In Memoriam

 
Rotary District 5240 has recently lost several esteemed and vibrant members. We are saddened at their passing.
 
RICHARD A. REGNIER (1931-2016)
Richard Regnier of Oxnard Rotary will be remembered as a gentleman, a scholar, a true renaissance man.  He lived by his guiding principles: duty, honor, country and the pursuit of excellence.  Dick attended Harvard University, graduated from West Point and was commissioned in 1955 as a pilot in the Air Force.  After graduating from Bolt Hall Law School at U.C. Berkeley, he took a position with the Ventura County District Attorney's office and practiced law for 53 years.  Dick's three great loves were baseball, dogs and golf.  One of his favorite stories, and he was quite a storyteller, was during West Point's exhibition games against the NY Giants, he struck out Willie Mays four times.  Perhaps Dick's greatest attribute was his generosity.  His favorite motto was "Be kinder than necessary.”  With his wife Georgianna, Dick went on NID to India to help eradicate polio.  Always generous with his time, Dick touched many lives as a mentor, teacher, role model and friend. As a masterful speaker, he entertained, encouraged, inspired and motivated.  He will be remembered for his intelligence, whit, humor, generosity and integrity.  Memorial services will be held at Padre Serra, 5205 Upland Rd., Camarillo on Saturday, February 20th at 1:00pm.  Condolences can be sent to gregnieresq@earthlink.net  
Oxnard Rotary Club President Mark Spellman’s Remembrance:
“We were blessed to know Dick and have the opportunity to learn from his unyielding passion to assist and educate everyone around him.  Dick was one of the most attentive people I've ever met. Well-Spoken, eloquent, and an old-fashioned gentlemen; Dick was clear-eyed and focused for every endeavor he tackled. If Dick noticed a fire in your belly for a cause you believed in, he would go out of his to help you keep it lit and add the fuel that was necessary to sustain that feeling. I will sorely miss Dick Regnier, a true Renaissance Man of our times.”
 
Max Copenhagen, Rotary Club of Camarillo writes:
“Sadly we mourn the loss of Georgie’s husband and our good friend, Dick Regnier, whom we often saw at our club meetings over the years.  Dick was a dedicated member of Oxnard Rotary.  On several occasions, he was our program speaker, and his presentations were always memorable.  Dick was a true gentleman and friend, and we will really miss him.”
 
EDWARD DAVID “SKIP” FARIA  (1/21/1951 -  1/8/2016)
Edward David “Skip” Faria died on Friday, January 8, 2016 at his home in Simi Valley.  Skip was born on January 21, 1951 in Los Angeles, California and was known as “Skip” throughout his childhood years.
 
Skip worked for Golden State Water Company for more than 39 years.  He and his first wife, Linda Wegener Faria settled and lived in Simi Valley for more than 20 years. Skip was a past president of Simi Noontime Rotary and was actively involved in the community of Simi Valley. His involvement included the annual fireworks display, pancake breakfasts, and many other fundraising events and charitable causes. Skip served his community with distinction and was acknowledged for his service with numerous awards and recognitions.
 
Skip loved Corvettes and had his first “Vette” at the age nineteen. Along with his love for Corvettes, Skip also loved the water and became a Master PADI Scuba Instructor in 1986.
 
Skip leaves behind his daughter, Dana Kristine Faria, 30, and his son, David Edward Faria, 28. He was recently wed to Theresa “Tess” Faria. In addition he leaves behind his sister Valerie Wheeler.
 
Donations in Skip’s memory may be made to: EndPolioNow.org
 
Warmly,
Virginia L. Hayward
Chief Executive Officer
Boys & Girls Club of Simi Valley
 
PIERCE TROWBRIDGE WETTER, JR.  (12/1/1925 -  1/12/2016)
December 1, 1925 - January 12, 2016 Pierce Trowbridge Wetter, Jr, 87 of Simi Valley, CA passed away from complications resulting from his battle with Parkinson's.  Pierce was born in New York City to Pierce Cobb Trowbridge Wetter and Gladys Amy Mock. Pierce was named in honor of an ancestor, William Pierce who owned the barbershop where the Boston Tea Party was planned. Graduating with a degree in Industrial Engineering from Case Western Reserve in Cleveland, Ohio, Pierce taught himself electronics and control system theory in the early days of the Aerospace industry. Serving in the Army at White Sands, NM, he loved the friendliness and openness of the people of the West and resolved to come West in time for the California Aerospace boom. Working at Philco in the San Jose area, he met and married Mary Lou Smith on March 22nd, 1959 in Santa Cruz, CA.  Pierce and Mary Lou moved to Southern California for a job at a company called Canoga in Canoga Park. They had a son, Pierce III on December 23, 1966. In 1969 with 7 others, Pierce founded Datron Advanced Technologies. Pierce worked there until he retired from his Chief Scientist role at the age of 84, and was beloved at his workplace; it was common for the employees to refer to him as "Uncle Pierce." A lifelong learner, Pierce evaluated people on their capabilities, not their credentials, race or gender. Pierce demonstrated the power of lifelong learning when he was granted patent #6,078,296 at the age of 75. Datron and its subsidiaries continue to employ hundreds of people throughout the Southern California area. Datron has had several CEOs who began their careers working hands-on as technicians, then engineering, then to executive positions, all at Datron. Hands-on experience has paid off; Datron has a reputation for building systems that work reliably in the toughest environments on the planet. Pierce is survived by his wife of 56 years, Mary Lou Wetter, 79, his sister Billie Alban, 90, his son, Pierce T. Wetter III and his wife Deanna, and six loving nieces and nephews. Services were held Tuesday, January 19, 2016 at 10am. Pierce Brothers Mortuary in Westlake Village, 5600 Lindero Canyon Rd. The family asks that you do something simple and personal to further education. Give a gift card anonymously to the schoolteachers of your family and friends for classroom materials.
Published in the Los Angeles Times on Jan. 17, 2016
 
LARRY EMRICH (70)
Larry Emrich, a former principal at Ventura High School, has died. Emrich, 70, died Wednesday afternoon, February 17th at Community Memorial Hospital of leukemia. "He's been the patriarch of our family," his wife, Karin, said Thursday morning. "All the young adults in our family go to him for advice. He was a wonderful listener, insightful. And he had the patience of a saint, really."
 
Emrich was an assistant principal, then principal at Ventura High before retiring in 2006, said former Superintendent Trudy Tuttle Arriaga.
 
"He was a stellar principal," Arriaga said. "He cared deeply for students. And he was proud to be a Ventura High School Cougar. He kind of had that Cougar blood in him."
 
 
Emrich, who contracted polio as a child and walked with a slight limp, joined a local Rotary Club as an adult. In 2012, he joined the Rotarians on a trip to India where he helped immunize children against polio.
 
In addition to his wife, Emrich is survived by his son, Tristan; daughter-in-law, Christi; grandson, Finn; brother and many other relatives.
 
Emrich wished to be cremated. His family is planning a paddle out at Surfers Point in Ventura but has not yet set a date. Instead of flowers, his family asks that people donate to their favorite charity in his memory.  By Jean Moore of the Ventura County Star
 
As we were going to press with the newsletter, we sadly learned about the February 23rd death of Dr. Edward Hager (84), Past Rotarian of the Year, 2009-2010, and member of the Arch Klumph Society.  Dr. Ed was a member of the RC of Thousand Oaks.  More on Dr. Hager next month.