The Widows’ and Orphans’ Aid Association of the San Francisco Police Department held their monthly meeting on Tuesday February 11, 2025, on Zoom.
Roll Call: President Leroy Lindo, Vice President Ray Kane, Secretary Mark McDonough, Treasurer Dean Taylor, Trustees Jim O’Meara, Rob Forneris, Lou Barberini, Ryan Walsh were present. Administrative Assistant Sally Foster and Trustee Maureen Leonard were excused.
Approval of the Minutes: Vice President Ray Kane made a motion to accept the Mintes from our January 2025 meeting. Trustee Lou Barberini seconded the motion. The motion passed.
Receiving Applications; Suspensions and Reinstatements: No suspensions or reinstatements. Vice President Ray Kane presented our membership to the 281st Recruit Class (Laterals) previously. Ray was able to sign up recruit Megan Farley. Megan did not sign up initially. Secretary Mark McDonough made a motion to accept Megan Farley as a temporary member pending probation. President Leroy Lindo seconded the motion. The motion passed. We welcome Megan Farley to the Widows’ and Orphans’ Aid Association of the San Francisco Police Department.
Communications and Bills: Treasurer Taylor read aloud the monthly bill and Beneficiary claims. Trustee Ryan Walsh made a motion to pay the monthly bills and Beneficiary claims for the listed beneficiaries of recently passed members Jerome Cassidy, Michael Dempsey, Harvey Harrison, Martin Kilgariff Sr., and Richard Klapp. Trustee Rob Forneris seconded the motion. The motion passed.
Report of Visiting Committee: No report this month.
Report of Trustees: The WOAA Board received the sad news of the passing of the following members:
James Jay Christman, age 87: James Jay Christman was born in San Francisco, California on April 25, 1937. James worked as a Printer prior to his career in Law Enforcement. James Jay Christman entered the San Francisco Police Department on December 10, 1958 and was assigned to Star # 336. Jay worked the following assignments during his 39 year career: Central Police Station (March 9, 1959), Mission Police Station (December 7, 1959), Potrero Police Station (September 26, 1960), Military Leave (November 4, 1960), returned to the S.F.P.D. assigned to Potrero Police Station (November 12, 1962), Co. K. Solo Motorcycle Unit ( May 16, 1963), Northern Police Station (promoted to the rank of Police Sergeant and transferred on July 1, 1971 Co. K.C &PC), Co. K Solo (August 1, 1974). James Jay Christman retired with a Service Pension on March 20. 1997. Awards: Officer James J. Christman was awarded with a 2nd grade Medal of Valor for services rendered on April 3, 1960 for the arrest of three robbery suspects. One suspect was armed with a gun and had fired at shot at a Pool Hall. Unfortunately, that is all the information that was provided for James J. Christman’s award. Sergeant James J. Christman and Officers Dan May and Joseph Mayers were awarded with a Police Commission Commendation for personally developing a POST certified motorcycle course for the San Francisco Police Department. Christman, May, and Mayers used their own funds and worked on the project from June 1993 to September 1994.
Robert J. Geary, age 85: Robert J. Geary was born in Oakland, California on November 22, 1939. Bob graduated from St. Mary’s College with a BA in Philosophy/Art with a Psychology Minor. Bob furthered his educational resume with a second teaching credential and a Master’s Degree in Secondary Teaching from the University of San Francisco. Bob taught in the San Francisco Unified School District and was a Commissioned Officer with a rank of 1st Lieutenant in the Army Reserve and National Guard. Bob filled his life with a wide variety of experiences including being a student, teacher, Police Officer, Fire Fighter, Soldier, weight lifter/body builder, stage builder, actor, screen writer, film maker, and Campaign Committee organizer. In 1988 Bob wrote and placed on the ballot Proposition V, saving the Police Mounted Patrol Unit (existed since 1864). Bob was also a seven-time elected member of the Democratic Central Committee, served two terms on the SFPOA Board of Directors, and was a 40 plus years voting member of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) and the Screen Actors Guild. Bob leaves behind his sister Patricia Anne Geary, nieces Theresa Sanchez (Joel), and Colleen Rezentes (Steve), and devoted friends Dimitrios “Jimmy Prountzos” (Georgia), and Loretta Murphy (Patrick). Bob Geary entered the San Francisco Police Department on June 17, 1963 and his listed Star number is #2046. Bob left the Department on Military Leave after working one year at Richmond Police Station, and one year at City Prison. Bob was reinstated on May 2, 1966 and worked the following assignments: Identification Bureau (May 2, 1966). Bob left the San Francisco Police Department for a second time as he entered the San Francisco Fire Department on September 1, 1966, and returned the San Francisco on October 19, 1972. Bob worked the following assignments until his retirement: Station (February 15, 1976), Richmond Police Station (June 13, 1978), and the remainder of his career at Central Police Station (August 23, 1978). Robert J. Geary retired with a Service Pension on July 12, 2000. Awards: Officers Robert J. Geary and George A. Moissant Jr., with Sgt. John C. Kristovich were awarded with Bronze Medals of Valor for services rendered on December 2, 1975. They responded to a 221/913 on the 1400 block of LaPlaya. They were advised by occupants that a house guest, now an unwanted house guest was asked to leave and responded by arming himself with a butcher knife and a semi-automatic ,45 caliber pistol. The