Obituaries

Thomas E. Dillon April 18, 1946 - April 15, 2009Thomas Edward Dillon was the first of six children born to Shirley and Thomas J. Dillon of San Francisco. Even from childhood, he had a keen sense of wonder and a hunger for knowledge, spending hours reading through encyclopedias. Tom was immensely grateful for his loving family, and had tremendous gratitude for his parents’ love and example. He cherished many fond memories of growing up with his siblings, Nancy, Tim, John, Mary, and Robert. He was deeply saddened by the loss of his own father, whom he described as his hero, only a few years ago.Tom married the love of his life, Theresa Ann Corkery, on March 4, 1967. They were not only husband and wife, but also best friends. Tom had a great sense of humor and he could always make Terri laugh. They complemented one another perfectly. The Dillons were blessed with 42 years of marriage, 4 children, and 15 grandchildren. One of Tom’s greatest joys was spending time with Terri and their children. He delighted in playing ping-pong with his youngest son, Danny, and loved to chronicle his family members’ lives through his passion for photography. Tom had a true appreciation for beauty, and nowhere did he treasure it more than in his own family.A graduate of St. Mary’s College of California, with masters and doctoral degrees in philosophy from the University of Notre Dame, Dr. Dillon devoted the last 38 years of his life to advancing and sustaining Catholic liberal education at Thomas Aquinas College in Santa Paula. Appointed to the college’s teaching faculty in 1972, he served as assistant dean for student affairs from 1976 to 1981; he then served as academic dean from 1981 until his appointment as president in 1991. Throughout that time, he took great pride in the college’s growing reputation for excellence, as well as in its alumni, which include 45 priests and more than 20 fully professed religious brothers and sisters.Widely recognized as a national leader in the reform of accreditation in higher education, Dr. Dillon was active in the early 1990s in organizing a new national accrediting agency, the American Academy for Liberal Education. In 2003, he was appointed to a three-year term by the United States Secretary of Education to the 15-member NationalAdvisory Committee on Institutional Quality and Integrity, a group that, in effect, accredits the accreditors.Dr. Dillon was a member of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and chairman of the Western Association’s Defense of the Faith Committee. He served on the Board of Directors of a number of organizations, including the Institute on Religious Life, and was a member of Legatus for the past 11 years.On April 15, Dr. Dillon was killed in an automobile accident in Ireland, where he was traveling on behalf of Thomas Aquinas College. He is survived by his mother and five siblings, his beloved wife, Terri, and their four children and their spouses: Elizabeth and Thomas J. Dillon, Maria and Domiane Forte, Christine and Thomas Ellis, and Danny Dillon. He also leaves behind 15 grandchildren: Cecilia, Maggie, Sean, Frances, and Jane Dillon; Emma, Giuseppe, Enzo, Francesco, and Bella Forte; and Andrew, Liam, Seth, Caitriona, and Joey Ellis.He will be deeply mourned by his family and by the entire community of Thomas Aquinas College, to which he gave his life.The Funeral Mass for Dr. Dillon will be held in Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel at Thomas Aquinas College on Friday, April 24, 2009, at 10:00 a.m. Interment will be at Santa Paula Cemetery. A rosary was held Thursday evening, April 23, 2009 at 7:30 p.m., also in the college chapel. An all-night vigil followed.The Dillon family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Thomas Aquinas College or, more specifically, to Our Lady of the Most Holy Trinity Chapel.Funeral arrangements are under the direction of the family owned and operated Robert Rey Garcia Jr., Funeral Services, Santa Paula, CA. 93060. For further information information, please call (805) 229-7054.Beverly Jane HardingBeverly Jane Harding, long-time Santa Paula icon, passed away on 19 April after a long battle with cancer.Beverly was born February 13, 1929 in Ventura, the second daughter to George and Mildred Harding. A fourth-generation Santa Paulan, she attended McKevett and Isbell Schools and graduated with the Santa Paula Union High School class of 1946. She attended Ventura Junior College and graduated from Colorado Womens’ College in Denver, Colorado in 1948. She was employed by the Hollywood division of the Eastman Kodak Company for thirty-two years, serving as the Office Manager for that organization through her retirement, and organizing many Kodak retiree functions thereafter. Shortly