Profile: Margareet (Honey) Snow
Like many of us who have made our homes and lives in this community, Honey is one who also keeps one foot “back home”, where her birth family lives. In her case, that place is Virginia. Three brothers and a sister still live there, along with many nephews and nieces and their families. A big event there every year in the fall is the Mahoney family reunion at her brother Harvey’s place in Mineral. It involves singing and strumming around a campfire, and cooking up their specialty, Brunswick stew, in a cauldron made from an old kettle and stirred with an oar. The 2008 renewal of this event is fresh in Honey’s mind as she and daughters Chris and Kim recently returned from it. Read the rest of this entry »
Profile: Mary “Dee Dee” Nettels Anders
Dee Dee was born 90 years ago in Ysleta, TX (now part of El Paso, TX) to Ella Mary (nee McClure) and Paul Wuerschmidt. Her mother was originally from Ireland and her father was from Mitchell, SD. She and her two brothers and a twin sister, all now deceased, were raised on the family’s small farm. All of Mary’s schooling took place in Ysleta.
Her father was an electrical engineer, who ran his own electrical business within a hardware store managed by her mother. One day during the Depression, Paul came into the hardware store and stated that they had lost everything. Ella Mary, however, had been saving money, and she said, “What are you talking about?” She then proceeded to go out to the shed in back of the store, and dug up a large can that was buried in the dirt floor. In it were about forty thousand dollars in gold 50 cent pieces. With this nest egg the Wuerschmidts kept the businesses open all during the Depression, and they gave credit to the area farmers so that they could produce their products and keep working. Read the rest of this entry »
Profile: Rina Humphreys
At St. Andrews we have parishioners from many nations. To a large extent this is due to ours being a military community, with our service members having been overseas and meeting and returning with spouses from the places they were stationed. One has to have a special admiration for people with the courage to leave the security of home, family and friends and go off to live in a land far away, often with a different language and culture. Read the rest of this entry »
Profile: La Vera Granity
For La Vera Granity, organization and leadership are second nature. After all, during her years as a military officer’s spouse she had been active with officers’ wives clubs in their many charitable and social endeavors. Before that, she had held supervisory nursing positions. So, not long after she and husband Jerry retired here, and Fr. Millane was our new pastor, La Vera helped with reconstituting our Ladies of St. Andrew’s. She soon found herself president. Read the rest of this entry »
Profile: Lolita & Miguel Arvizu
Nineteen-year old Miguel Arvizu joined the US Army in May 1949 for the adventure of it. He could hardly have known what was in store for him. Certainly he didn’t anticipate the North Korean invasion of the South a year later, and that he would be thrust into that war at its most desperate time. When the war began in June 1950, Miguel was stationed in Japan with the 1st Cavalry Division. With the North Koreans driving southward, the Ist Cav was hastily landed at P’ohang-dong on the southeast coast in mid-July, with orders to move west and block the enemy’s advance. A Life Magazine correspondent and photographer was on the beach the day they landed, and a photo including Miguel can be seen in the July 31,1950 issue of that magazine. The Ist Cav could not stop the North Koreans, and once inland, found themselves being pushed back. Around the 1st of August, an exploding shell sent fragments into Miguel’s back and leg. He was evacuated to Japan to recuperate, and after that returned to the States. On convalescent leave, he took a train home, where he received a hero’s welcome from friends and family at the station. Read the rest of this entry »
Profile: Pamela & James Denman
If the romantic notion that there is one person in the world destined to be our soulmate is true, it’s also likely that that person lives halfway around the world. Given that, there’s a certain amount a logic in a young person joining the service and going abroad. That’s what Jim Denman, a lad from Bloomington, Illinois did years ago, and it worked. In England, he met a young woman just his age, Pam Knock. They married, had four kids, and have lived happily ever after. What follows here are just some details. Read the rest of this entry »
Profile: Mary & Alex Castro
Alex and Mary Castro are somewhat unique among the members in this series. They did not come to Sierra Vista because of a military connection, and they both are life-long Arizonans, having been born in Prescott. In addition, few people have exceeded the 47 years that Alex worked for one employer.
