The Widows and Orphans Aid Association of the San Francisco Police Department met on Tuesday May 12, 2015 at the Hall of Justice 850 Bryant Street, room #150 at 1:45pm.
Roll Call: President John Keane, Secretary Mark McDonough, Treasurer Dean Taylor, and Trustees John Centurioni, James O’Meara, and Al Luenow were present. Vice President Sally Foster, and Trustees Leroy Lindo and Ray Kane were excused.
Approval of the Minutes: Trustee John Centurioni made a motion to approve the minutes from the April 2015 meeting. Trustee Al Luenow seconded the motion which passed without objection.
Receiving Applications; Suspensions and Reinstatements: No applications this month. We will be contacting the 244th Recruit Class for 2015 dues. The 244th became eligible for full time membership on May 8, 2015. Dues are billed to active members once a year in January.
Laurel Hall has been dropped from membership for non-payment of dues. There were no reinstatements.
Communications and Bills: Trustee Al Luenow made a motion to pay our monthly bills. Trustee James O’Meara seconded the motion which passed without objection. Death benefits were paid to the beneficiaries of the following member: Nick Eterovich Sr. Vice President Sally Foster sent flowers to Nick Eterovich Jr (on behalf of his father Nick Eterovich Sr.), and to the families of the following members who passed:, Yvonne Pratt, Stanley Cordes, and Arthur Orrante.
BILLING. The billing of retired members for 2015, due to a transition change of book keepers, and a transition of computer systems and necessary changes, experienced an unusual delay in the process. Our new book keeper has reported that all bills have been sent out. If any member did not yet receive a bill, please send $72.00 to: WOAA, P.O. Box 880034, SF, CA 94188. I can be contacted at 415 681-3660, and by email at ‘markmac825@comcast.net’.
Report of Visiting Committee: WOAA President John Keane reported his attendance at the funeral service for Lt. Yvonne Pratt. Keane reported that there was an impressive attendance of sworn and civilian mourners, and reported that Chief Greg Suhr addressed the gathering with a heart-felt speech and behalf the Police Department in the honor of Lt. Pratt. We offer our sincere condolences to all our fallen members and their families. See Report of Trustees below for the list of fallen WOAA members.
Report of Trustees: We received the report of the passing of our following members;
Stanley Cordes, age 86: Stanley F. Cordes was born in San Francisco, California. Prior to his career in Law Enforcement, Stan’s was listed as a “Mailman”. Stan joined the San Francisco Police Department on July 20, 1953. Stan Cordes has an impressive career that spanned 31 years and ended in 1984 at the rank of Deputy Police Chief of the San Francisco Police Department. Stan was assigned to star #1235. Prior to earning a promotion to Police Sergeant, Stan worked at the following units: Ingleside Police Station (1953), and Park Police Station (1964). Stan was promoted to Lieutenant in 1969 and worked in the following units: Criminal Records Unit (1966), The Supervising Captain’s Office (1969), CWB (1970), Traffic Solo’s (1972), Patrol Bureau Headquarters (1976) and the Investigations Bureau. Stan was promoted to Police Captain on January 3, 1977 and was assigned to the Support Services Bureau. Stan worked at the Rank of Captain at SSB, the Traffic Bureau (1978), and Southern Police Station. Stan was promoted to Deputy Chief on January 17, 1980 and remained at Southern Police Station, and later transferred to Support Services Administration. Stan retired with his service pension on January 15, 1984. Stan loved hiking in the San Bruno Mountains, and passed away doing just that on April 21, 2015. Stan is survived by 5 children; daughters Sharon (retired SFPD Lieutenant Joe) Dutto, Mary Hutchings, and Patricia Harders; and sons, Tom Cordes of the SFFD, and Joe Cordes(retired SFPD Lieutenant). Stan is also survived by 6 grandchildren.
Lenox Etherington Jr., age 84: Lenox G. Ethrington Jr. was born in San Francisco, California on August 27, 1930. His job prior to Law Enforcement is listed as “U.S. Marine Corp”. Lenox joined the San Francisco Police Department on 04/19/54. His employment card listed this date as “First day of work”. I have never seen that notation on a work history. Lenox completed his time at the Police Academy and was assigned to star #178. Lenox was assigned to C.P. (City Prison) on September 27, 1954. Lenox was transferred to Co. K APB on January 2, 1957 and stated at Traffic Company for eight years until promoting to Sergeant on October 21, 1969. Lenox was transferred to Southern Police Station for his first assignment as a Sergeant. Two months later in December he was transferred back to Traffic to AIB. On February 2, 1970, Lenox was assigned within Traffic to C&PC. Lenox worked in C&PC for over 10 years and was loaned to Communications on May 18, 1980. On December 1, 1981, Lenox retired from the San Francisco Police Department with a Service Pension. Lenox passed away on April 27, 2015 in Carson City, Nevada.
