WHS Hall of Fame
"The Washington High School Hall of Fame seeks to honor Washington Alumni that have exemplified the ideals of the school throughout their lives, and have actively made a difference in their respective professions and communities. They represent the richness of tradition that is the very core of Washington High School."
The WHS Hall of Fame was created in 2014 by the Associated Student Body (ASB) and the Alumni Foundation to celebrate alumni, staff and community supporters. The Classes of 2013 and 2014 created a Hall of Fame wall and garden which include a fountain and benches. It is located next to the pepper tree that was adjacent to the old boy's gym.
2026 Hall of Fame Induction
Ceremony Date - April 25, 2026
Distinguished Centenarian Alumna
Richard Dutrow, Class of 1943
Oldest known alumna at 101
Richard grew up near the school on an apricot and cherry ranch. After graduation, he attended San Jose State University before being drafted into the U.S. Army.
Richard and his wife Patricia had three children, 2 of which graduated from Washington High.
** We have learned that Richard passed away on May 15, 2026. His family was so pleased that just three weeks prior he was celebrating being the oldest living WHS Alumni and having a great time. They feel he held on so that he could attend and be honored. I’m grateful that you did all you could to make that a special day for him and for his family. It created a beautiful memory that will be talked about for years.
LIFETIME RECOGNITION
Alumni Foundation Board Members
JoAnn Fisci Faria, Class of 1959 Former Board Officer JoAnn worked in the Attendance office of the school from 1958-1962 and later helped to form what became the WHS Alumni Foundation.
Don Fisci, Class of 1962 Worked as an industrial inspector for 40 years and was involved with his church. Served on the Alumni Board for 32 years.
Gil Lemmon Founding Director Teacher and Coach at WHS for 17.5 years Gil served as Athletic Director during which time he worked with the Booster Club, alumni and corporate sponsors to build a new gym, resurface the tennis courts, create and manage the "Wall of Pride" and the installation of a four sided scoreboard. Gil served as Athletic Director of the Year in 1989. He worked at the North Coast Section Office of California Interscholastic Federation for 23.5 years, including 11 years as Commissioner of Athletics. He served 4 years on the National Federation of State High Schools Volleyball Committee. Gil was awarded NFHS State Award for Outstanding Service, the CIF Distinguished Service Award, and the NCS Phil Hempler Award.
Gary Mello, Class of 1968 Founding Member Gary graduated WHS with honors after playing football, soccer, basketball and track. He received a Husky Award. Gary graduated from San Jose State with a BS and master's degree in Civil Engineering and worked as a California Registered Civil Engineer.
Doug Rogers, Class of 1972 Current Alumni Foundation Treasurer Doug served as Yearbook Editor his senior year at WHS. He went on to attend San Jose State University, graduating in 1976 with a degree in Criminal Justice. He began his career with the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office in 1979 and retired as a Detective Sergeant after 30 years. After retirement, he worked 10 more years part-time as a Court Deputy for Santa Clara County. Doug and his wife Nancy have been married for 44 years and have 3 children and 2 grandchildren.
Susanne Hewitt Turner, Class of 1958 Former Board Member A third generation graduate of Washington Union High School. Her grandmother was in the class of 1898. Susanne studied dental assisting at Oakland City College and spent 26 years working with Dr. Grimmer. She retired in 2005 after working for another 20 years as a dental assistant. She and her husband David have been married for 65 years.
From left to right: Doug Rogers, JoAnn Fisci Faris, Gil Lemmon, Susanne Hewitt-Turner, Steve Giudici. Front: Don Fisci
BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL
From left to right: Ken Keller, Steve Kramer, Geoff Lane, Don Hillman, Steve Giudici
Ken Keller, Class of 1973 Ken is one of 7 kids in his family to graduate from Washington High between the years of 1967-1982. Ken was Senior Class President and was Inter-Council Coordinator, serving on the ASB Leadership Team. Ken graduated from Cal State Stanislaus with a BA and received his MBA from Notre Dame de Namur University. Ken started his career at HIlls Bros Coffee in San Francisco, later moving to Houston and working for Tree Sweet Juice and Minute Maid. After moving to Los Angeles, he began a business advisory business. For more than 20 years, Ken authored a weekly syndicated column titled "On Business and Life," and now writes for the local business journal and is the publisher of The Monthly CEO Advisory magazine. Ken and his wife Donna love being grandparents to 3 grandchildren.