Mary’s family, the Gonzalezes, came to Arizona from New Mexico, and settled in Prescott where Alex’s family already lived. The two families became friends, and Mary and Alex were friends from childhood, even attending the same schools, although two grade levels apart. That did not, however, automatically lead to a romance as they became older. In fact, their first date was an accident that happened after they had graduated from high school. It seemed that a friend of Alex had a girl friend, and wanted Alex to double-date with them. Alex, however, did not have a girl friend. “Not to worry,” said the friend, “I’ll fix you up with a girl.” On the evening of the date, the friend picked up Alex and began to drive to the girl’s house. Read the rest of this entry »
Profile: Ilene King
For Ilene King, the first realization that her new husband George had dreams of living in the southwest was difficult to deal with. The first 40 years of her life had been spent near the place of her birth in Michigan. That was where her mother, brothers and friends were, and where she had spent happy years with her first husband and the three children they had together. George’s dreams were not necessarily selfish. He suffered from respiratory and mastoid problems, aggravated by the cold damp winters in the northern midwest. It was true that he also loved horses, and the thought of a western life appealed to him, but he could indulge that love of horses there in Michigan. It was a day while home sick from his job as a schoolteacher, that George suggested the move. Ilene would have to think seriously about it. Read the rest of this entry »
Profile: Lupe Yrun
It happened to be her birthday the day Lupe Yrun met with me to share her life story. That seemed appropriate enough, for all 87 years of Lupe’s life is a story certainly worth telling. She was married for 55 years to one of our city’s icons, and how can a person do that without themselves being someone special?
Just about everybody in the parish should know about the Oscar Yrun Community Center, located in the city complex. But those who have been here less than the 11 years since he passed away may not know much about our parishioner for whom it is named. Oscar was one of our town’s early pharmacists, having come here in 1957 to open his Modern Pharmacy at the corner of Fry and North Avenue. Being both civic minded and a sports enthusiast, Oscar was a supporter of youth sports, and a member of the city’s Parks and Recreation Committee at the time plans for a community center were being considered. He worked tirelessly for the building of the center, and when it was complete, others on the committee recommended it be named for him. Lupe had been at his side during this time. For one thing, they logged many miles traveling throughout this and neighboring states, noting what other cities had done. Read the rest of this entry »
Profile: Maria Beda & Enrique Olaje
This story introduces us to the Olajes: Enrique, also known locally as Henry, and Maria Beda, who will be his bride of 57 years this coming Thursday. Enrique and Maria Beda strike friends as gentle and kind, yet strong people who sense what needs to be done and do it. Born and raised in Mexico, they leave no doubt that their hearts are still in that beautiful country. Indeed, it is Spanish that is primarily spoken in their home. Yet, the will to do what was needed to be done to better provide for and educate their growing family is what brought them to our country and community over a half century ago. They enthusiastically adapted to their new environs, and in fact Enrique was directly involved in much of the building of Bisbee and early Sierra Vista. He even inquired about joining the Army back then, but being in his mid-30s and it being peacetime, was turned down. Read the rest of this entry »
Profile: Frances & Pete Collazo
Pedro (Pete) grew up in San Antonio, Texas with five sisters and one brother. Upon completing his education, Pete joined the Navy. After fulfilling his military duty with the Navy as a radioman, Pete returned to San Antonio where he began his employment with the federal government at Fort Sam Houston. Upon receiving a promotion, Pete was transferred to the Civil Defense Office at Denton, Texas. Read the rest of this entry »
Profile: Marie & Tony Upton
The year was 1962; the place New York. Tony and Marie Upton and their 11-year old daughter Carol were boarding the RMS Mauretania to return to Ireland. The call of their native Antrim, on Ireland’s northeast coast, was too strong. Family and friends were there, and that was most important, of course. But how could they not also think back on the glens of Antrim, the most beautiful spot in all Ireland, the coastline overlooking the place where the North Atlantic and the North Channel come together and their beloved Ballycastle, with Fair Head to the east, Rathlin Island in the distance, the Giant’s Causeway leading off towards Scotland, and the Marine Hotel across the promenade from the sea, which the Upton family had owned and where Tony and Marie met and fell in love. And the trees, and the green, that marvelous wonderful green, in such contrast to the brown, sand, tumbleweed and cactus of Tucson, where they had made a living the past 3 years. They had come to Arizona eagerly enough then, at the urging of Marie’s sister Kathleen Storms. Kathleen’s husband Todd had given Tony training and employment in his home construction business, and Tony had done well enough, but that would be behind them now. Read the rest of this entry »
Profile: Helen Cassidy
Helen was born in Detroit, MI, the second oldest child of ten children. Her mother was of German extraction and her father of Polish descent. Her grandfather lived with the family and used to sing the children songs in German. This singing may have been the seed for the Cassidys becoming a very musical family.
