Our regular order of business was pre-empted for a financial report from our Investment
Management Team at Abbot Downing. Abbot downing is affiliated with Wells Fargo Bank.
Jerome Paolini of Abbot Downing reported a positive report for 2014. Jerome reported that the
WOAA financial portfolio experienced a 4.91% growth for 2014. Jerome advised us to stay with
our current diversified financial portfolio. Ashley Daggs and Jerome Paolini will visit our meeting
in the spring of 2015 for our first quarter report. Jerome and Ashley concurred that we need to
continue our pursuit of Constitution and By-Laws rewrite. The WOAA, under the direction of
Past President Robert Mattox, and assisted by POA Journal Editor Ray Shine, completed an
undated rewrite of our Constitution and By-Laws in the beginning of this year. Trustee James
O’Meara has consulted with an attorney to agree to review our rewrite and give final approval
for adoption in accordance with ERISA, our governing body.
Roll Call: President Al Luenow, Vice President John Keane, Treasurer Dean Taylor, Secretary
Mark McDonough, and Trustees Sally Foster, John Centurioni, and Ray Kane were present.
Trustees Leroy Lindo and James O’Meara were excused.
Approval of the Minutes: Trustee John Centurioni made a motion to accept the minutes of our
last meeting on November 4, 2014. The motion was seconded by Trustee Sally Foster and
passed without objection.
Receiving Applications for New Members; Suspensions and Reinstatement: Secretary
McDonough read a letter written by Bill Darr which requested reinstatement. Treasurer Taylor
reported that Darr paid his back dues and penalties. Trustee Sally Foster made a motion to
reinstate Bill Darr. Trustee John Centurioni seconded the motion which passed without
objection.
The next scheduled Academy Class signup is scheduled for March 3, 2015 at 0830 hours.
Secretary McDonough will present the WOAA to the 245 Lateral Recruit Class and accept
completed applications from recruits who wish to join our organization.
Communications and Bills: Treasurer Taylor presented the regular monthly bills. Taylor stated
we did not pay out any death benefits last month. Office supplies were purchased to update
our needs for WOAA management. Floral arrangements sent to families of our fallen members
in the last 30 days totaled $640.62. Trustee John Centurioni made a motion to pay the monthly
bills. The motion was seconded by Trustee Ray Kane and passed without objection.
Report of Visiting Committee: Trustee John Keane reported his attendance at the Officer Jim
Guelf Memorial Service. Trustee Keane reported an impressive attendance, and stated the
Officer Guelf’s brother gave an emotional and moving speech in tribute to Jim who was
murdered by an armed assailant at Pine and Franklin Streets, twenty years ago. The Memorial
Service took place at Pine and Franklin Street location.
President Luenow reported his attendance at the service for fallen member and retired Traffic
Solo Ed Weaver. Luenow reported a moderate attendance and respectful tribute to Ed. Luenow
met with Ed’s spouse Belinda, and offered our sincerest condolences from the WOAA. Al, who
worked at the Traffic Solos for many years, and has trained hundreds of new Solos, has known
the Weavers for many years. Fallen members John Mackey and Ed Weaver were reported in
last month’s article. We received the sad news later that James Bates, former 14 year veteran
of the SFPD also passed away in November. Earlier this month we received two more death
notices of our membership, Hope Nechuta and Mike Travis.
