The Widows’ and Orphans’ Aid Association held their monthly meeting on July 11, 2023 on Zoom technology. The meeting commenced at 1130 hours.
Roll Call: President Louis Barberini, Secretary Mark McDonough, Treasurer Dean Taylor, Trustees Ray Kane, Jim O’Meara, Maureen Leonard, and Rob Forneris, and Administrative Assistant Sally Foster were present. Vice President Ryan Walsh, and Trustee Leroy Lindo were excused.
Approval of the Minutes: Trustee Ray Kane made a motion to accept the minutes from our June 2023 meeting. Trustee Maureen Leonard seconded the motion. The motion passed.
Receiving Applications, Suspensions, and Reinstatements: There were no new applications, suspensions, or reinstatements this month. All suspended members will be dropped from the roll-on September 1, 2023 if we do not receive their payments of dues and fines. There are 86 retired members, and 17 active members who were suspended on April 1, 2023. The names of the suspended members, to be dropped on September 1, 2023 are the following (R) Rueben A. Aguirre, Richard J. Aurajo, Peter Kwadwo K. Asare III, Martin S. Bandvik, Wendy J. Bear,
Nicholas J. Bettencourt, Jonathan A. Borzin, Terri L. Bowen, Scott R. Butland, Jonathan J. Cairo, Alan M. Callaway, Michael A. Cattaneo, Dennis E. Cesena, Chien-Ping Chou, Troy J.Courtney, Michelle D. Craig, Patrick T. Cummins, William A. Derro, Derick A. Dragon, Eugene Eden, Raymond D. Fernandez, Vincent S. Fontela, Krystel M. Fortie, Shawn M. Fulgado, Daniel P. Gibbs, Robert A. Gilson, Jennifer L. Granucci, James Gratz, Sterling C. Hayes, Joe Hernandez III, Jacob R. Horton, Jason Hui, Juan C. Jiminez-Almanza, Thomas J. Johnson, Oleksly A. Katoliychuk, Jerry L. King, Jason M. Kozy, Kirk H. Leong, Jonathon R. Lucchetti, Anders J. Mac, Susan Manheimer, Brendan B. Mannix, Gregory L. Mar, Carol A. Margetts, Edward T. Markey, Richard W. Mathiesen, Chad Matteri, Cory M. McDowell, Charles A. Miller, Mary Morentz, Davon TJ Morgan, Lauren E. Nelson, Joseph A. Obidi, Matthew G. O’Leary, Sean F. O’Rourke, Gretchen Parker, Matthew J. Parker, Colin Patino, Gary V. Peachey, Troy P. Peele, Timothy Plyer, Joseph j. Porta, Anthony J. Powers, Nicholas D. Rainsford, Lynn M. Reilly, Rene Julian J. Romero, Shaughan Ryan, Christopher T. Sabella, Michael A. Scheerer, Nicholas S. Sepich, John B. Shanahan, Gordon L. Shyy, Megan A. Sinclair, Holly Marie Stoumen, Nicholas A. Suslow, Kenneth B. Syring, Charles K. Tanaka, Dack O. Thompson, Craig M. Tiffe, Jason R. Trumpp, Isaac J. Valenzuela, Dorian L. Washington, Mark C. Williams, Craig D. Wilson, Sherie Wong, Johnny C. Wood. (Active) Michael J. Blume, Joshua N. Cabillo, Ryan S. Crockett, Nicholas J. Cuevas, Daniel J. Faulkner, Christa L. Festa, Jiselle M. Glover, Stephen M. Hogan, Brittany N. Lewis, Julia A. Little, Michele A. Primiano, Richard Salas, David A. Sands, Jonathan S. Tong, Tecia Williams, Baylon D. Yee, and Angela N. Yesson. I made several unsuccessful attempts to contact the suspended members. Please contact me if anyone has contact information on the suspended names.
Communications and Bills: Treasurer Dean Taylor read aloud the monthly bills and beneficiary claims. Death benefits for deceased members Christopher Anderson, Felix Buckley, Terrance Collins, Kitt Crenshaw, Frank Gonzalez were requested. Trustee Jim O’Meara made a motion to pay the bills and beneficiary claims. Trustee Maureen Leonard seconded the motion. The motion passed.
Report of Visiting Committee: No report this month.
