Members

These are micro-biographies of a small sample of our 135 members, paying special note to volunteer organizations whose purpose reflects the teachings of our faith. We also have a People Tour, which shows you pictures of some of our members.
[Ed. note: I had to prod some people before they would list their honors and accomplishments, especially the two outstanding women and Paul Martelli. We don't usually brag.]

Bernadette Burns

Wife, mother of two boys, chiropractor and college teacher by profession, La Leche League Leader, clergy in Earth-based spirituality, artist, composer, ceremonialist.

Chuck Roth

Teacher; president, Post-Polio Support Group; president, Tourette Syndrome Association; treasurer, Amnesty International.

Elaine Arnold

Wife with two outstanding daughters; Peace Corps Volunteer, Thailand, 1972-75; formerly childbirth educator, Girl Scout Executive Staff member, and now a custom decorator. Plays string bass in several orchestras; loves cooking, reading, quilting and needlework.

Fred Herman

Retired movie/feature writer, Modesto Bee; speaker; traveler.

Gary Wheeler

Architect, CAD designer/illustrator, builder, history buff, WWII Re-enactor.

Jim Robison

Zen meditator, massage practitioner, CPA, closet pagan.

Jim Sparkman

Father, husband, therapist, business owner, semi-professional vacationer.

Martin J. Zonligt

Curriculum Chair, MICL (Modesto Institute for Continuing Learning), retired reference librarian, Sierra Club activist.

Mary Menz

Retired state worker, past president of NOW, People for Choice and Women's Network. Named one of ten Outstanding Women of Stanislaus County, 1987. Loves to dance.

Paul Martelli

volunteered for the Marine Corps in World War II. He flew over 80 missions and earned three Distinguished Flying Crosses before he was old enough to vote, flying a Grumman Hellcat in a night fighter squadron in the South Pacific.
The Korean War broke out when he was in law school. Recalled to service, he flew about 20 missions in his F4U Corsair when he was shot down by ground fire over North Korea. That earned him a Purple Heart and 29 months in a POW camp. Repatriated, he finished law school and became a Unitarian, following his lovely wife, Mariesta, a life-long Unitarian.
[Paul passed on in 2009, but he is with us in spirit.]

Sharon Arpoika

Children's librarian, past president of Stanislaus NOW and Oakdale AAUW. Named one of ten Outstanding Women of Stanislaus County, 1982.

Ted Heuring

Mentor, Host Program, Turlock; Secretary/Treasurer Post Polio Group; "Man Friday", Oakdale Public Library; Secretary, Oakdale Lions Club; Oakdale Citizen of the Year, 2002; retired geophysicist.

Ted Pack

Peace Corps Volunteer, Sarawak, 1971 - 1972; Assistant Troop Leader, GSA, 1989 - 1996; computer programmer.

Victoria Caldwell

Gardener, amateur house restoration, food scientist.