after her retirement she returned to Santa Paula to care for her father. She also continued her involvement as a long-time leader in the Ebell Club, the board of Harding Park (named for her father, George Harding, who founded it), the local chapter and tri-county districts of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and Organizing Director and President of the Santa Paula Union High School Alumni Association. She was a driving force behind the alumni association, and organized annual reunions, awards and scholarship programs. She was a snow skier, took flying lessons and enjoyed gliding, and throughout her life Beverly was an enthusiastic athlete, especially enjoying golf, bowling, and swimming. And she managed to travel throughout the United States and twice around the world.Above all, she was an extraordinary and much-loved family matriarch. She is survived by two sisters: Barbara Pitts of Sparks, Nevada, and Gail Stockton of San Diego, six nieces and nephews with whom she remained deeply involved, and nine grand-nieces and nephews. Many of these family members surrounded and cared for her in her final days. All will miss her intensely.In lieu of flowers, those interested are encouraged to make donations in her name to the Santa Paula Union High School Alumni Association, P.O. Box 6, Santa Paula, CA 93060. Donations will be used to fund a scholarship for a Santa Paula Union High School student who aspires to become a medical doctor. In her final months Beverly was most inspired by Dr. Michael Tushla. She wanted to ensure that this aspiring young student has the opportunity to earn the medical qualifications he needs such that, combined with a similar work ethic, dedication, and sense of compassion he can further strive to make a similar contribution to the community as “Dr. Mike” does every day.William A. HarrisWilliam A. Harris, 89, of Santa Paula passed away Saturday April 18, 2009. He enjoyed being a Lapidary and a Rock hound.William was born in Bolivar, Missouri on May 26, 1919. He was a retired welder of 55 years.He is preceded in death by his parents Omar Harris and Dolly Mae HarrisWilliam is survived by his son Earl Harris, daughters Jackie Tozier and Jane Harris, grandchildren Debbie Zuccala, Kim Sharp, Mike Harris and 3 great grandchildren, 5 great-great grandchildren.Mr. Harris will be returning to his home town for burial in Missouri at The Hopewell cemetery. Arrangements are under the directions of Skillin-Carroll Mortuary 738 E. Santa Paula St., Santa Paula, CA. (805)525-3391.Robert Huerta PonceSanta PaulaIt is with very heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Robert Huerta Ponce, after a brief and sudden illness, on April 15, 2009, at the age of 80.Born on July 11, 1928, to Jesus Jose and Maria Huerta Ponce, in Rivera, California (now known as Pico Rivera), he was the youngest of 13 children. His death signals the end of that Ponce generation. We take comfort in the knowledge that his family is waiting with open arms for him in Heaven.The child of migrant farm workers, he grew up in a loving, supportive family who valued education so much that the older siblings worked the fields so that their younger brothers and sisters could attend school. Due to that love and support, he attended Whittier High School, and was elected Student Body President before graduating in 1946. In 1946 and 1947, he served in the United States Army after World War II in the occupation of Japan. After he got back from Japan, he attended Whittier College with the help of the G.I. Bill, and served there as Student Body Treasurer. He graduated from Whittier College with a B.A. in Speech Pathology in 1951.In 1952, he began his career in education by teaching Spanish at Santa Paula High School. He was a very popular teacher, counselor and coach who, along with Dick Bryson and Joe Ricards, was famous for the enthusiastic cheer “Give ‘Em the Axe!” on Center Courts and the Boys Gym. He spent 17 glorious years at SPHS as a Spanish, English, ESL and Social Studies teacher, counselor, and tennis coach. The “Campus on the Hill” always held a special place in his heart. He devoted his life to the well-being of his students, and because of his dedication, many of his students have never forgotten him.While teaching at SPHS, he pursued his Masters Degree in Education at Whittier College. Far more importantly, while at Whittier College, he met the love of his life and soulmate, Joanne Bruce (Jodi), whom he married in 1954. Mom and Dad devoted their lives to their family and the education of the youth of this community. They fell in love with Santa Paula, the community, the students and parents. Santa Paula became a place that they could truly call home and the place they chose to raise their children.