Felice Rodoni

Education

Felice Rodoni served 46 years in public education beginning his career at Manteca High School and ending it at San Joaquin Delta College. During his career he served as teacher, dean of students, principal, and college administrator.

Mr. Rodoni's contributions to education included seventeen years in the Manteca school system. He was an outstanding business teacher and demonstrated leadership skills in developing and administrating evening school courses at Manteca High School. He became a school site administrator and excelled in the areas of student welfare, curricular development, and school
site planning. Upon unification of the present Manteca Unified School District, Mr. Rodoni was appointed Principal of East Union High School. His role was to plan and develop the new school. Mr. Rodoni's leadership was a driving force which led to the establishment of an espirit de corps for students, staff, and parents which resulted in numerous projects being completed to improve the school plans and atmosphere. East Union evolved as a school with innovative curriculum and scheduling and was recognized statewide.

Mr. Rodoni advanced his career in education and was appointed Dean of Student Services at San Joaquin Delta College. As in his service to Manteca schools, Felice excelled in his new assignment. He established innovative and creative programs that helped students in furthering their education at four-year colleges. He became known as a person with an "open door policy" and was available to deal with students who were in need of a helping hand. After retiring from Delta College, Mr. Rodoni returned and served as a consultant and worked closely with the college president and the San Joaquin Delta Board.

Mr. Felice Rodoni devoted 46 years to education resulting in numerous positive accomplishments and acknowledgments.

Glen Eugene Eisner

Art

Glen Eisner grew up in Manteca with a single-minded desire to become a professional artist. He deems his hometown of Manteca instrumental in stimulating his dreams into reality. Through the support and encouragement of his family, Mantecas Public Schools, Public Library, Scout Troop 432, and the Manteca Artists' Guild, Eisner happily realized his lifelong dream.

The prosthetic sculpture work of Eisner has garnered Emmy Awards, three years in a row, for best make-up: one for "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and two for "The X-Files." Furthermore, he received an Emmy nomination for his work on "Babylon 5."

In 1988 he earned a Professional Caliber Certificate from Dick Smiths advanced professional make-up course. Smith is Eisner's major influence in sculpture.

Some of Eisner's film and TV credits include: "Gremlins 2," "Terminator 2," "The Nutty Professor," "The Mask of Zorro," "Walking with Dinosaurs 2," "Die Another Day," "Passion," "Cat in the Hat, "Pirates of the Caribbean," and "Van Helsing."

As a sculptor, draftsman, and oil painter, Eisner finds portraiture, landscapes, and animal life his favorite subject matter. He believes that working directly from life, whenever possible, is instrumental to creating powerful artwork.

Eisner graduated from Manteca High School in 1982 and was inducted into the Manteca High School Hall of Fame in 2000.

Eisner enjoys inspiring others through lecturing and teaching.

Jack Gatto

At Large

Jack Gatto, born in Manteca of a distinguished Manteca family, has been blessed with two outstanding careers. During the work week Jack is one of Manteca's best known business leaders, recognized by our business community as one of the most competent and professional CPA's in the valley. On weekends for 30 years Jack honed his second profession. That of a top college referee for NCAA Division 1-A. In that position he officiated 8 major bowl games.

Over the years Jack has devoted much service to his favorite community projects such as: Football programs and Sober Grad Night at Manteca's three high schools; Boy Scouts; Boys & Girls Club; South County Crime Stoppers; and St. Anthony's Parish.

He has served as director on the boards of various organizations such as Cascade Steel Rolling Mills, Inc. and the Northern California Officials Association. He was President of the NCOA executive committee and lifelong member of the California Society of CPA's and the American Institute of Certified Accounts.

Jack Gallo was honored for thirty years of outstanding work as a college official. He then began work as a National Football League evaluator of officials. Mike Pereira, NFL Supervisor of Officials stated, "in this profession you make enemies somewhere down the road, but I never met anyone who had a bad word to say about him." This is high praise for a person who has officiated for such a long time. Chad Brown who is a present National Football League official states that Jack Gallo rates the best of all top officials with which he has worked.

Jack continues his work with the National Football League and remains actively involved with the Manteca community. He now joins his father, John Gallo, who was inducted into the Manteca Hall of Fame in 1995.