Report of Trustees: We received the sad news of the following recently deceased members:
Robert Puts, age 70: Robert J. Puts was born in San Francisco, California on June 2, 1953. Bob was a Police Cadet in San Francisco prior to entering Law Enforcement. Bob entered the San Francisco Police Department on June 2, 1974, his 21st birthday. Bob was assigned to Star #2050 and worked the following assignments during his 30-year career: Southern Police Station (August 14, 1974), Crime Specific Task Force (CSTF) (April 11, 1979), CSTF Honda Unit (September 23, 1981), Northern Police Station ( April 7, 1986 and promoted to the rank of Police Sergeant on July 1, 1981), Tactical/ Crime Prevention (March 1, 1991), General Work Detail (June 15, 1996), Potrero Police Station (April 18, 1998, Bob was promoted to the rank of Police Lieutenant on January 4, 1999), CPC Tactical (July 10, 1999), Field Operations Bureau (July 29, 2002, and promoted to the rank of Police Commander on August 18, 2003). Bob retired with a Service Pension on April 9, 2004. Bob passed away due to complications during surgery. He is survived by his loving wife of 48 years, Debi; sons John (Collins), and Daniel (Marie); loving Grandfather to Andrew (4), twins Nathan and Tyler (16 months), and Grandfather to be to Audrey (due July 3, 2023). He is also survived by his sister Suzanne Elicetche (Gabriel), sister-in-law Denise Walsh (Jim), Nieces Natalie Elicetche and Kelly Walsh McKenna (Dave), nephew Ryan Walsh, (Katie), and great nephews, Patrick, Charlie, and Jack Walsh. AWARDS: Officer Robert J. Puts, with Sergeants Jesus Torres and Martin Curtin, and Officers Alex Fagan, John Brandt, Frank McKee, Joseph J. Toomey, Michael J. Sullivan, Eddy Castiglioni and Patricia Beauchamp received a Police Commission Commendation for services rendered on Wednesday July 14, 1976. The named Sergeants and Officers encountered a mentally deranged suspect who had just stabbed his victim, and when approached by the Officers, stabbed one of them in the chest. The bullet resistant vest saved the Officer from death or great bodily injury. Another Officer leaped forward and grabbed the suspect’s wrists enabling the other Officers to overpower the suspect, disarm him and place him in custody. Officer Robert J. Puts and his partner Alex E. Fagan were awarded with a Bronze Medal of Valor for services rendered on Tuesday July7, 1976. Puts and Fagan responded to a call of an insane person at 140 Leavenworth Street. Upon arrival, the suspect threw a knife at Officer Fagan’s head. The knife sailed over Fagan’s head. The suspect was in possession of a second 9” knife in his right hand and a 17” club in his left hand. The suspect shouted at the Officers that would never take him alive and that he would kill both of them. The suspect then charged Officer Puts with the knife however, Officer Fagan was able to knock the knife from the suspect’s hand with his baton. Puts and Fagan overpowered the suspect taking him to the ground and placing him in custody. Officer Robert J. Puts and his partner Officer Alex E. Fagan were awarded with a Silver Medal of Valor for services rendered on Saturday October 23, 1976. Puts and Fagan were on patrol at 2200 hours when they observed flames blazing from the roof top of the Folsom Barracks Bathhouse. Puts and Fagan led approximately 30 hysterical patrons to safety. Puts and Fagan also kicked-in 9 doors of cubicles and removed 3 patrons who were overcome by smoke inhalation. Puts and Fagan crawled from room to room as the smoke made visibility and oxygen almost nil. Puts and Fagan were treated for smoke inhalation. Officer Fagan was subsequently transported to St. Francis Hospital where he remained for 2 days under observation. Officers Robert J. Puts and his partner Alex E. Fagan, and Officers Ross H. Laflin and Martin Sacco were each awarded with a Bronze Medal of Valor for services rendered on Wednesday July 26, 1978. The Officers responded to 102 South Park on a call for help. The Officers arrived and discovered a drunken male and an enraged 200 pound plus female who was destroying one of the apartments. The Officers approached the enraged female when she lashed out at the Officer attempting to cut them with a pair of surgical scissors. She struck Officer Fagan 3 times, once in the area of the heart and once in his midriff. Either strike would have been fatal had it not been for Officer Fagan’s bullet resistant vest. However, the third strike cut Fagan on his left arm injuring him severely. The Officers engaged in a physical struggle with the armed suspect eventually overpowering her, disarming her, and placing her in custody. Officers Robert J. Puts, Alex E. Fagan, John G. Fowlie, and Thomas Williams were each awarded with a Silver Medal of Valor for services rendered on Tuesday September 12, 1978. The Officers responded to a call of a 211 (robbery) silent alarm at the Eureka Federal Savings and Loan at 570 Market Street. The Officers arrived and were informed by the Bank Manager that the 211 suspect was at Window #4, and was in the process of robbing the bank by gunpoint. The Officers made a visual scan of the bank as they assessed the situation. Officer Fagan entered the teller area and drew his weapon confronting the armed suspect. The suspect looked over his right shoulder and observed that Officers Puts, Fowlie, and Williams had their