It's been a busy month for Memorial. We celebrated our 75th anniversary with our 43rd Annual Live and Silent Auction and we continued our hybrid learning efforts, working toward the end of our Fall 2020 semester. This month's issue of Memorial Connections looks at our auction, our long legacy of religious education seen through the eyes of two of our former teachers, and more.
A Look Back at 75 Years of Religious Education
This year, San Joaquin Memorial High School celebrates 75 years. In this issue, we take a look back at 75 years of religious history by telling the stories of two former instructors: a member of the Brothers of the Christian Schools and a member of the Sisters of the Holy Cross, who operated SJM for much of its 75 years.
Brother Mark Murphy

By the time Brother Mark Murphy began teaching English, Math and Religion at San Joaquin Memorial High School in 1965, SJM was already 20 years old. In some ways, the school was still finding its footing: for instance, while Brother Mark taught at SJM, the school made the decision to switch from a gender-segregated school to a mixed-gender school. Boys and girls began attending classes together for the first time.

“At the beginning, everyone was thinking ‘oh how will this work,’” Murphy said. “We’d take up 10 minutes of each faculty meeting and talk to each other. We were told by the Sisters what it was like to work with the girls in class. Then next time, it would be reversed. When it actually happened I think we were pleased.”

Brother Mark would teach at SJM for five years. In that time, he saw some of the best of what SJM had to offer its students. He moderated the Young Christian Students Club, helped students to perform scenes from musicals including Hello, Dolly! as part of the theater program, and generally found himself connecting with his students as a young teacher.

“Those were wonderful years, especially as a first-time teacher,” he said. “The staff and teachers were all incredible. It felt like there was a whole new dimension to their education and mine.”

From supervising volunteer opportunities to taking the students on hiking and tubing trips on the Kings River, the days were filled with fun and connection. One of Brother Mark’s favorite memories is his introduction to frog gigging, also known as frog hunting.

“I was teaching Steinbeck’s Cannery Row and there is a moment in that book where frog gigging is mentioned,” said the San Francisco born Murphy. “The students found out I hadn’t done that, so one night they took me down to the Kings River and we caught frogs. A student’s father was a sous chef at a place downtown so we went down to his kitchen and cooked frog legs.”

SJM alumnus Patrick Beggs was one of Brother Mark’s students and still has a strong relationship with the Brother to this day. Beggs said Brother Mark was endlessly helpful. That helpful nature inspired Beggs to pursue a decades-long career in education of his own.

“He was always available to anyone, especially people like me that weren’t math wizzes,” said Beggs. “Without his extra help outside of class, I don't think I would have passed those math classes. To underscore things, I think subconsciously I became a teacher because I wanted to emulate what he did for me. I wanted to help students too.” Beggs went on to work as a teacher and education administrator and is still involved in education.

Beggs said the Brother made a significant impact on his life.

“There should be a statue at SJM dedicated to Brother Mark,” Beggs said. “Of all the teachers that I had, he was the most empathetic, consistent and he was a very strong disciplinarian. You knew where you stood with Mark at any given time.”
Sister Joanne Bauer

Sister Joanne Bauer had roots in San Joaquin Memorial before it even opened. When she was just three years old, her father was one of the original school supporters who helped to raise funds for its opening in 1945. That connection only strengthened when she went on to attend SJM herself in the late 1950s.

“My parents, both father and mother, valued Catholic education, Christian values, strong character, family life, and community,” said Bauer. “I experienced the family spirit in the school environment and in the Holy Cross Sisters’ friendly down to earth outreach to students and to their families though the teaching, meetings, activities, sports, and other organizations. The education was outstanding and a high value for my parents.”

Her experience at SJM also encouraged Sister Joanne to make a life-changing decision that had been of interest to her since the 7th grade: to join a religious community as a Sister. It was during her Junior year of high school when she seriously began to consider this calling and during her college years that she finally decided to join the Sisters of the Holy Cross.

“I had personal contact with the sisters at SJM and that helped me make my decision” Bauer said. “They were very outgoing, very down-to-earth and very welcoming. It was that charism that came across.”

After becoming a Sister, Sister Joanne Bauer found herself at another crossroads: where to teach. Once again, she found herself turning to SJM.

She began teaching English, Religion and Journalism at SJM in 1973, overseeing The Red and Blue student newspaper.

Her work had a great impact on her students, including Sara Streeter. Streeter was on Bauer’s newspaper staff and still has a wonderful friendship with Bauer today.

“She was and is a very and warm and caring person,” Streeter said. “She was a lifeline at times. We got very close when I was in high school and she became my first real adult friend. I find it nothing short of a miracle that we’ve kept in touch over four decades but I’m grateful. It helped my high school experience greatly to be able to connect with a teacher like that, to be able to have someone there for me.”

Bauer left SJM as a teacher in the 1970s, but stayed connected in many ways over the years, including coming back to work for the Diocese of Fresno as the Coordinator of Family Life Ministry, a position she retired from in 2019.
Support The Fund for San Joaquin Memorial 
With your continued support to The Fund for San Joaquin Memorial, you are keeping Memorial strong. Collective support from donors like you allows school leadership to address current needs and continue to provide a quality student experience during these unprecedented times. Be sure to make your tax-deductible gift to The Fund for San Joaquin Memorial by December 31. Thank you for helping make a Memorial education possible for all of our deserving students.
43rd Annual Live and Silent Auction a Success

Our 43rd Annual Auction was held on November 7 online via livestream. The event featured eight fantastic live auction items and dozens of great silent auction items, from designer fashion to decadent desserts. Many online viewers joined MC's Lisa Sondergaard Smittcamp and David Moeck for a night of fun, completely online. The event was also a financial success for SJM, raising:
 
$148,500 in sponsorship
$106,000 through the live auction
$70,000 through the silent auction
and $5200 for the Moving the Mission project

"Thank you to our Chairs: Mimi Fanucchi, Jeannine Grech, and Betty Hermosillo-Turner; Sponsorship chairs: Hillary Bell, Stacy Roque, Steven Campos and Eddie Fanucchi; and Silent Auction Chairs: Shannon Stubblefield and Karen Jimison," said Shirley Boujikian, SJM Constituent Relations Coordinator. "Thank you to all of our faithful supporters of San Joaquin Memorial for making our 43rd annual Virtual Many Dreams...One Mission auction such a huge success!"

