Delta advocates, Marine, 106, teen with 'caring heart': Stockton remembers 10 people we lost in 2022

Ben Irwin, The Record
·6 min read

A city is defined by its people, and many have left their mark on Stockton over the years. Several influential Stocktonians passed away in 2022, but their local legacies live on.

Some are remembered for their achievements in life — a name cemented on the crosstown freeway,  a collection of hundreds of thousands of Valentine’s Day cards, foundations left in their stead or stories of their relentless work ethic, activism or kindness.

Others were taken before their life’s work was finished — or had barely begun. The slayings of a local high school freshman and a fire captain brought the Stockton community together in mourning, remembrance and reflection.

Alycia Reynaga

Stockton lost 15-year-old Stagg High School freshman Alycia Reynaga April 18 when she was killed on campus by a trespasser.

Some 750 Stocktonians came to Cathedral of the Annunciation to celebrate Reynaga’s life and lay her to rest.

Her death shed light on safety measure issues at Stockton Unified School District.

More:Judge orders release of prison mental health records in Stagg killing case

Bill Jennings in his Stockton home.
Bill Jennings in his Stockton home.

Bill Jennings

A water advocate for over three decades and a defender of Delta fisheries, Bill Jennings, 79, passed away Dec. 27.

Jennings was a co-founder of local nonprofit Restore the Delta and served as executive director at California Sportfishing Protection Alliance. In January Jennings was inducted into the California Outdoors Hall of Fame.

Jennings generated millions of dollars for Delta restoration projects. County Chairman Chuck Winn said he was responsible for defeating multiple iterations of the Delta Tunnel Project.

“His activism and legacy will leave a lasting impact on water policy and projects in our region for many years to come,” Winn said in a statement. “He will truly be missed.”

Bill White

A retired U.S. Marine and recipient of over 300,000 Valentine's Day Cards, Bill White died in March at age 106.

White was thought to be the oldest living Marine before his death. He received the Purple Heart for injuries sustained during the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945 and later served during the Korean War.

White started Operation Valentine in 2020 with the goal of receiving 10,000 Valentine’s Day cards for his memorabilia collection. He received 14,000 in a single day and ended up with over 300,000.

“I wasn’t expecting anything like this,” he told USA Today. “It hit me like a ton of bricks. I still can’t get over it.”

File photo - Dino Cortopassi was surprised on Dec. 9, 2005 at his home with the news that he had been chosen as the Stocktonian of the Year. Presenting him with the message in a bottle is Linda Roybal. In back left is his wife Joan Cortopassi, and in back right is former winner Joe Crane.
File photo - Dino Cortopassi was surprised on Dec. 9, 2005 at his home with the news that he had been chosen as the Stocktonian of the Year. Presenting him with the message in a bottle is Linda Roybal. In back left is his wife Joan Cortopassi, and in back right is former winner Joe Crane.

Dean ‘Dino’ Cortopassi

Agricultural leader, 2005 Stocktonian of the Year and “giant of a man,” Dean “Dino” Cortopassi died in February at age 84 after complications from a stroke.

“He did so much for this community in so many areas — education, agriculture, protecting the water of the Delta area,” former Greater Stockton Chamber of Commerce CEO Doug Wilhoit said in February.

Cortopassi, the son of an immigrant farmer, invested in agribusiness ventures like Stanislaus Food Products, Gilroy Canning, Sierra Quality Canners, Muir Glen Organic Tomatoes and Corto Olive. He was a pioneer in vineyard-style olive farming.

Cortopassi also started numerous local charities, including the Wetlands Preservation Foundation and the JobRedi Foundation to provide assistance to high school graduates.

Ernie Marcopulos

Ernie Marcopulos, former basketball coach, athletic director and namesake of San Joaquin Delta College's Marcopulos Gym died Nov. 2. He was 96.

"He was a go-getter, I mean he was aggressive in the sense that he wanted to be successful and he wanted to win," said Rob DeWitt, Marcopulos' successor as head coach of Delta College men's basketball. "Our relationship was good and Ernie was very loyal and he would have your back on things."

As Delta College's athletic director from 1974 to 1996, Marcopulos was a strong proponent for Title IX and created equal opportunities for young women interested in intercollegiate athletics. An administrator ahead of his time, he implemented 11 women's sports at the college in 1979.

