Foster City Community Wall of Fame

The Mayor and City Council of Foster City thank you for joining us in honoring community members who have earned a place on the Foster City Community of Wall of Fame. The Community Wall of Fame publicly acknowledges the contributions of individuals who have given significant, long-term service to the City of Foster City. Honorees are nominated by members of the public during an annual nomination period.

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Clark A. Barrett (2004) Member of City Council · Member of the Board for the Estero Municipal Improvement District · Member of the Board for the Foster City Community Development Agency, · Served on several Council Sub-Committees · A member of Foster City Friends of the Library Board from 1994-2004, served as President during a major fundraising campaign raising over $350,000 to help furnish the new library · Served as Advocacy Chair responsible for making formal presentations to elected government officials about library issues  · A primary participant of the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors Library Task Force from 1995-1996.

Jack Burleson (2007) · Member Foster City Parks & Recreation Committee · Member 55+ Senior Club · Veteran US Navy WWII · Member San Mateo Elks Lodge Veteran Affairs · Past member/president of Foster City Kiwanis. Mr. Burleson has made the following contributions: · Advocate for Foster City Summer Concerts, and is part of the Summer Concert Resource Group. · Ad Hoc Citizens Cable Television Committee Member in 1996 · Cable TV Committee Member from 1997 to 1999 · Served on the Foster City Parks & Recreation Committee for 4 years (term ends December 2007) · Coordinates Senior Wing Movie Day at the Recreation Center every Thursday · As a member of 55+ Senior Club, solicited donations for senior programs.

Roger Chinn (2002) · Served as Planning Commissioner and Chair · Active member of Lions Club · Co-Founded Foster City Blood Bank Reserve · Member of numerous agencies and organizations such as Foster City Chinese Club, Foreman of San Mateo County Civic Grand Jury, Advisory Council for San Mateo County Economic Development Association and more

Bill Chow (2007) · Member and President-elect of the Foster City Rotary Club · Member of the Foster City Chamber of Commerce (currently the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Chamber) · Member of the Board of Directors for Hillbarn Theater. Mr. Chow has made the following contributions: · Conceived and implemented the Oktoberfest and Ribfest fundraising campaigns. These programs help to raise funds to provide scholarships to Foster City students, as well as support Foster City public schools. · Participated in many Rotary Foundation Matching Grants to aid people all over the world. · Served on the Board of Directors for Hillbarn Theater for the last 6 years, and has been active on the “Raise the Roof” Campaign to provide the theater with a new roof. He also helped find a partner Rotary Club in Mazatlan, Mexico to benefit a disabled children’s drama program at Hillbarn resulting in a $35,000 gift to the theater. Active PTA member, volunteer reader and room parent at Brewer Island Elementary School. He also started the Brewer Island Lunch Canopy Program to provide the school grounds with a canopy to cover the lunch benches. Also serves as chairman of the school Technology Committee to implement use of computers in the school

Jane Clay (2006) · Member of the Foster City 55+ Club for over 25 years, Member of the Red Hat Society Sail Along Reds 2 years, Original member of the Senior Citizen Advisory Committee, Girl Scout Leader for 15 years. Ms. Clay has made the following contributions: · Served as Foster City 55+ Club President or Vice President since 1994, bringing entertainment and socializing to the senior community · Organized senior trips and tours - the Mystery Trips and Garbeau Dinner Theater that Jane helped coordinate are particularly popular · Dedicated volunteer for Foster City Parks & Recreation events, such as the Halloween Festival · Jane is a strong advocate of our senior programs, encouraging seniors to attend educational seminars and events such as the annual Firefighter barbeque · Donates crib quilts several times a month to the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford · Contributed to the research of the Senior Wing construction and furnishings Jane feels that “everyone should contribute to society”

Marcia Cohn-Lyle (2002) · Served on Arts and Culture Committee for 3 years · Served on Education Committee for 7 years · Served as SMUHSD trustee for 7 years · Member of Rotary Club, Foster City Historical Society, Chamber of Commerce “Leadership Received” and more · Volunteer of the Year at Foster City Library