If you were unable to attend but would like to support our Moving the Mission for technological improvements to our Diener Academic Center and a remodel of Holy Cross Chapel, please contact Shirley Boujikian for more information on how to donate at [email protected] or (559) 475-5831.
SJM got a surprise visit from alumni Robin and Brook Lopez, NBA players for the Milwaukee Bucks. They visited the campus and their former art teacher Denise Zanutto. Read more about them at https://www.nba.com/news/bucks-band-brothers
May They Rest in Peace... with God Forever

Marge Bilsten passed away September 23, 2020. She is the mother of Sharon McCarthy Fisher '77, Shawn McCarthy '81 and Kathleen McCarthy Scrivner '83. Read more about her life by clicking here.

Joseph Anthony Camoroda passed away September 22, 2020. He was inducted in the SJM Hall of Fame in 2006 as part of the Dad's Club. He is the husband of Dina Andrews Camoroda '57, father of Anthony Camoroda '71, Angela Camoroda Valley '73, Mari Camoroda Raley '75, Mauro Camoroda '86 and step-father of Morgan Dailey '83. He is also the father-in-law of Jane Castro Camoroda '71. He is the brother of Andrew Camoroda '50 and Anthony Camoroda '56; he is the cousin of Anthony Teleco '53 and Anne Marie Camoroda Leonardo '65. He is the uncle of LaVerne DiBuduo Dauer '63, Patricia DiBuduo Schindler '64, Nat DiBuduo '68 and Sarah Dauer Kennedy '95. Read more about his life by clicking here.

Deborah Grace Belford Bone passed away October 8, 2020. She taught at San Joaquin Memorial from 1975-1978; her husband, Timothy Bone '61, taught from 1970-1974. Deborah is the mother of Timothy Bone '95, Stuart Bone '96 and Michael Bone '98; sister-in-law of Frank Bone '65, Kathleen Bone Reidy '66, Rosemary Bone DeBenedetto '67 (married to Nicholas DeBenedetto '67), Jean Bone Nicholson '68, Andrew Bone '69, Patricia Bone O'Neill '70, Charles Bone '72, Joanne Bone Serpa '76; aunt of Kevin Nicholson '93, Andrea DeBenedetto '94, Benjamin Nicholson '95 (married to Lucia Dalena Nicholson '97), Siobhan O'Neill '97, Anna DeBenedetto-Stenger '97, Treasa O'Neill Nyiri '99, Sara Nicholson '00, Sheila O'Neill '01, Conor O'Neill '03; great aunt of Josephine Nicholson '23. Read more about her life by clicking here.

Georgianne Errotabere passed away October 15, 2020. She is the grandmother of Ryan Errotabere '10 and Marisa Errotabere '11. Read more about her life by clicking here.

Peter Jones passed away October 20, 2020. He is the father-in-law of Lisa Jones, who handles Accounts Receivable at Memorial and husband of Antoinette Caglia for 67 years until her death in 2015. He served in the Navy in World War II and the Korean War and served god as a devout Catholic his entire life. He is the father of Janice Jones Kleinberg '75, Timothy Jones '77 and Richard Jones '82; he is the grandfather of Amanda Jones '12, Tyler Jones '14, Samantha Jones '15 and Briana Jones '17. He is the brother of Madeline Jones Zanoni '55 and the brother-in-law of Michael Caglia '48, Virginia Caglia '50, Rosemarie Caglia Bushman '52 and Shirley Mencerelli Jones '53. He is the uncle of Joyce Caglia Smith '60, Richard Caglia '60, Andrew Caglia '61 Sally Caglia '65, Vincent Caglia '68, Mary Caglia Torres '68, Bernadette Caglia Boyle '70, Rose Marie Caglia '72, Tony Caglia '79, John Zanoni '91 and Nathan Zanoni '95; he is the great-uncle of Richard Caglia '86, Richelle Caglia '87, Scott Smith '90, Andrea Hester Olsen '91, Elena Carrillo Sanders '96,Rosemarie Carrillo '97, Misty Mastro '97, Kristy Mastro '99,Jacqueline Carrillo '05 and Steven Carillo '08. He is the great great uncle of Emilee Sanders '21. Read more about his life by clicking here.
Call for Class Notes

Have you recently gotten married, had a baby or experienced a big life moment that you want to share with your fellow Memorial alumni? Have updates about your reunion? Share them with us! Submit announcements to [email protected].
Alumni Contact Update
Panther Alums, even though your time here at Memorial has passed, this is still your home! Please stay connected with us so that you can be part of our exciting engagement opportunities such as our sporting event pre-game dinners, alumni mixers and so much more! To stay connected, please fill out this form.

Call for SJM Memorabilia

Do you have SJM memorabilia from the past 75 years? If you have items you would like to share with us for our 75th anniversary, please contact Shirley Boujikian at [email protected]
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