James Norman, age 85: James W. Norman was born on May 29, 1930 in the state of Alabama. His last listed employment prior to Law Enforcement was listed as “Postal Clerk”. James joined the San Francisco Police Department on September 16, 1964. James spent three plus months in the Police Academy and was assigned to star #727. James was transferred to Ingleside Police Station on December 31, 1964. Two plus years later, James was transferred to Central Police Station on March 21, 1966. James transferred to Co.K C&P on October 28, 1968. James later worked at Northern Police Station (January 18, 1971), back to Co.K C&P (February 28, 1971) for five and a half years. On July 1, 1976 James transferred to Park Police Station for a little more than one year. On August 18, 1977 James transferred back to Central Police Station when he was promoted to Sergeant. On June 14, 1978, James transferred back to Co.K/Solo’s where he remained until his service pension retirement on July 19, 1994. James is survived by his wife Mabel (Kay) Norman, his brother Lewis, and his four daughters Laverne Jones, Adrian Jones, Tamara McDaniel, and Vernell Fay Norman. James is also survived by five grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
Arthur Orrante, age 77: Arthur Orrante was born on January 5, 1938 in San Francisco. Arthur was 77 years old. Arthur attended Sacred Heart High School in San Francisco as a member of the class of 56. Arthur served his school as the Student Body President and was an “Ace” pitcher for the Fighting Irish Baseball team. Prior to a career in Law Enforcement, Arthur worked at Pacific Bell, and later worked for Lucca Delicatessen on Chestnut Street in San Francisco. The United Parcel Service employed Arthur as a driver until he was called upon to join the S.F.P.D. On June 16, 1967 Arthur joined the San Francisco Police Department. Arthur was assigned to star #1409 and after a short stint in the Police Academy, was sent to Park Police Station on September 11, 1967. Arthur was transferred two and half years later on January 2, 1970. Apparently Arthur “knew a good thing when he saw it”. He spent the next twenty-eight years at Central Police Station until retiring on January 5, 1998. Arthur is survived by daughters Marcie(Tate) Elmore, Maria Orrante, Mindy (John) Runyan, Marlene Orrante, Marjorie Orrante, and his son Marc (Teresa) Orrante. Arthur is also survived by Grandchildren Robert and Daniel Kennedy, Shaun and Brianne Orrante, sister-in-law Carol (Hoenisch), Betty (Walter) Puccini, and many nieces and nephews. Arthur was predeceased by his wife Loretta.
Yvonne Pratt, age 56: Yvonne joined the San Francisco Police Department on September 17, 1988. Yvonne was assigned to star #1217. Yvonne was well traveled in her 27 year career. Yvonne worked at the following units during her career: Mission Police Station (1990), Central Police Station (1992), Northern Police Station (1993), Support Services (1996), Potrero Police Station (1996), Night Investigations (1999), Fraud Detail (1999), Auto Detail (2001), Sexual Assault Detail (2005), Police Academy (2012), and Park Police Station (2012). Yvonne was promoted to Police Inspector in 2000, to Police Sergeant in 2005, and to Police Lieutenant in 2012.
Ben Van Iderstine, age 90: Benjamin Percy Van Iderstine Jr. was born on October 04, 1924 in San Francisco, California. Ben’s job prior to Law Enforcement is listed as “Tank Truck Driver”. Ben joined the San Francisco Police Department on September 1, 1956. Ben was assigned to star #283 and worked at four assignments before retiring with a Disability Pension on September 28, 1979. Ben was transferred out of the Police Academy to Park Police Station in 1956. Ben later transferred to Potrero Police Station (1957), Northern Police Station (1958), and 21 years later to Parking and Traffic in 1979.
Report of Special Committee: Trustee James O’Meara has been researching an Actuary to conduct a study of our age limit requirement and to report an evaluation. Jim has been in touch with several attorneys and has once again, been referred to another. Ed Willig has referred Jim to Carr- McClellan for consultation.
Unfinished Business: We will now be collecting dues once a year (which we reported monthly last year). Recruit Classes are covered once they leave the academy but do not become full members until they graduate from probation. Each class will not be billed until January, when they pay through payroll deduction. Unfortunately, if a recruit class starts their coverage during a calendar year, they will not be billed until the following January. The WOAA will need to contact new members during the year to pay their dues prior to their first billing. For example: the 244th recruit class became full members on May 8th. They were covered by the WOAA while they were in their probation period early in 2015. This recruit class needs to pay their dues for 2015, and will begin their payroll deduction in January 2016. Members of the 244th recruit class can send $72.00 to the WOAA, P.O. Box 880034, SF, CA 94188. We will be contacting the members in the next few weeks.
New Business:
Adjournment: President John Keane led our Board in a moment of silence for all departed fallen members. President Keane closed the meeting and scheduled the next meeting for June Tuesday June 9, 2015. The meeting will be held at the Hall of Justice 850 Bryant St, room #150, at 1:45pm.
To All Members: Please visit our website at ‘sfwidowsandorphans.org’. Members can effect a beneficiary change by using our website and accessing the ‘Resources’ box on the upper right side of the toolbar. Click on the Resources box and then click on the beneficiary forms. Print out the form, complete the change and necessary information, and have it signed by a Board Member, or a Notary. Mail the form to us at: WOAA, P.O. Box 880034, SF, CA 94188. Please use this form for any change of address or contact information. These changes do not require a signature by a Notary or Board Member. Our Monthly Minutes and our Summary Annual Report are posted on our website. I will mail a copy of our Summary Annual Report to any member who makes this request. The WOAA continues month to express our gratitude to Paul Chignell of the POA, Jon Voong and Lt. Nick Rainsford of Personnel, and Inspector John Monroe of the Police Commission Office. Paul Chignell assists our efforts in locating and contacting members who have changed their address and/or contact numbers, AND neglected to notify us of the changes. Jon Voong and Lt. Rainsford assist us by sending us employment information on fallen members for our obituary section. Inspector John Monroe supplies department award information for our obituary section.
2015 Dropped Members: The following members have been DROPPED by the WOAA for non-payment of dues for more than one year. These members have apparently changed their address without notification. If any member can assist us by contacting a member on this list, please contact us at the phone number or email address in the Communications and Bills section listed above. Of course, as we have printed numerous times, we will gladly reinstate any dropped member who is willing to pay back their dues and late charges. Late payments must be accompanied with a letter to request reinstatement, and a signed letter by a physician of a current health status. Please assist us in getting word to these members:
Harold Cole, Fred Curley, Alexis Goldner, Brian Knueker (current member),
and Sandra Phillips.