Steve Kramer, Class of 1973 After graduating WHS, Steve attended UC Berkeley where he eventually found his way into Civil Engineering. He specialized in geotechnical engineering, the study of soil and rock as engineering materials and deals with foundation design, landslides and tunnels. He eventually received his PhD from Berkeley. He became a full professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Washington. His area of expertise is Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering, which deals with how local geologic conditions affect the way the ground shakes during earthquakes and with liquefaction. After 36 years of service, he retired with the status of Emeritus Professor. He continues to research and consult both her in the U.S. and in Sardinia, New Zealand, Austria and Chile. He was elected to the National Academy of Engineering (the Cooperstown of engineering). Steve has been married to his wife Diane sine 1983 and has 2 daughters and 2 grandchildren.
Geoff Lane, Class of 1973 At Washington, Geoff earned varsity letters in Water Polo, Wrestling and Swimming. Wrestling led to Geoff's 50 years of studying and training Dan Zan Ryu Jujitsu. Geoff is a 9th-degree Black Belt with the title of Professor and is the President of the American Judo and Jujitsu Federation. Professional Geoff earned a Civil Engineering degree from CSU Chico and went into Construction Management. His projects have ranged from a underground hydroelectric powerhouse to custom homes. He also spent 4 years at Yosemite National Park working on its properties and National Historic Buildings. Geoff is currently VP of Project Management at McCarthy Companies which specializes in building affordable housing for veterans, seniors and other groups. Geoff is married to high school sweetheart Monica Medina and has 2 children, Adam (a high school science teacher like his grandpa Stu Lane who taught at WHS) and Shannon.
Don Hillman, Class of 1960 Don played football at WHS under coach Bill Walsh. Hillman went on to open Cloverleaf Family Bowl with his parents which became a Fremont institution for 57 years. Hillman introduced in-school bowling throughout the Fremont Unified School District, donating equipment to the schools. He wrote a manual for gym teachers to teach in-school bowling which is still in use today. He was elected President of the California State Bowling Proprietors' Association. In 1988 HIllman was elected President of the Bowling Proprietors' Association of America. In 1973, Hillman founded the Fremont Decathlon that raised thousands of dollars for Special Olympics. Hillman retired in 2005 and enjoys his grandchildren while remaining active with reunions for WHS. Hillman over his career was inducted into the Alameda County Bowling Hall of Fame, the Northern California Bowling Proprietors' Hall of Fame and the National Bowling Proprietors' Hall of Fame.
EDUCATION
Helen Tait Paris, Class of 1972 Attending WHS prior to Title IX, Helen earned the equivalent of ten varsity letters, competing in softball for four years, basketball for four years, and field hocky for three years. She was a student leader serving aa Girls W Club President and ASB Treasurer, earning a Husky Award. Helen graduated from Whitworth College in Spokane in 1976 with degrees in Physical Education, HIstory and Education. She served as a Physical Education Specialist and coach at Glenmoor Elementary School. She returned to WHS from 2002 to 2017 as a History teacher, Service Learning Coordinator and Student Activity director. She developed the WHS Leadership Class. Programs and traditions created or expanded under Helen's leadership include Paws for a Cause, Senior Cruise, the Pride, Tradition, and Excellence identity, the MAZE program, Multicultural week, Athletic Signing Day, the annual Bonfire, and the Hall of Fame Wall, Fountain, ceremony and scholarships. She has been awarded the 2012 Fremont Education Foundation Educator of the Year and the California Activities Directors Association Bob Burton Spirit Award in 2017, along with recognition from the City of Fremont, Alameda County Board of Supervisors and the California State Assembly. Guided by the philosophy, "Always leave something better than how you found it," Helen's influence continues through the lives and careers of her former students, many of whom credit her leadership program as a foundation to their success.
Laurel Mayer, Class of 1954 Laurel participated in athletic and academic programs, earning membership in the Block W Club and the California Scholarship Federation. He studied at San Jose State after high school completing the courses required to teach Chemistry, Physics and Social Studies with plans to teach high school. As part of Air Force ROTC, he was called to active duty in December 1958, and despite only planning to serve his 4-year duty, he retired 30 years later as a Colonel. While in the USAF, he spent time in Washington DC, Hawaii, Japan, Europe and the Middle East. His 15 medals and decorations include the Legion of Merit and the Bronze Str earned in Vietnam while stationed at Pacific Air Forces HQ. He served as Director of Intelligence Applications and participated in intelligence exchanges with Air Forces of The Phillippines, Korea and Thailand. His last 5 years on duty were served as Dirctor of Intelligence at Air Force Logistics Command in Ohio. Upon retirement, he earned a Masters and PhD and spent the next 36 years teaching at Sinclair Community College in Dayton, Ohio. His teaching career including developing new courses, writing a textbook, serving two terms as Chair of the multiple discipline Humanities, Government and Modern Languages department. He stepped down from full-time teaching in 2013 and was voted to become a Professor Emeritus. He continued to teach part-time through 2024.