Rick Damelio (2002) · San Mateo-Foster City School District Superintendent · Worked on developing a ten-year strategic plan for Foster City schools · Instrumental in negotiating an agreement with Foster City to build a new elementary school as a result Brewer Island opened as a year-round school · Worked to develop joint use agreement to obtain funding, and to keep up-to-date to meet challenges of the future

Marie H. Davis (2002) · NAACP President of San Mateo Chapter which also serves Foster City · Elected member of San Mateo County Democratic Central Committee for ten 2-year terms · President of Foster City School PTA · Member of numerous committees including Beautification Committee, Arts & Culture Committee, Friends of the Library, and more · The Davis Family honored as “Family of the Year” by San Mateo Service Agency

Carl H. Dittmar, Jr. (2002) · Planning Commissioner and also served as Planning Commission Chair · Served on Traffic Committee, Bicentennial Commission and Chaired Blood Bank for 12 years · Implemented first Flu Clinic · Voted Foster City Citizen of the Year in 1992 · Active in Lions Club from 1970-1999 · This outstanding community member passed away in 1999, and Foster City lost one of its best.

Sam Felser (2002) · Founded and publishes the Foster City Islander, a free weekly paper · Brought a non-partisan view of the start-up problems in the early years of Foster City’s history by publishing both sides of the story · Provides a service by publishing events and information for clubs, sports and associations for 29 years in the Islander, in effect providing a “Community Billboard” for citizens · A member of the Lions Club

Robert Fitzgerald, Sr. (2002) · Involved in youth baseball, youth soccer and countless events at Audubon Elementary and Bowditch Middle schools · Served as member of Building Code Committee · Member of Planning Commission · Member of City Council, also served as Vice-Mayor, and served as Mayor

Neil Gabbay (2002) · Planning Commission Member and Planning Commission Chair · Member of the Lions Club · Co-Chaired the Summer Concert Series in Leo Ryan Park · Actively involved in AYSO soccer coaching and then refereeing until he passed away in 2001. Foster City lost a dedicated community citizen.

Bette B. Garcia-Martinson (2002) · Started the Junior Library League · Candidate for City Council. Assisted four people in Council election and assisted husband Riho Martinson in Council election who subsequently served as Mayor. · Served on the Arts and Culture Committee, the Beautification Committee and the Education Committee · Board member of Hillbarn Theatre, Library and Chamber of Commerce. · Currently an active Volunteer in the Senior Wing of the Recreation Center · Actively serving on the Foster City Historical Society Board

Dr. Jon B. Grant (2003) · Conceived and implements Halloween Safe Streets program · Work to help eliminate graffiti in Foster City · Writes Rotary Foundation Matching Grants to aid people all over the world. · Wrote a Blane Immunization Grant to benefit the Samaritan House Medical Clinic · Collects coats and blankets during the “One Warm Coat” drives · Reads to third graders at Brewer Island Elementary School · Served as Santa Claus during the Foster City Tree Lighting the last 10-12 years

Eileen Larsen (2002) · Involved in Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, and AYSO activities · First woman elected to City Council, served from 1974-1976 · Served on Bicentennial Committee · Served on the Library Board · In the nineties, she again served on the City Council as Councilmember, Vice-Mayor and Mayor before retiring from her political career in 1999.

Evelyn Long (2003) · Member of San Mateo County Commission of the Status of Women · Served on board of 55 Plus Club and serves as President · Served as Chair of the Foster City Arts and Culture Committee and Senior Advisory Committee · Member of the Chinese Culture Club · Past Chair of the Board of the American Red Cross where she was an educator for Safety and Disaster Preparedness for the County · Volunteer in her capacity as a registered nurse at the Samaritan House Free Clinic

Kiyoshi Matsuo (2002) · Served on Foster City Architectural & Site Planning and Review Board · Served on City Council as Councilmember and as Mayor · Upon retiring, with 11 years of service, he was the longest-serving Councilmember in the City’s history

Wayne McFadden (2002) · Coached/managed Little League and AYSO · Scout Master for Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts · Served as first Mayor and first Planning Commission Chair and setup Chamber of Commerce · Charter member of Lions Club

