Speakers

Karen Betzner (Jim Simkalo's wife) will talk about the nearly 3 weeks that she and Jim spent in and around the Dolomites in June, 2024.  She will show some of Jim’s fabulous photos of the mountains, food and ambiance.  Karen will give a historical background and describe highlights of their trip.

Dick Spotswood Bio: Click Here

Jeff Saperstein Bio: Click Here

Brendan Kearney is a San Francisco native, the son of Irish and Scotch immigrants, having attended St. Ignatius College Preparatory and the University of San Francisco. 

Commissioned in the United States Marine Corps in July 1975. An Infantry Officer, his service spanned the globe to include Command at the Company, Battalion (3d Battalion, 3d Marines), and 4th Marine Regiment to included combat during Operation DESERT STORM. Staff assignments included the U.S. Pacific Command and multiple tours at Headquarter, U. S. Marine Corps. His final assignment as Chief of Staff, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Europe in Stuttgart, Germany. 

Completing 31 years of service with retirement from active duty on 30 June 2006. He and his wife, Katie, currently reside in Santa Rosa, California, from where he periodically appears as an International/Military affairs analyst with San Francisco’s CBS affiliates KPIX and KCBS. 

In addition to a BA from USF, Brendan holds an MS in National Security Strategy from the National War College. He was additionally a recipient of a Fellowship from MIT Center of International Studies in the Seminar XXI Program. 

Past employment has included Senior Management positions in the high-tech industry, consulting, and as a Program Manager for the County of Sonoma administering a Federal Anti-terrorism grant program for the North Bay.  

A Member of the Marines Memorial since 1971, he has previously served on the Board of Directors. He has also served as a Board of Director with two other California based non-profit organizations focused on youth leadership and veterans’ issues. He has been Director of Living Memorial since February 2018.

In 2002, former Sausalito Rotarian Marvin Scott and his wife Trish sold their business of 35 years, their home of 30 years, gave away all of their things - including six truck loads of books - and set off with two bags to experience the world. For a while they had a base in Paris, but they sold it and are now nomads.  Marvin and Trish like to travel to see people and places, not just to see the tourist sights or follow the "circuits".