Tuesday February 11, 2014
The monthly meeting of the Widows and Orphans Aid Association of the Police Department of San Francisco, for February 11, 2014, was called to order by President Al Luenow. The meeting was held at room #150 at 850 Bryant St, at 1:45pm.
Roll Call of Officers: President Al Luenow, Vice President John Keane, Secretary Mark McDonough, Treasurer Dean Taylor, and Trustees Joe Reilly, Leroy Lindo, and Ray Kane were present. Trustees John Centurioni and Sally Foster were excused.
Approval of the Minutes: Trustee Joe Reilly made a motion to approve last month’s minutes from January 14, 2014. Trustee Leroy Lindo seconded the motion which passed without objection.
Receiving Applications for New Members; Suspensions and Reinstatements: Trustee Leroy Lindo responded to the San Francisco Police Academy on January 15, 2014, and on February 3, 2013 to present our membership for application to recruit classes #239 and #240. I was also present on February 3rd with Trustee Lindo. Over 50 recruits applied for membership in the WOAA. Permanent membership begins when the recruits advance past their probation phase. Trustee Joe Reilly made a motion for reinstatement of Lance Martin who paid his back dues. Trustee Leroy Lindo seconded the motion which passed without objection. Correction: WOAA member Nancy Brewer is, and has been a member in good standing. We have experienced an issue with the Direct Deposit records from the SFPCU and are taking strides to resolve the confusion. We offer our apology to Nancy, and any other member who has been mistakenly reported as ‘unpaid’.
Communications and Bills: Trustee Leroy Lindo made a motion to pay the monthly bills, the cost of the President’s dinner, and two death benefits for fallen members John Lynch and Neville Gittens. Trustee Joe Reilly seconded the motion which passed without objection.
Report of Visiting Committee: Trustees Leroy Lindo and John Keane attended the funeral service of Michael Hutchings.
Report of Trustees: Michael D. Hutchings age 48: Michael D. Hutchings was born in San Francisco on the final day of 1964 (12-31-64), to James and Emissa Fae Hutchings. Michael attended Calvary Hill Missionary Baptist Church as a child. Growing up, Michael played football for the Police Athletic League. Michael attended Lincoln High School where he played football where he lettered and earned honors making the All-City Team. Michael met his sweetheart and future spouse Joyce at Lincoln High School. They graduated in 1983 and Michael continued his education at Chabot College. Michael and Joyce were married in 1993 and had three children, Brittney, Michael Jr, and Malik. Michael would follow in the footsteps of his father and older sister by joining the San Francisco Police Department. Michael entered the San Francisco Police Academy on 6-18-90 and was assigned to star #1245. In November of 1990 Michael was transferred to Northern Police Station. On 2-2-91 Michael transferred to Ingleside Police Station. For the following two years he served in Warrants and Community Services. From 1993 to 2009 he worked at Ingleside Police Station and Airport FOB. On 11-14-09 Michael was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and drew Northern Police Station as his first Supervisory assignment. Michael’s passion was mentoring and coaching youth through Pop Warner Football, starting with the Jr. 49ers with his big brother James Hutchings Jr. He later coached Junior Varsity Football at George Washington High School. Michael loved watching his sons play football as well. Michael Jr. at De LaSalle High School, who is now attending U.S.C., and Malik who played for Deer Valley High School and plans to continue on to College. Sadly, on 07-12-13 Michael was transferred to Medical Liaison after being diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. On January 16, 2014 Michael passed away as he lost his battle with cancer. Michael was preceded in death by his father James Hutchings Sr. Michael is survived by his wife Joyce, children Brittney, Micheal Jr., and Malik, his mother Emissa Fae, siblings Debra (Doug), Rhonda, Vivian, Faenetta, James Jr. (Shonnie), Mother and Father-in-law Esther and Ellis Jones, Brother-in-law Henry Randall and a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Francis R. Fahey age 90: Francis Raymond Fahey was born on 1-21-24, the 5th child of John Joseph Fahey and Alice Elizabeth Rothwell of Taunton, Massachusetts. Frank was a United States Armed Services veteran who served in two wars. Frank was a member of the U.S. Navy and served in the South Pacific in WWII. Frank later served his country again in the Korean War and participated in 4 Atomic Bomb tests. Frank married Isabella Palberg in 1945 and in 1947 relocated to San Francisco where they raised three children. Frank was listed as a Grocery Clerk before entering the San Francisco Police Department on 9-19-55 at the age of 31. Frank attended the Police Academy and was assigned to star #1829. On 1-3-56, Frank was assigned to Richmond Police Station where he spent his first 15 years of his career. Frank transferred to Central Police Station to close out the second