service weapons drawn. The suspect then obeyed Fagan’s command to drop the weapon. The suspect was taken into custody. The suspect was previously convicted of murder (187 P.C.) of a San Francisco Police Officer, and another near fatal shooting, and four counts of armed robbery. Officers Robert J. Puts and Stephen R. Silvers were both awarded with the Bronze Medal of Valor for services rendered on Wednesday April 23, 1980. Puts and Silvers apprehended an armed suspect who, using a .32 caliber revolver, robbed a Trans Rent-a-Car located at 656 Geary Street. Puts and Silvers recovered the stolen money taken in the robbery and the stolen Toyota abandoned at the scene and had been stolen and used by the suspect. Officer Robert J. Puts, with Sergeant Timothy J. Hettrich, Inspector Henry C. Hunter, and Officers Charles J. Keohane, Jeremiah W. Morgan, Edward L. St. Andre and Stephen Silvers were each awarded with a Silver Medal of Valor for services rendered on Thursday August 14, 1980 at 0750 hours. The Officers responded to the unit block of Manchester Street and were advised of a barricaded suspect inside 78 Manchester Street. The suspect fired his weapon at the Officers and randomly in the vicinity. After several hours of attempting a surrender, the Officers entered the building under heavy gunfire. The Officers located the suspect and again attempted to have him surrender peacefully. The suspect then unleashed another volley of gunfire, leaving the Officers no recourse but to return fire and fatally wound the suspect. Officer Robert J. Puts, Robert W. Barnes, Joseph P. Curtin, Richard A. Hom, Michael L. Kelly, Robert G. Sudano, and Victoria A. Walker were each awarded with a Police Commission Commendation for services rendered on Wednesday January 2m 1985 at 1206 hours. The Officers responded to a bank robbery alarm at the Bank of America at 1275 Fell Street. The Officers observed the suspects running in a lane of traffic northbound on Divisadero Street. The suspects boarded a bus but jumped from the back windows at Pierce and Hayes Streets as the Officers had pulled alongside the bus. The suspects split up and were subsequently captured at different locations. One suspect was capturer at Fillmore and Fulton Streets. The second suspect was arrested as he was hiding under a staircase at 931 Fulton Street. The Officers recovered the entire stolen amount of bank money from the second suspect which totaled $6,293.00.
Charles Sandoval, age 97: Charlie’s information will appear in next month’s August 2023 Journal.
Charles Tedrow, age, age 80: Charles Tedrow was born in Tooele, Utah on May 14, 1943. Charlie is listed as having worked as a Machinist Apprentice prior to entering Law Enforcement. Charlie entered the San Francisco Police Department on June 16, 1965 and was assigned to Star #1885. Charlie worked the following assignments during his 30-career: Northern Police Station (September 5, 1865), City Prison (April 20, 1970), Richmond Police Station (January 4, 1976), and Crime Specific Task Force (CSTF) (January 25, 1976). Charlie worked for many years in CSTF in the Honda Motorcycle Unit. Charlie retired with a service pension on January 3, 1994. AWARDS: Officer Charles Tedrow, with Sergeants David R. Winn and Julian M. Landman, and Officers Pelham C. Wilmerding Jr, Michael R. Weick, John R. Hennessey, Michael R. Lawson, Richard G. Sheehan, George B. Cima, James M. Chase, Phillip O. Bill, Raymand A. Shaffer, and Dorothy Jorgensen were each awarded a Police Commission Commendation for services rendered on December 17, 1979. The Officers responded to 329 Fulton Street #43 and apprehended a suspect who stated he was holding numerous hostages, that he was in possession of explosive devices, and that he would blow up the hostages if he did not receive ten million dollars.
Kelly Waterfield, age 84: Kelly’s information will appear in next month’s August 2023 Journal.
Old Business: No report this month.
New Business: No report this month.
Good of the Order: No report this month.
Adjournment: President Barberini led the WOAA Board Members in a moment of silence for our recently passed members Robert Puts, Charles Tedrow, Charles Sandoval, and Kelly Waterfield, and for all of our members who have passed away. President Barberini scheduled our next meeting for Tuesday August 8, 2023. The meeting will be held via Zoom technology.
To All Members: New beneficiary forms are available to our members on our website at sfwidowsandorphans.org. A link to the form can be accessed through the RESOURCES BOX on our face page. I send beneficiary forms to our members by U.S. Mail when requested. The WOAA Board expresses their gratitude by recognizing the following people who assist our efforts to give our members the best customer service possible: Retired San Francisco Police Captain Paul Chignell who also serves as the Minister of Defense for the active Police Officers in the San Francisco Police Officers Association (SFPOA); Retired San Francisco Police Lieutenant Rene LaPrevotte who is also the host of the Gold Country Reaper email that reaches thousands of active and retired Officers; Retired San Francisco Police Sergeant Ray Shine, who is the long-standing editor of the San Francisco Police Officers Association newspaper (the Journal), David Ng of personnel, and Kristine Singh of the Police Commission Office. Thank you all.