Jo Goodin

Health Care

A strong concern for patient care became the focus of Jo Goodin's "second career." She spent 24 years at Doctors Hospital of Manteca as a Discharge Planner/Patient Advocate. A life-long resident of Manteca, she was a graduate of Manteca High School with the class of 1953. Jo then attended Humphrey’s College in Stockton for a year or so, graduating in 1955.

She quickly gained a position at the office of the San Joaquin County Superintendent of Schools. After 17 years working to assure the county's teachers that their credentials were up to date, Jo changed careers. That was to be the beginning of many fulfilling years in her life.

In 1976, Joe went to work for Doctors Hospital, where she helped families and patients arrange for home and convalescent care. Always willing to help people, Jo assisted those individuals in obtaining information on Community resources. Because of her interest in patient care, she was named Doctors Hospital Employee of the Year in 1992. Jo Goodin always put her work and concern for people before her own personal life.

Kenneth Huckaby

Athletics

Ken Huckaby is only the second Mantecan ever to play Major League Baseball. Mr. Huckaby moved to Manteca in 1985 and attended Nile Garden Elementary School. After graduating from Manteca High School in 1989, he attended San Joaquín Delta College. He played baseball there for two years and then signed a professional contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers organization.

Through twelve long years of working his way through the minor leagues, he never gave up pursuing his goal of making it to the big leagues. In 2001, he was named to the all-star team of the World Games as the catcher. His USA team won the silver medal. Later that year, he was placed on the World Series roster of the Arizona Diamondbacks and has a World Series ring to show for it.

He was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays in 2002 and is now the regular catcher for that team.

He still considers Manteca as his home town, although a resident of Chandler, Arizona.

He finds time in the off-season to visit family and friends in this area, as well as his old high school coaches. He has given equipment to the high school program whenever there is need.

Ken has been a great role model for young people as he has stood by his morals and his dedication to the great game of baseball throughout his career.

Lucille Opal Fry

Business

Lucille Fry was born in 1915 in Claudell, Kansas, one of nine children. She moved to Manteca in 1929 to live with her married sister. After graduating from Manteca High School in 1931, she met and married Paul H. Fry. He was in the mortuary business with his father, P.L. Fry. Lucille began working in the funeral home while raising a family of three daughters and a son.

In 1951, her father-in-law, P.L. Fry, died and so Lucille and Paul operated the mortuary alone. Lucille performed many of the duties, from removal calls to scheduling funeral times. In 1972, Lucille's husband died, so the P.L. Fry & Son Funeral Service was operated by her. It was at this time that she obtained her Funeral Director’s license and became the first woman elected to the California State Board of Funeral Directors.

During all these years, Lucille was active in numerous local civic and fraternal organizations while being involved in her children’s education as a charter member of both the Lincoln and Yosemite School PTA's. In the 1980's, she purchased another mortuary in Manteca and built a new funeral chapel in Tracy.

Lucille loved her work, spending 12-14 hours a day, seven days a week on the job. She was actively working until 1997, when her health forced her to retire.

Rosie Snyder

Community Service

Since moving from Toledo, Ohio to Manteca in 1962, Rosie has lent her hand to creating the Manteca of today.

Rosie Snyders' children were the impetus behind most of her volunteer work. She began her years of community service to be involved in her children's lives. Her love of children endured forever and her support to youth activities has touched several generations.

Rosie served as a Sunday School teacher and Sunday School Superintendent at United Lutheran Church in Manteca. She was a Girl Scout Troop leader and Boy Scout Den mother for years. She was a member of the East Union High School Band Boosters and Athletic Boosters.

Rosie was active in the start of the Manteca Boys & Girls Club. She never missed helping at a Telethon, bingo, crab feed, or karate tournament. In 8 1/2 years, Rosie served over 2,500 hours as a S.H.A.R.P. (Seniors Helping Area Residents and Police) volunteer.

After being diagnosed with breast cancer in 1988, Rosie served on the America Cancer Society Daffodil Days Committee. Rosie was also an active member of the Eastern Star, Manteca Historical Society, the Salvation Army, and served on the Chamber of Commerce Special Events Committee.

In 1999 Rosie was selected as "Woman of the Year" by Senator Patrick Johnston.

On September 27, 2002, Rosie passed away. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Jack, two sons, two daughters, and eleven grandchildren. Her memory will live forever in the hearts and minds of those people who knew her.