suspect was enraged and also threatened to shoot any Police Officer trying to arrest him. Sgt. Kristovich, and Officers Geary and Moissant advanced toward the suspect with weapons drawn. The suspect told the Officers that he did not care if they killed him. The Officers after several verbal commands, influenced the suspect to drop his weapons. The suspect was taken into custody. Officers Robert J. Geary and Dennis M. Costanzo were awarded with Bronze Medals of Valor for services rendered on May 18, 1976 when they were informed that a woman wishing to commit suicide entered the San Francisco Bay at Aquatic Park. Geary and Costanzo observed the woman floating in the water about 100 yards from shore. The Officers entered the water and swam out to the woman who was now under water. Geary and Costanzo were able to swim underneath her, bring her to the surface, and revived her on shore by administering CPR. Officer Robert J. Geary was awarded with a Police Commission Commendation for services rendered on August 15, 1977. Officer Geary, while off duty, observed flames emanating from 3rs floor of a building at 535 Geary Street. Geary pulled the fire box and then responded into the burning building and dropped to his hands and knees in the smoke-filled building. He alerted the tenants. Geary helped the San Francisco Fire Department evacuate the premises. Officer Robert J. Geary was awarded a Bronze Medal of Valor for services rendered on June 4, 1978. Geary, while off duty, observed smoke billowing from 478 Joost Street. Geary, entered the building, while on his hands and knees was able to locate the highly intoxicated owner, and carried him to safety. Bob entered the burning building a second time but did not locate any other occupants. Bob then found a hose and attempted to extinguish the fire from spreading to other buildings. The San Francisco Fire Department arrived and helped Geary who was suffering from smoke inhalation and toxic poison. Bob Geary was transported to San Francisco General Hospital where he was hospitalized. Officers Robert J. Geary and Nelson C. Lum were awarded with Bronze Medals of Valor for services rendered February 27, 1980 at 0435 hours. Geary and Lum responded to 57 Taylor Street and apprehended a suspect who had just stabbed his common-law wife. Prior to arrival the suspect threatened to shoot anyone who came after him. Geary and Lum engaged in a violent struggle with the suspect and disarmed the suspect of a .44 caliber Ruger Magnum rifle he had in his position and attempted to use on the Officers. Officers Robert J. Geary and Daniel C. Wynne were awarded with Police Commission Commendations for services rendered on October 26, 1987 at 0820 hours. Officer Geary observed a glow in a 3rd floor window of 1325 Stockton Street. Officer Wynne had smelled smoke a few blocks away at Vallejo and Stockton. Geary and Wynne approached the building and observed several people yelling ‘fire”. Geary and Wynne entered the burning building and ran up two flights of stairs but, due to smoke, were went to their hands and knees to check the 3rd and 4th floors. Geary and Wynne located two small children and severely mentally impaired man on the 4th floor and carried them out of the building to safety.
Herman Fruchtenicht, age 83: Herman G. Fruchtenicht was born in French Camp, California on April 11, 1941. French Camp is just south of Stockton, California. Herman earned a BA in Economics from San Francisco State University. Herman also served his country as a Paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division of the United States Army. Herman worked as a “Pressman” prior to entering Law Enforcement. Herman entered the San Francisco Police Department on April 27, 1970 and wore star #13. Herman worked the following assignments during his 33-year career: Richmond Police Station (August 23, 1970), and Taraval Police Station (Promoted to the rank of Police Sergeant and transferred on October 8, 1980). Herman retired with a Service Pension on June 20, 2003. Herman was a devoted family-man and husband to Patricia, his wife of 55 years. Herman was a proud father to his children Tara Lytle and Ryan Fruchtenicht. He was a proud father-in-law to Spencer Lytle and Karen Turner Fruchtenicht. Herman’s joy expanded with the arrival of his grandson Tiernan Fruchtenicht, and his step granddaughters, Tristen and Ruby Lytle. Herman is survived by sister-in-law Phyllis Petrillo, nephew Tim Staring, niece Kathleen Staring, and many nieces and nephews.
Report of Special Committee: No report this month.
New Business: No report this month.
Old Business: No report this month.
Good of the Order: No report this month.
Adjournment: President Lindo led the WOAA Board in a moment of silence for all our fallen members. President Lindo adjourned the meeting and scheduled our next meeting for Tuesday March 11, 2025.
To All Members: WOAA members can access a beneficiary form on our website, sfwidowsandorphans.org. Click on RESOURCES and follow the link. Print out the form, complete it, and send it to WOAA, P.O. Box 4247, San Rafael, CA 94913-4247. I can be contacted at 415 681-3660 and at markmac825@comcast.net. The following people assist our efforts throughout the year: Retired San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) Captain and the Defense Administrator of the San Francisco Police Officers Association (SFPOA), Paul Chignell; retired SFPD Lieutenant and the host of the Gold Country Reaper, Rene LaPrevotte; retired SFPD Sergeant and the long-standing editor of the SFPOA Journal Newspaper, Ray Shine; Maggie Wang of Personnel, and Kristine Singh of the Police Commissioners Office.