James H. Bates Jr., age 80: James was born on May 15, 1934 to Greek parents Antigone
Marquis and James H Bates. James was a native San Franciscan. James served proudly in the
U.S. Coast Guard during the Korean War. James is listed as having worked as a night manager in
a parking lot prior to his career in the San Francisco Police Department. James joined the SFPD
on January 9, 1961 and was assigned to star #363. James worked in the SFPD for just short of
fifteen years having been granted a disability pension on October 12, 1976. James worked in
the following units during his career: Central Police Station (April 17, 1961), Southern Police
Station (February 19, 1962), Ingleside Police Station (April 16, 1963), and Traffic Company K AIB
(February 12, 1968). James reportedly earned many commendations during his career and a
medal of honor. I was unable to get information on his awards. James started North Bay Built in
Vacuums in 1980, and established himself as a prominent member of the North Bay Contractors
in Sonoma County. He will be remembered as a man who would sacrifice anything to help those
close to him, without regard for himself. James is survived by his wife Anne, his sister Diane, his
sons James, Tony, and Greg; beloved grandchildren Sophie, Elani, and Emma, Jesse and
Danielle; stepchildren and grandchildren Cynthia and Ananda, Annika and Tasha.
Hope Nechuta, age 46: Hope Nechuta was born on August 6, 1968 in San Jose, California. Hope
was raised in San Jose and was very active in a wide variety of sports. Hope, a sports lover,
finally settled on concentrating in basketball for which she had a special talent. Hope took her
basketball talent to a collegiate level. Hope had an adventurous spirit and a passion for
increased knowledge throughout her life’s journey. Hope, wanting to help and serve others,
joined the San Francisco Police Department on June 24, 1996. Hope was assigned to star #124
and was assigned to Northern Police Station on December 21, 1996. Hope was transferred to
Southern Police Station on April 26, 1997, and to Mission Police Station on January 17, 1998.
Hope found a home at Mission Station where she served the City of San Francisco until 2009.
Hope bounced to and from Mission Police Station, to Traffic Company, to Park Police Station,
and back to Mission Police Station within a year and a half. Hope transferred to COMPSTAT on
September 30, 2011 for two months, and again, went back to Mission Police Station on
November 26, 2011. During her years in the Mission Police District Hope organized a toy drive,
walked the Castro beat, served as a Field Training Officer, and dyed her hair pink for the kids in
the community. Hope was passionate about her job and was a great cop. Hope loved to travel
and loved outdoor sports activities such as snowboarding, cycling, scuba diving, rock climbing,
snorkeling, kayaking, wake boarding, swimming, backpacking, camping, and dancing. Hope
married the love of her life, Ashley on July 11, 2013 during the storm of her cancer recurrence.
Hope is survived by her wife Ashley, parents Cheryl and Denis, her sister Heather, nieces
Charmaine and Kayla, her nephews Nick and Terrance, and her pets.
Mike Travis, age 67: Mike was born in 1947 in Burlington, Iowa. At age 14 he was the youngest
Boy Scout in the state to earn the rank of Eagle Scout. Mike went on to serve his country in the
United States Navy during the Viet Nam War. Mike is listed as an assistant signalman. Mike
joined the ranks of the San Francisco Police Department on March 1, 1971 at the age of 23.
Mike was assigned to star #1971. Mike began his career in the SFPD at Potrero Station where
he was assigned from May 16, 1971 through May 4, 1972. Mike transferred to Ingleside Station
for a year and returned to Potrero Police Station on June 17, 1973. Mike remained at Potrero
until his final assignment to CSTF/EOD on January 2, 1980. Mike served in the Bomb Squad for
the next 23 years. Mike Travis retired from the SFPD on August 22, 2003 with a service pension.
Mike was a veteran of the Police Olympics as a member of the Horseshoe Competition Team.
During his career Mike received numerous department awards. On March 19, 1977 Mike
participated in the arrest of a suspect at 3004 San Bruno Avenue after a short gun battle. Mike
received a bronze medal of valor. On November 9, 1978 Mike disarmed a suspect who was in
possession of a firearm and received a silver medal of valor. On March 4, 1984 Mike and other
officers engaged in a along gun battle with a suspect who had fired shots at another person.
The suspect was shot and killed by officers. Mike received a silver medal of valor. On April 4,
1985 Mike rendered safe three pipe bombs at San Francisco State College and received a
bronze medal of valor. During his career Mike received numerous Police Commission
Commendations for various acts of professionalism and bravery including the arrest of gang
terrorists, capturing escapees from jail, defusing and rendering safe numerous explosives, and
the arrest of members of a drug ring, and bank robbers. Mike once defused and rendered safe
204 sticks of very live dynamite. Mike was a big man with an even bigger heart as he was always
the first person to help another.