The family was a strong Catholic family, and all of her early education went to Catholic schools. Her parish, An-nunciation Parish, operated a grade school and a high school. She graduated from both, and graduated in 1945 from Marygrove College, a Catholic women’s college in Detroit. Read the rest of this entry »
Profile: Bernie & Dorothy Kuhl
Of all the lay people who have been on our parish stage in the past 50 years, it would be hard to name any couple that has had a greater impact than Bernie and Dorothy. Bernie was the founding president of our St. Vincent de Paul conference, one of our first eucharistic ministers, a lifetime member of the K of Cs, an effective fundraiser for the Bishop’s Appeal, a lector, a high school CCD teacher, chairman of several building committees, including for the parish center, and a coach for the K of C’s sponsored Little League team. Dorothy was a CCD teacher in their earlier years, a secretary for the Ladies of St. Andrews, a eucharistic minister for the hospital and homebound, and worked in the parish library. Read the rest of this entry »
Profile: Philomena Daugherty
With her beautiful Irish brogue, it would surprise no one that Philomena (Phil) was born in Ireland, Dublin to be exact. What may surprise some is that her maiden name was Arigho, hardly a common Irish name. In fact, it is not an Irish name but an Italian name. Her grandfather, on her father’s side, migrated to Ireland from northern Italy, and started a store that sold religious goods. The business ultimately became the largest supplier of religious goods in the British Isles. Read the rest of this entry »
Profile: Bea Hernandez
Relationships and friendships. These are things that mean a lot to Bea Hernandez. Having grown up in a close knit family herself, being a good mother to her own two children and four grandchildren are important to her. She fondly remembers coming to the Sierra Vista and St. Andrew’s communities when both were quite small and the camaraderie that existed among the people here. Before that, she loved the small town atmosphere of her hometown Benson and Our Lady of Lourdes parish there. She enjoyed the small high school from which she graduated in the 1950s. Their 50th reunion recently was a special time for her. She has lived in her home on quiet Cargill Drive for the past 43 years. There, neighbors are long time friends. Read the rest of this entry »
Profile: Eva Veach
On May 23 this year, our parish was saddened by the news of the unexpected passing of one of our treasured pioneers, Eva Veach. Eva had suffered from heart problems in the past, but just the day before she died, her doctor told her she was doing well.