Mike S. Mooney (2004) · A Foster City Pioneer purchasing one of the first homes in Foster City · An honored guest of Incorporation Day of Foster City in May 1971 · Served as President of the Foster City Lions Club · Served on Bicentennial Commission in 1976 · Past President and Director for the Foster City Chamber of Commerce· Named Volunteer of the Year in 1983 by the Foster City Chamber of Commerce· Involved with Pop Warner football, girls softball and Little League· Was instrumental in the installation of public convenience signs around Foster City, and the publication of “A New Town Comes of Age: Foster City” in 1985, an 80 page history book ·Worked countless volunteer hours for numerous organizations, receiving recognition for his civic work from Congressman Leo J. Ryan, Senator Quentin L. Kopp, and the Board of Supervisors of San Mateo County

Ollie Pattum (2006)  · Member of Foster City Rotary Club since 1979 · Served on Foster City Planning Commission since 2002 · Served on the Parks & Recreation Resource committee for last 10 years. Mr. Pattum has made the following contributions: · Member of the Foster City Rotary Club for over 25 years, serving as President in 1994-1995 (Foster City Rotary won “Best Club” in their District at that time) · Implemented Halloween Safe Streets program in his neighborhood for past 5 years · Helped build houses for Habitat for Humanity · Assisted Lions and Rotarians in building the new stage in the meadow of Leo Ryan Park · Foster City Parks & Recreation Volunteer of the Year 1997 · Recipient of the City of Foster City “Honors Award” in 2003 · Traveled with Foster City Rotarians and Interact students to Ensenada, Mexico for last 11 years to deliver playground equipment and medical supplies · Traveled to Louisiana with other Rotary members after the devastation of Hurricane Katrina to help install cabinets at Rainbow Day Care so parents of underprivileged children could get back to work

Bill Stewart (2005) · Advisory Member of BDPA – Black Leadership Group for Information Technology, Twenty-year Life Member of the San Mateo Branch NAACP, Member of the Leadership Board for Silicon Valley Rainbow/Trade Bureau. Mr. Stewart has made the following contributions: · Recognized by The Black Enterprise in 1996 as one of the Ten Most Significant Computer Technology Innovators in the country · Served several years on the Board of Santa Clara County Black Chamber of Commerce, and was instrumental in implementing computer training at the African American Service Center in San Jose · Personally donated scholarships to deserving high school students attending the San Mateo Union High School District · San Francisco Bay Area voted for Bill in 2001 as “Entrepreneur of the Year” by City Flight Magazine · Worked as an Aerospace Engineer for NASA performing heat shield research for vehicles re-entering the earth’s atmosphere from space · As a member of the Millennium Group (SEI), has effected a support system for African American youth in Foster City and other neighborhoods in San Mateo County

Carol S. Torgerson (2005) · Member of Foster City Chamber of Commerce for almost 20 years · Member of Foster City Rotary Club · 2004 graduate of the Foster City Citizens Academy, and a 2005 graduate of the Leadership Program sponsored by the San Mateo Area Chamber Ms. Torgerson has made the following contributions: · Served on the Foster City Chamber of Commerce board from 1987 to 1993 · In 1995 volunteered countless hours working in the Foster City Arts & Wine Festival Headquarters for the first time on her own · From 2003-2005 handled all the logistics for the annual Foster City Arts & Wine Festival, including contracts, sponsorship, vendor applications, entertainment, volunteers, countless meetings, security, and clean-up · From the beginning, 2002, Carol submitted all permits, took care of income and all financial responsibilities for the Rotary Club of Foster City’s largest fundraiser, Oktoberfest · As Foster City business owner of PIP Printing for 15 years, she began sponsoring the Foster City Summer Concerts. To date, she and her husband continue to sponsor this well-attended event.

Rick Wykoff (2002) · Coached a Girls Softball team and worked with Boy Scouts · Member of Rotary Club and served a term as President · Served Foster City for 17 years as City Manager · Currently serving as City Councilmember