Jeff Simonides

Jeff Simonides was born and raised in San Diego. He graduated from Herbert Hoover High School in 1976, and attended Miramar College, San Diego City College and National University studying fire science and criminal justice.

Simonides is a former fire chief and earned several life saving citations. He is the owner and operator of an electrical contracting business. Simonides has been a certified mediator and has served with the Restorative Justice Program and San Diego Legal Aid, where he also works on conflict resolution within the juvenile justice system, both criminal and civil.

Simonides is a certified firearms instructor, and …

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Catherine Fiorelli

Fiorelli attended the University of Arizona, and is a graduate of Northern Arizona University, where she earned a Bachelor’s Degree of Science with a double major in Criminal Justice and Psychology, graduating Magna Cum Laude.

She worked as a Court Clerk at the Flagstaff Municipal Court in Flagstaff, Ariz., before moving to San Diego in July 2000 to pursue a Masters Degree in Forensic Science. She currently is General Manager of Evergreen Mortuary, Cemetery & Crematory in Tucson, Ariz.

Fiorelli is a Licensed California Cemetery Manager, Cemetery Broker and Funeral Director. She enjoys spending her free time with her miniature …

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Victoria A. Nenner

A Vietnam era veteran, Victoria A. Nenner served four years as a staff and charge nurse in an Air Force hospital at Tachikawa AFB, Japan, where she treated soldiers wounded in battle. She met her late husband, Paul, while serving in Japan. She left active duty as a captain, and continued in the reserves until 1977.

Nenner comes from a long line of nurses – her grandmother, mother, uncle and sister were all nurses, and another sister is a physician. She earned a Bachelor’s degree in nursing science at Texas Woman’s University, Denton, Tex., and a Master’s degree in family …

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George Fellows

George Fellows is a native of the Pacific Northwest. He graduated from Yakima High School in 1947, and received a congressional appointment to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, N.Y., that same year. He graduated from Kings Point in 1951, receiving a BS degree in Nautical Science, a commission in the U.S. Navy Reserve, and a Coast Guard license to sail as an officer on any steam or motor vessel of unlimited tonnage in any ocean.

He sailed as a deck officer with American Export Lines until late 1952, when he volunteered for active Navy duty during the …

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Brigadier General Robert L. Cardenas, USAF (Ret.)

General Cardenas began his military career in 1939 as an Army Air Corps Aviation Cadet. By 1944, he was a B-24 bomber pilot with the 8th Air Force. While leading a squadron of bombers on his 20th mission over Germany, his aircraft was shot down. Cardenas managed to evade capture, and entered neutral Switzerland, where he was interned with other Allied airmen. He eventually escaped from the camp and—guided by partisans—made his way to Paris, arriving before D-Day. After hooking up with U.S. troops, he returned to the United States.

By 1947, Cardenas was Project Operations Officer on the Super …

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Col. Galen Seal, USAF (Ret.)

Born in Topeka, Kansas in 1932. Attended Washburn University from 1950 to1953. Transferred to University of Colorado where he graduated with a BS in Business/Marketing and a commission in the USAF. Attended flight school and received his wings in 1955 and was assigned to Ashiya AFB, Japan where he served as a troop carrier pilot until 1957. He continued serving in the USAFR for a total of 23 years of service, retiring as a Colonel.

Col. Seal earned a Masters degree in Speech Communications (MS) from the University of Denver. He has owned and operated several businesses, including office furniture, …

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Dr. Gary G. Parks, USCGR

Dr. Parks served on the Miramar National Cemetery Support Foundation Board since its inception. He was elected President and CEO in 2008. He died February 4, 2014, from complications of surgery. He was 70. Born in Thayer, Missouri on January 21, 1944, Dr. Gary Parks had a long and distinguished career. He served in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve from 1961 to 1969. Following college, Dr. Parks entered the field of law enforcement and retired in 1986 from the San Diego Harbor Police. He earned a Doctorate in Education from Alliant International University, a Masters degree from United States International …

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Benjamin Lawrence

Benjamin Lawrence, LtCol, USNC (Ret.) was born on April 26, 1944 in Atlanta Georgia. He received a BS degree in biological science from San Jose State and MA degree in business management from Webster University.

He served as a Park Ranger at Grand Canyon from whence he joined the USMC in 1966. Ben was commissioned a second lieutenant on April 1, 1968 and was directed to the Army Helicopter School. He received his Army wings in December, 1968 and was reassigned to MCAS (H) Santa Ana, CA, where he was designated a Naval Aviator. Ben was sent to Vietnam in …

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Dr. Tom Splitgerber

Tom Splitgerber, CAPT, USN (Ret.) assumed the position of County Veterans Service Officer May 23, 2003. Previously he was Chief Executive Officer of the Veterans Museum & Memorial Center located in Balboa Park, San Diego. He developed an on-going working relationship with the San Diego County Veterans Service Office, the VA Healthcare Systems San Diego, VA Regional Office San Diego and California Department of Veterans Affairs in Sacramento.

Dr. Splitgerber concurrently held the position of local exhibit manager of the World War II through Russian Eyes exhibit located in Balboa Park from February 1999 through July 1999. He spent 30 …

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Guy Stroscher

Guy attended Iowa State University where he received Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts degrees. After graduating from Iowa State, he began a career in Aerospace and Defense, while also engaging in real estate transactions. He joined the Board of Directors in 2005, and served for five years. In 2010, he became a Director Emeritus when he left the Board to attend law school.    He received his Juris Doctorate in 2014. Guy resides in Austin, Texas.

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John G. Ibe, USN

John G. Ibe was involved in the early stages of securing additional space in San Diego County for what would become the Miramar National Cemetery. He worked very hard in this effort and was a prime mover in getting the facilities located, funded. He was active with the early stages of the Fort Rosecrans and Miramar National Cemetery Support Foundation, serving as a Chairman until his death in June 2006 at age 86.

Mr. Ibe was born on December 18, 1921 in Sheboygan, Wis. In 1943, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy as an apprentice Seaman. He was a WWII …

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Col. Jesse Ugalde, USA (Ret.)

While serving as State Directors of Veterans Affairs, Col. Jesse Ugalde served on a committee of veterans evaluating the creation of an additional veterans’ cemetery within San Diego County. Years of meetings, negotiations, inspections, and agreements resulted in the new Miramar National Cemetery. Col. Ugalde was one of the first members of the newly formed Fort Rosecrans and Miramar National Cemetery Support Foundation, serving as a member of the Board of Directors until his retirement. He died July 10, 2011, at the age of 91.

Born in Oak Creek, Colo., 21 November 1921, He earned a BS from the University …

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