Eva’s funeral was held at our church May 26, with Fr. Greg officiating and many friends and family attending. Her burial was May 28 at the Southern Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery. Read the rest of this entry »
Profile: Janet & Al Melito
If the words “parish pioneer” bring up the image of house bonnets or a stagecoach pulling up to the church door, Al and Janet Melito require us to change that line of thinking. These are young people, still working, playing guitar and singing in the Teen Mass choir, bowling and working out at Cochise Racquetball Club. Their kids only recently married, Al and Janet are just getting started in the grandparenting business. They can only dream about what they hope to do in retirement. Read the rest of this entry »
Profile: Helen & Alfonso Mele
Helen (nee DeMartis) Mele was born in New York City to Italian immigrant parents who had come to America near the turn of the last century. Both parents spoke Italian, and Helen had the benefit of growing up bilingual, which turned out to be a definite asset in terms of meeting Alfonso, her husband. Helen was the youngest of seven children (four boys and three girls). One brother and one sister have since died. Read the rest of this entry »
Profile: Fran Gorzoch
Fran Gorzoch is the kind of person who looks to bring cheer to others and to brighten their day. For example, one day, as a young person back in her native Pittsburgh, she overhead her father Kasimir speaking to her mother Mary, in their native Lithuanian tongue, of his concern about the flower bush outside their home that wasn’t blooming. Fran understood enough to catch the drift, and huddled with her younger sisters, Mary and Ann. The next evening Kasimir came home from his work on the railroad to find the bush blooming with artificial paper flowers that the girls had obtained and tied to the bush.
Fran was born Franciska Tamasiunas in Pittsburgh in October 1919. Both parents, as young people, had immigrated alone. They had passed through Ellis Island and went on to Chicago first, and then to Pittsburgh. It was in Pittsburgh that they met and married, living first in the Esplen neighborhood on the industrial west side of the Ohio River, and later in the adjacent neighborhood of Sheraden. Franciska became Frances in time, and when her parents were naturalized in 1934, it was under the name of Thomas. Kasimir worked as a boilermaker for the Pittsburgh and Lake Erie Railroad. Mary, in addition to raising three girls, did cleaning to bring in extra income. An aunt and her family lived next door, and the Thomas girls grew up good friends with their cousins. Read the rest of this entry »
Profile: Si Espinoza
At the suggestion of a local priest, Si Espinoza was originally named Saisita after an aunt, but she never liked the name. On the first day of high school, she was having lunch with some girls who were having a difficult time remembering her name. They decided instead to rename her Si, and she has gone by that moniker ever since.
Her parents, the Atencios, migrated from Colorado to Laramie, Wyoming where Si was born. Her family had moved to Laramie so that her father could seek employment on the railroad. He found that employment and performed railroad work until he retired. Fourteen children were born to this couple, of which twelve are still alive. Read the rest of this entry »
Profile: Marcella Reyes
Marcella Reyes was born in Chama, New Mexico to Sophia and Demetro Madril on December 23, 1932. Marcella is the oldest of 11 children. She grew up with eight sisters and three brothers. Her father Demetro was born in New Mexico, and her mother was born in Pagosa Junction, Colorado. Marcella’s great-grandfather used to drive and ride the mail stagecoach. Marcella was born Catholic and is a lifelong Catholic. She is very devout to her Church, serving for the past 15 years as an eucharistic minister and providing meals for those in need. Read the rest of this entry »
St. Andrew Talent Show
To all who participated:
I was so pleased with the enthusiasm and the terrific talent at the show on Saturday. What a wonderful way to enjoy an evening. Thank you to all the cookie bakers and providers, we had plenty of cookies to go around and some left for the Forgash dedication. I thank all who helped with any part of the event. The cast had the most fun of anyone, I think. I thank Fran Cassidy for organizing the entire affair with such patience and professionalism. I thank all the talented parishioners who shared their time with us, and for giving a gift to us all. And I thank those in the audience who truly enjoyed the evening, expressing their appreciation with each performance.
Profile: Frank & Olivia Escobar
Frank and Olivia Escobar are positive minded people who were not ones to bar the door when opportunity came knocking. Neither of them earned a college degree. That’s not to disparage them, but to illustrate how talent and initiative can make up for a lot of bookwork and test taking. Bill Gates never earned a college degree, but has numerous honorary ones. Well, Frank Escobar has an honorary degree, too.