A photo of J. Foster Fluetsch, (circa 1983) former president of American Savings and Loan in Stockton.
A photo of J. Foster Fluetsch, (circa 1983) former president of American Savings and Loan in Stockton.

J. Foster Fluetsch

Former American Savings and Loan President J. Foster Fluetsch died in February at age 85.

Nearly four decades ago, the businessman and philanthropist led the Stockton-based State Savings and Loan through its transformation into the largest savings and loan in the United States.

“We had 6,000 employees at (the savings and loan), and I think everybody there knew Foster and absolutely loved him,” Sheri Reiman-Estes, a former colleague of Fluetsch said. “I can’t imagine the world without him.”

American Savings and Loan was once Stockton's largest private employer in the 1980’s with 1,800 employees.

Max Fortuna

Stockton Fire Capt. Vidal “Max” Fortuna, 47, was fatally shot on Jan. 31 as fire crews worked a dumpster fire near Independence Park.

Fortuna’s death shocked the community, and his memorial service overflowed with love for the fallen firefighter. Those who gathered told stories of a man whose life was devoted to three pillars: faith, family and being a fireman.

“Today we honor a leader, a hero and a man who was deeply loved,” Stockton Mayor Kevin Lincoln said at Fortuna’s Feb. 6 memorial service. “That is how Capt. Max Fortuna will always be remembered.”

Robert Somerville, the man charged in Fortuna’s death, could face a jury trial as early as Jan. 10, 2023.

More:Jury selection begins next year in death of Stockton Fire Capt. Max Fortuna

Mike Calosso shows some of the asparagus boxes that are made at Calosso & Son, a business that makes boxes, April 20, 2005 in Stockton.
Mike Calosso shows some of the asparagus boxes that are made at Calosso & Son, a business that makes boxes, April 20, 2005 in Stockton.

Michael Calosso

Michael “Mike” John Calosso, 79, died in March after a lifetime of serving San Joaquin Valley farmers through his family’s nearly century-old agricultural business.

His eldest daughter, Brenda Pozzo, said Calosso had a tough exterior, but on the inside he was “a big teddy bear.”

When M. Calosso & Son’s building on Miner Avenue caught fire on the Fourth of July in 2013, the company’s suppliers raced to replace damaged materials within a day — a testament to Calosso’s rock-solid business relationships, Calosso’s son-in-law, Jeff King, said.

The Lead family, brother-in-law Ryan Leabo, left, son Joey Silbey, daughter Kelli Lewin, mother Vorginias Leabo, brother Brad Leabo and sister-in-law A gala Hayes Leabo pose for a picture during a renaming ceremony at the McNair High School pool in Stockton on Thursday, April 28. 2022. Late water polo coach Mike Leabo died of natural causes on January 13 of natural causes.

Mike Leabo

Stockton aquatics legend and longtime water polo coach Mike Leabo died Jan. 13.

A coach for over 35 years at Stockton staples like St. Mary’s High school, the Boys & Girls Club, Spanos Duck Teams, Big Valley Water Polo and San Joaquin Delta College, Leabo was commemorated April 28 with the renaming of its pool.

“He was just very positive, he was always encouraging his athletes,” Nathan Varosh, one of Leabo’s athletes, said in April. “He had a great knowledge of the game and just a really amazing skill set to connect with kids and teach them the game.”

Wilhelmina Henry

Stockton Unified School District’s first Black teacher Wilhelmina Henry died April 2 at age 102.

Henry spent decades as an educator, counselor, mentor and cherished neighbor. She moved to Stockton from South Carolina in the 1940s, and her dedication, impact and love for the community made her a Stocktonian.

Wilhelmina Henry made history when she was hired as Stockton's first-ever black teacher in 1946 and paved the way for teachers of other races who came after. In 2015, SUSD honored her for her 95th birthday. Here she is seen on Jan. 12, 2015.
Wilhelmina Henry made history when she was hired as Stockton's first-ever black teacher in 1946 and paved the way for teachers of other races who came after. In 2015, SUSD honored her for her 95th birthday. Here she is seen on Jan. 12, 2015.

“Love is the answer,” was her popular motto throughout her career and life’s work. She praised her students, applauded their success and established positive family-like relationships with them.

“That is the only thing that works,” Henry said. “Negative comments do nothing but destroy — adults and children.”

This article originally appeared on The Record: Stockton remembers those lost in 2022: Delta advocates to fire captain