De Anza, CA, OR, WA, Truck Fleet Maintenance Manager
/My time in high school
Attended high school in the
1960s
Overall high school experience
9/10
Grades in high school
B's and C's
Favorite subjects
History / Social Studies, Physical Education, Science, Auto Shop, Metal Shop
Struggled with...
Math, because it just didn't click until years later.
Favorite extracurricular
Sports / Recreation
Life since high school
“To me, being successful means...
Striving to do the best at whatever I do. Leading a positive example for/and watching my children grow up to be good people.”
Attended college / university at
De Anza
Majored in
Automotive Technology
Post-graduate education or training
Computer Technology; many, many vocational training classes; public speaking.
Places lived in US
California, Oregon, Washington
Places lived outside the US
Just while in the Army, Vietnam
Current occupations / past occupations
Past occupations include: Pumping gas, auto mechanic, construction equipment mechanic, Cook, Real Estate Broker, Chimney Sweep, Truck mechanic, Automotive manager, Air Ground Support Equipment manager, etc..
Most recent prior to retiring: Truck Fleet Maintenance Manager
Industries I've worked in
- Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing, and Hunting
- Utilities
- Construction
- Retail Trade
- Transportation and Warehousing
- Real Estate Rental and Leasing
- Management of Companies and Enterprises
- Administrative and Support Services
- Waste Management and Remediation Services
- Other Services (except Public Administration) (e.g. Repair, Salon, Political/Labor orgs, etc.)
- Public Administration (e.g. Government, Police, Judicial, etc.)
Did your education prepare you for your career or occupation?
Yes it helped, but without continuing education I would have been left behind.
Has your education or career/occupation trajectory ever changed? How?
Not in the long run. I took on several changes (real estate, chimney sweeping, cooking) but always came back to my true love of working on vehicles and equipment.
A little introspection...
To me, being successful means...
Striving to do the best at whatever I do. Leading a positive example for/and watching my children grow up to be good people.
My definition of success has not changed over time.
My greatest accomplishment to date and what I’ve learned from it
Retiring with my wife of 44 years. I learned that together we can accomplish anything.
My biggest mistake or regret so far and what I’ve learned from it
Probably moving and changing jobs as much as I have. I learned how much my kids and family mean to me and never to take them or anyone else for granted.
An unexpected event that significantly changed my life and how it impacted me
Returning home from Vietnam was difficult for me. It was like time stood still while I was away and nobody was the same even though they were exactly the same. I traveled around the world, seen and done things nobody would or wanted to understand. I was treated like the war was my fault...I expected something different, but even today I don't know what that was. It's hard to explain because I have never talked about it. I learned to hide my feelings and stay in the background a for a long time.
Anything else you'd like to share?
The three most important things in my life (as old fashion as they sound) are God, Family and Country.
This alumni is open to your questions and follow-ups.
In order to protect anonymity, we will pass along your message and they can choose whether to respond.