Profile: Albert & Dora Juarez
Albert and Dora Juarez are “Aw Shucks” kind of folks who give the impression they would rather eat broken glass than talk about themselves. But in the true spirit of our 50th anniversary celebration in the parish they have served so long and well, they agreed to be featured this week in our series. Al provided the following information about themselves:
“I was born and raised in Solomonville (now Solomon), Arizona. My wife Dora was born and raised in Beeville, Texas. I attended high school in Safford. Dora attended school in Texas. Read the rest of this entry »
Live Concert! Jun Polistico
You are cordially invited to HEROES’ DAY
…a live concert presented by the Filipino-American Club of Southern AZ & sponsors
WHERE: Kino Hall, St. Andrew’s Parish
WHEN: June 14, 2008 @ 7pm
Treat Dad to this live concert from Las Vegas!
Featuring JUN POLISTICO, “Asia’s Golden Voice”
one of Philippine’s finest balladeers!
TICKETS: $25 (includes boxed Filipino dinner)
Tickets available at St. Andrew Parish Office.
Known as “Mr. Golden Voice” in his home country, Jun Polistico is one of the best-known entertainers in the modern history of the Philippines. Proven of international caliber, Jun Polistico has been aptly referred to as Asia’s Golden Voice as he belts his ballads mixing his performances with his hilarious medley. Without a doubt, Jun Polistico is still a perennial favorite. His voice, like wine, has aged to perfection. More than this, he has evolved into an electrifying stage performer with a long string of songs and a “dash” of spiritual message to share with a mesmerized audience. Read the rest of this entry »
Profile: Madeleine Mullaney Lusk
By the time Madeleine Mullaney arrived in Arizona in 1971 with her husband Bill and growing family, she was well underway in realizing her girlhood dream of seeing the world outside her native Massachusetts, but had not made much progress in her other dream of being involved with people and helping them. That would begin to change in 1987, when the family was pretty well grown, and Jim Durnin talked her into joining our parish conference of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. At the time, Madeleine was the conference’s first female member. By now, she has served as treasurer, vice-president, and 9 years as the conference president, and vice-president and 4 years as president of the Cochise Council (made up of our county’s nine conferences). She loves the work of helping those in need, and does not see her involvement ending. Read the rest of this entry »
Profile: Gen & Gil Ramos
This week’s profile takes on a different twist. Like St. Andrew’s Parish, Gil and Gen are also celebrating their Golden Anniversary and will exchange marriage vows during Saturday evening’s Mass. This is their story.
Both New Mexico natives, Gil was born in the mill and smelter town of Hurley, NM and Gen was born in the mining community of Santa Rita, NM. Both attended Cobre High School in Bayard, NM. When Gil graduated in 1957, the primary employer, Kennecott Copper Corp., was in the midst of a declining copper market and work was not available, so in January of 1958 Gil joined the Air Force. Gen remained in school. After completing basic and advanced training he returned home and they were married by Fr. Pedro Ruiz on May 10, 1958 in the Santa Rita Catholic Church. Read the rest of this entry »
Parish Talent Show - June 21, 2008
Do you dance, sing, tell jokes or stories, play an instrument or have a family skit to share? Please come and share your talent. Call 459-1205 to sign up. The parish is invited to join in the fun on June 21st at 7:00 PM at Kino Hall. Light refreshments will be served. Admission is free. Please bring canned goods for the food bank.
Profile: Manuel Vallejos
In the Vallejos home, it was Mrs. Vallejos, Grace, who mostly did the cooking - nothing particularly 
unusual about that. Yet it was her husband’s skill in cooking that kept him safely stateside during the “Big One”, provided the family a living for many years and also kept the family warm with chili during the hunting trips they enjoyed so much over the years.
Not many of us live on a street named after the place where we were born, but Manuel Vallejos does. Since Grace passed away in 2001, Manuel lives with his daughter Shirley in their attractive home on Calle Las Cruces, named, no doubt, because Manuel was born in Las Cruces, NM, in June 1920. Read the rest of this entry »