Report of Special Committee: No Special Committees at this time.
Unfinished Business: Nominations for WOAA Board positions were closed at the end of our
November meeting. We announced at our December meeting that the following board
members will represent new positions in 2015. President John Keane, Vice President Sally
Foster, Mark McDonough will remain as Secretary, and outgoing President Al Luenow agreed to
come back as a Trustee. Dean Taylor is our current Treasurer, and John Centurioni, Leroy Lindo,
Ray Kane, and James O’Meara are the current remaining Trustees.
New Business: No report this month.
Good of the Association: No report this month.
Adjournment: President Al Luenow closed our final 2014 meeting with a moment of silence for
all of our fallen members. President Luenow scheduled our next meeting for Tuesday January
13, 2015. Our meeting will be held at 850 Bryant Street Hall of Justice, room #150, at 1:45pm.
To All Members: Please visit our website “sfwidowsandorphans.org”. Members can access
beneficiary forms when clicking on the “resources” box which is located on the upper right
portion of the tool bar. Please use this form for beneficiary changes, and for any address or
contact number updates and changes that we should be made aware. Beneficiary changes
require a signature of a Notary, OR, the witness and signature of a WOAA board member.
Please mail your forms to: WOAA, P.O. Box 880034, San Francisco, Ca. 94188. We can be
contacted by telephone at 415 681-3660. Missed Calls WITHOUT A MESSAGE will NOT be
returned. I can be contacted at available to me by assisting in contacting members who have
changed their contact information wimarkmac825@comcast.net. I continue to give thanks to
Paul Chignell of the POA who is, and has been invaluable to me by assisting in reaching
members who have changed their address and contact information without notifying us. Paul
has been invaluable in reaching these members and asking them to contact us. I must also
recognize and thank Jon Voong and Lt. Dangerfield of Personnel and Inspector John Monroe of
the Police Commission Office who provide employment information and department award
information for our fallen member obituaries in our column.
To Current Active SFPD Members: Please understand that your DEPOSIT DIRECT PAYMENTS
TO THE WOAA will change in January of 2015. A payment of $72.00 will be made from your
January paycheck which covers the yearly dues. There will not be the small amounts on 26
paychecks. Please be aware of the once-a-year payment which will now be consistent with
retired members. Please be aware that Direct Deposits expire upon retirement from the City.
Please reinstitute a Direct Deposit with the financial institution of your choice after separating
from service in the SFPD. If you retired during the year, please send us $6 for every month
remaining for the year. Any member who does not pay their dues for a six month period is
subject to suspension per our Constitution and By-Laws. Any member who fails to pay their
dues for more than one year is subject to being dropped from membership.
Summary Annual Report: I received a “handful” of calls from retired members who stated they
were not “mailed” their copy of the Summary Annual Report for 2013. I did not receive any
complaints or calls for the 2012 Summary Annual Report, yet I had calls and complaints during
this year. A few callers called to complain and stated they have always received copies of this
report in the mail. When I received the position of WOAA Secretary, my list of duties did not
show this as a responsibility. I was not provided with any list of names who request annual
copies of this report. To my knowledge, we have not sent out a copy of this report to our
membership which totals approximately 3000. It may have been mailed to certain specific
members upon request each year, however, I am unaware of any regularly scheduled mailing of
the Summary Annual Report. We make this report available on our website which is listed
above. The 2014 Summary Annual Report should appear on our website no earlier than
February, and hopefully no later than March 2015. The 2013 report has been on our website for
most of this year. Please refer to our website listed above. If you have decided to forgo owning
or using a computer, please contact me at the above telephone number. I am happy to serve
our membership and provide any necessary assistance or information.