Left to right: Steve Giudici, Helen Tait Paris, Laurel Mayer
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
George Rede, Class of 1970 From the moment he sat down at a mnaul typewriter in Mrs. Wanda Wilson's class to write his first story for the Hatchet, George was hooked. After WHS, he attended San Jose State on a scholarship. He did two summer internships at The Washington Post and had a lengthy career in journalism. George spent 40 years a professional journalist, including three decades the Oregonian, Portland's daily newspaper. While there, The Oregonian was nationally recognized with six Pulitzer Prizes and its efforts to diversify the newsroom. After leaving journalism, he has taken up a second career teaching Media Literacy, Media and Society, and Sports and the Media at Portland State and Washington State University Portland. George met his wife of 50 years in the newsroom at San Jose State and they have 3 children and three grandchldren.
Left to right: Steve Giudici, George Rede, Bruce Kaufman
LIFETIME RECOGNITION
Contributors
Bill Bauhofer, Wally Samuelson, Steve Giudici, Trish Nunes (Carrie Nunes' granddaughter), Bill Bischoff
The Bauhofer Family Cloverdale Creamery Joe Bauhofer Sr. started the Innes-Cloverdale dairy in the early 1930s that milked cows and processed milk at the Chadbourne Ranch in Centerville (which is now where the Fremont Hub is located). Family members and hired hands farmed 127 acres of land, moving cows from the dairy to Coyote Hills along the streets. In 1936, Joe Bauhofer Sr. purchased property on North Main Street (now Fremont Blvd) and opened a modern-styled creamery and fountain in 1938. Bill Sr and Joe Jr joined their father in the family business and eventually became partners and owners. Bill Bauhofer Sr married Frieda Wipfli, who graduated from WHS in 1934. They had 4 children, all WHS graduates. Joe Bauhofer Jr married Lorna Jones and they are two daughters that attended WHS. Cloverdale Creamery was a generous supporter of WHS, sponsoring every yearbook dating back to the early 1930s. The family business also supplied milk for student lunches!
Carrie Oliveira Nunes Carrie was born in Centerville in 1900 and lived there until her death at 96. She had two children that both graduated from WHS, the first of four generations of family to do so. Carrie worked at the high school in both the cafeteria and laundry from 1931-1957. Her dad Manuel served as a school board trustee for 40 years (Oliveira elementary is named after him). From his example for community service, Carrie was a proud members of the Native Daughters of the Golden West, SPRISI, Holy Spirit Church, and Fremont/Newark Senior Club. After her passing, her three granddaughters (Marilyn Barbara and Trish) started the Carrie Nunes Scholarship which continues to support WHS graduating seniors demonstrating excellence in acts of community service. Each year around her birthday, the family holds a pizza party where the attendees provide the donations that keep the scholarship alive.
Wally Samuelson, Class of 1976 Wally excelled in Cross Country and Tennis during his time at WHS. Wally went on to graduate from UCLA in 1980 with a degree in Political Science. Wally decided to travel to New Zealand after graduation but only got as far as the Hawaiian Islands where he spent the next 24 years. He spent many years in Food & Beverage with the Old Spaghetti Factory, returning to school to study accounting, after which he spent 7 years in the Tax Department of Big Eight Accounting firm Deloitte, Haskins & Sells. Wally later landed a position in the drywall construction industry with Performance Contracting Inc which has grown into the country's largest construction subcontractor. He retired in 2019 after returning to work for PCI in the Bay Area. Wally has been a generous supporter of the Washington High School Alumni Foundation, funding numerous scholarships and has served as the means to expand the Foundation's teacher grant program.
Bill Bischoff, Class of 1970 With the goal of being an artist, Bill joined the Art Club at WHS. He learned screenprinting from Mr. Brandenburg and went on to design and print dance posters through high school. As President of the Art Club, he joined together with teh Literary & Poet Club to co-create the lierary art magazine "Fire.." While he briefly attended California College of Arts, he later found himself working full-time for his parents company House of Liquors and founding the Brookvale Merchants Association. In 1974, he founded Mirage Entertainment and began producing concerts at Hidden Valley Park, that included such artists as Elvin Bishop, Greg Khin, Eddie Money, Quicksilver, The Sons of Chaplin and Country Joe McDonald. In 1988, he started Bischoff Design and began participating in Warn Spring Rotary, Femont Chamber of Commerce and later the Kiwanis Club of Fremont, using his design skills for community events such as Ducks for Bucks, Fremont Art & Wine Festival, Fremont Athletic Network (FAN) and well as several political candidates. He has been a supporter of the Alumni Foundation since its early days, producing t-shirts and other merchandise. His design work can be seen in the new gym where they painted the 8-foot tall HUSKIES on the wall. In 2000, Bill established Bischoff Custom Design in Modesto.
