Gene M. Benedetti, Chairman of the Board for Clover Stornetta Farms, Inc., was born in 1919 and is recognized as one of the region's most dedicated civic leaders. He has served on over two dozen national and regional boards, representing a wide array of philanthropic, civic, educational and community developments, including the University Athletic Association.
Gene graduated from Petaluma High School where he first attained the recognition for being an outstanding athlete. He continued his athletic pursuits, first at Santa Rose Junior College, and then later, at the University of San Francisco where he is a member of their Football Hall of Fame.
His interest and support of athletic activities have been evident throughout the years. He taught physical education and coached football at SRJC, and in 1946, was one of the founders of the Petaluma Leghorns, a semi-professional football squad.
Gene has a long and active relationship with both the SSU Department of Athletics and the University as a whole. He has served as president of the UAA and Clover-Stornetta has been a consistent and extremely generous donor to the Cossack Athletic Program. With the University, he is SSU's national drive chairperson for the Cornerstone Campaign which was launched in 1990 through a major challenge gift of $3 million and has recently surpassed the $20 million goal.
When Gene was told that he was being inducted into the SSU Athletic Hall of Fame, his response was typical. "Oh," he said, "I haven't done that much for you guys."
That's Gene. And that's why we thank him for all of his years of support because yes Gene, you have done a lot for these guys.