and final 15 years of his career on 4-2-70. Frank retired on 7-18-85. Frank was awarded a silver medal of valor for saving a drowning woman. Frank swam out approximately 30 yards in full uniform and brought the woman to safety. Frank was also awarded one bronze medal of valor in his career for disarming an armed 459 suspect who had fired a shot from his handgun. Frank had moved to Foster City in 1966 where he lived with his second wife Emma Hansford Nicholson until her death in 1991. Frank was the beloved husband of Rita A. Brosnahan and was also survived by his children Angela Seller, Francis R. Fahey Jr., and Susan McMakin. Frank was the brother of Robert Fahey, and is survived by the Brosnahan children, Kathleen, John, Julie, Robert and Michelle, and by the Nicholson children, Diana Porter and Leonard and by many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Glenn M. Hardin age 88: Glenn Hardin was born on 09-13-25 in Morgantown, West Virginia. Glenn was listed as a Clerk prior to joining the San Francisco Police Department on 10-22-58 at age 32. Glenn entered the Police Academy and was assigned to star #1720. Glenn graduated from the Academy and drew Potrero Police Station as his first assignment on 3-9-59. On 12-7-59 Glenn was transferred to Mission Police Station where he remained for over nine years. On 3-4-68 Glenn transferred to Central Police Station where he served the city until 1985. On 8-23-85 Glenn transferred to Parking and Traffic for one month, and returned to the “Big Apple” to close out his career. Glenn retired on 7-15-86 from Central Police Station after nearly 29 years of service. Glenn was awarded one silver medal, and three bronze medals of valor during his career. The silver medal was awarded for Glenn’s disarming of a Robbery suspect who was armed with a firearm. The first of three bronze medals were awarded for helping to save several occupants of a burning building, the second was for disarming a knife wielding suspect who came at Glenn when the person was attempting a suicide, and the third bronze medal was awarded for breaking into a room where a man had already shot a person in an attempted homicide. Glenn and his partner disarmed the suspect. .
Report of Special Committee: Trustee Sally Foster, who was excused from this meeting, contacted me prior and stated that her project of selecting a Floral Service was still pending. Trustee Foster stated that she is waiting on at least two companies to call her with quotes before she presents her findings and recommendations. Trustee Leroy Lindo made a motion to have a floral arrangement to the family of fallen member Michael Hutchins. Trustee Ray Kane seconded the motion which passed without objection.
Unfinished Business: Trustee Joe Reilly presented an idea for a new mailing envelope which has an attached return envelope. Trustee Reilly stated that the VPOA uses this method and believes it is a more efficient way to serve our members. Trustee Reilly made a motion to order, and begin using these envelopes for business. Trustee Leroy Lindo seconded the motion which passed without objection. Trustee Reilly also presented historical photos and information on his computer that will be submitted to our website, for viewing by members. Our billing of retired members went out late this year. We apologize for the lateness and any confusion it may have caused. The board discussed our late billing and how to improve our system, our management, and data base system.
New Business: Our cutoff age for membership is 46. This is clearly written in our Constitutions and By-Laws. We discussed this age limit and if it can be changed without being detrimental to our membership.
Good of the Association:
No report.
Adjournment: President Al Luenow adjourned the meeting at 2:40pm with a moment of silence for our fallen members. President Luenow set the next meeting for March 11, 2014 at 850 Bryant St in room #150 at 1:45pm.
All Members: I have received numerous responses for updating beneficiaries, addresses, and contact numbers. We hope this continues. Please send any correspondence, dues, or historical information for our website to: WOAA, P.O. Box 880034, SF, CA 94188. Our contact number is 415 681-3660. Our website is ‘sfwidowsandorphans.org’. Our website has beneficiary forms in the ‘Resources’ option. Please use this form for address, email, telephone, and beneficiary updates. The form must be signed by a board member or a Notary, as a witness. We have had several calls from members who were dropped in January for non- payment of dues for more than one year. We owe a debt of gratitude to Retired SFPD Captain Paul Chignell of the POA who was able to get accurate addresses and email information, and send notice to all dropped members. This is the type of cooperation that supports the term “Police Family”. I would also like to thank Captain Tim Oberzier and Captain Bill Roualdes with assisting us with information for the obituaries of our fallen members. And final thanks go to Inspector John Monroe of the Police Commission for providing information of fallen members who have received medals of valor and awards during their career.