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
From left to right: Tony Gemignani, Dennis Eckersley, Holly Franklin and Holden (John Woodcock's daughter and grandson), Steve Giudici, Mayor Raj Salwan
Tony Gemignani, Class of 1991 Tony is a 13-time World Pizza Champion, four-time Guinness World Record holder, children's book author and author of PIZZA BIBLE and the Pursuit of Pizza. He is a prolific philanthropist and renowned San Francisco restauranteur with his flagship restaurant Tony's Pizza Napoletana and establishments such as Capo's, Slice House, Toscano Brothers Bakery, Dago Bagel, and Giovanni Italian Specialties. He has partnerships with the Golden State Warriors, San Francisco 49ers, San Francisco Giants and the Las Vegas Raiders to bring his pizza to sports fan throughout these team's stadiums. Tony is the founder of the World Pizza Championship, the first and only Triple Crown winner for baking at the International Pizza Championships in Lecce, Italy, and his most prestigious title the World Champion Pizza Maker at the Work Pizza Cup in Naples, Italy, where he was the first American and non-Neapolitan victor. These are just a few of his professional accolades. Tony is a generous philathropist supporting local SF organizations such as Family House, George Mark Children's House, the Marin Food Bank, the SF Italian Athletic Club, Slice Out Hunger, and the Salesian Boys & Girls Club. He is part of a multi-generational WHS family that includes his dad and brother.
Dennis Eckersley, Class of 1972 Dennis built a 50-year baseball career, including 24 years as one of the finest pitchers in Major League baseball. He played for the Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Cardinals and Oakland A's. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2004. Over his career, he was a top starting pitcher with a blazing fastball and later became a dominant closer with a devastating slider and pinpoint control. He had a career total of 390 saves and 197 wins. He was a six-time All Star, the ALCS MVP in 1988 and the American League MVP and Cy Young Award winner in 1992. He threw a no-hitter for Cleveland in 1977 and had a 22 1/3 consecutive no-hit streak, second longest behind Cy Young in Major League history. Dennis retired from pitching in 1998 and then served as a color commentator for the Boston Red Sox for 20 years. "Eck" became known for his unique commentary, nuanced insights and no-holds-barred style. He even had his own baseball vernacular with an Ecktionary to go with it. Dennis won an Emmy in 2021 for Outstanding Broadcaster with the Red Sox. Dennis retired in 2022 and returned to the Bay Area to be closer to family.
John Woodcock, Class of 1972 John played football at WHS under the legendary Coach Jim Ingram before going onto a college career at the University of Hawaii and a professional career in the National Football League. John played 5 seasons with the Detroit Lions and 2 with the San Diego Chargers, participating in two of the most memorable weather-challenged games in NFL History, the Epic in Miami and the Freezer Bowl a week later in Cincinnati (look them up!) John played 70 games, posting 27 sacks and 8 fumble recoveries. After retiring from the NFL, he settled into life in Fremont with high school sweetheart Sharon and daughter Holly. He was a small business owner running an American Speedy Printing franchise. He passed away too soon in 1998, but his spirit lives on with his extended family of 3 sisters, 8 nieces and nephews and 9 great nieces and great-nephews.
Raj Salwan, Class of 1992 Raj could never have imagined eventually becoming mayor of his hometown when a student at WHS. He was sworn in as Fremont's first Indian-American elected mayor in December 2024. He has served in city government for over 18 years. He is the representative for the City of Fremont on the Alameda County Transportation Commission, First Vice Chairperson for the California League of Cities East Bay Division, and subcommittee member of the joint City County-School District Liaison Committee. His efforts have been instrumental in founding the Innovation District in Warm Springs, home to prominent advanced manufacturing, clean technology and high innovation companies such as Tesla, Seagate, Lam Research, Western Digital and Delta Electronics. He is an advocate of reducing traffic and improving local and regional infrastructure. Raj earned a degree in biological science at UC Irvine and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at Tuskegee University and is a small business owner. He is a father of 3 who attended Fremont public schools.