for 2019, and the fees are $10 per month after April 1st.
Communications and Bills: Treasurer Dean Taylor presented the monthly bills
and payments for recent beneficiary claims. Trustee Ryan Walsh made a motion to
pay the bills and claims. Trustee Lou Barberini seconded the motion. The motion
passed without objection. The WOAA received a check in the amount of $100 in
the memory of Buddy Dormay. We received the check from Nancy Dormay, Buddy’s
Widow. We received another check for $100 from Phil and Peggy Jennings in the
memory of Retired Captain Willis Garriott. The WOAA paid death benefits to the beneficiaries
of the following passed members: Thomas Easton, Hank Fikkers, Ignacio Martinez,
and William Parenti.
Report of Visiting Committee: No report this month.
Report of Trustees: The WOAA received the sad news of the passing of our
following members:
Hank Fikkers, age 75: Henry Johannes
Fikkers was born in De Haag, Holland. Hank came to the United States at age 11
and settled in New York. Hank moved to San Francisco at age 14. Hank entered the San Francisco Police
Department at the age of 27, on May 17, 1971. Hank was a Police Communications
Dispatcher and worked at Markel’s Gun Shop prior to working in Law Enforcement.
Hank also worked at the Franciscan on Fisherman’s Wharf as a Chef’s helper. Hank
was assigned to star # 1798 and graduated from the Police Academy on August 1,
1971. Hank worked the following assignments during his 29 year career:
Ingleside Police Station (August 1, 1971), Mission Police Station (March 11,
1973), Muni Transit (July 6, 1977), and Taraval Police Station (August 10, 1983).
Hank retired with a service pension on July 5, 2000.
Richard Kain, age 79: Richard Kain was born in San Francisco. Rich worked
as a PG&E Serviceman prior to working in Law Enforcement. Rich entered the
San Francisco Police Department on October 1, 1962. Rich worked the following
assignments during his short time in the S.F.P.D.: Ingleside Police Station
(November 23, 19620, Park Police Station (December 9, 1963), Northern Police
Station (December 31, 1954). On September 1, 1966 Rich transferred from the San
Francisco Police Department to the San Francisco Fire Department. Rich was
always ready to lend a helping hand to both family and friends. He was an avid
fisherman and passed the love of fishing
down through his family. Rich enjoyed gambling when he the chance. Rich is
survived by his loving wife Barbara and his children, Laurie, Nadine and
husband Andy, Richard, Susie, and Christopher and his wife Jennifer. Rich was
also survived by his loving grandchildren Nick, Jamie, Jonathan, Angela, Lukas,
and Oliver.
Bill Parenti, age 86: William Charles Parenti was born in San Francisco,
California on September 2, 1930. Bill was the son of the late Charles and
Carmel Parenti. Bill was predeceased by his late spouse Annabel, and sister
Veronica Nolan and is survived by son and best friend Christopher J. Parenti,
and his numerous nieces and nephews. Bill’s prior occupation is listed as a
“Salesman-Driver”. Bill entered the San Francisco Police Department on
September 19, 1955 and was assigned to star #1820. Bill worked the following
assignments during his 25 year career: Academy to Company K FP (January 3,
1956), Company K APB. Bill was appointed to Police Inspector on July 1, 1976,
however, his unit(s) are not listed. Bill retired with a disability pension on March
4, 1980. For services rendered on September 4, 1967, Bill was awarded with a 3rd
grade Medal of Valor for an arrest of an armed assailant who shot a man in his
estranged wife’s company. The suspect fled the scene with Parenti, and Officers
Tom Mazzucco, James Moylan and David Rodriguez in pursuit. The Officers knocked
on the suspect’s door. The suspect opened the door and reached for his gun. The
suspects overpowered the suspect and placed him in custody. Bill was awarded
with a Bronze Medal of Valor for his services rendered on March 2, 1971.
Sergeant-Inspector Bill Parenti was working as a “sam unit” when he responded
to a holdup in progress. Parenti arrived as the holdup men were exiting the
store. Gunfire erupted as the suspects were leaving and it was learned later
that the Proprietor had fired his gun. Parenti pursued the suspects and was
able to capture one. Parenti conducted an hour long search of the area and
located the second suspect. Bill was a member of the Police Officers
Association and the Veteran Police Officers Association. He was a Past
Commander of the Police and Fire Post #456 of the American Legion, Past
President and Treasurer of the S.F. Police Widows and Orphans Aid Association,
a member of the Native Sons Post #157, and the Godfather’s Club (St. Vincent’s
School for Boys), Past President of the St. Brendan’s Church Advisory Board and
Usher for numerous years. Bill was a combat veteran of the Korean War and a
former Driver Education Instructor at St. Ignatius College Prep.
Report of Special Committee: Administrative Assistant Sally Foster effected
the mailing of approximately 3200 letters to our membership for the vote on our
By-Laws and Constitution proposal. Treasurer Taylor reported that approximately
more than 800 members responded by returning the letter with a vote. President
Kane appointed a three person committee comprised of WOAA non board members.
They have counted the votes and delivered the results to President Kane. Our
members who responded voted 783 yes votes, and only 51 no votes. The proposed
language changes for our By-Laws and Constitution unanimously passed. The WOAA
Board would like to thank all the members who read our proposals and responded
with a vote. President Kane shredded all member identifying information from
the voter response.
New Business: No report this month.
Old Business: See Report of Special
Committee for the results of our proposed changes to our By-Laws and
Constitution. This order of Old Business, after 8 years, has come to an end.
Good of the Order: For the Good of the Order, I commend the WOAA Board from
2011 to present, and in specifically Past President and now Administrative
Assistant Sally Foster for the patience and passion for starting and finishing
the WOAA By-Laws and Constitution re-write proposal A special mention,
acknowledgement, and thank you to Past President Robert Maddox who initiated
the project. It was an eight year
process. Analysis, lengthy discussions, agreements, disagreements, and
resolution were the result that you read in your letter for vote. Every Board
Member took an active part in attempting to improve the organization by
proposing necessary changes. The proposal was a collaborative effort to update
our rules and policies to reflect the times, and the political and social
climate in our life at this time in history. Sally Foster was instrumental in
the completion of this project as the Chair-person. A big “shout-out” for Sally
and all the Board Members involved since 2011.
Adjournment: President Kane led our Board in a moment of silence for the
passing of members Hank Fikkers, Rich Kain, and Past President Bill Parenti,
and for all our past members. President Kane scheduled our next meeting for
Tuesday September 10, 2019, at 1230 hours, in room #150 at 850 Bryant Street in
San Francisco, California.
To All Members: Beneficiary forms can be accessed from our website
sfwidowsandorphans.org.
Click on the RESOURCE box and the link for the form will appear. Complete the
form and have it signed by a Notary, or by a WOAA Board Member. We express our
thanks and gratitude to the following people who assist us on a regular basis:
Retired San Francisco Police Captain and the current POA Defense Administrator
Paul Chignell, Retired Police Captain and a current Retirement Board Member Al
Casciato, Retired San Francisco Police Lieutenant and the current host of the
Gold Country Reaper website Rene LaPrevotte, Retired Sergeant and the
long-standing Editor of the SFPOA Journal, Ray Shine, David Ng of Personnel,
Risa Tom of the Police Commission Office, and the Command Staff and Officers of
the Traffic Solo Unit for affording us space for our meetings and files.
