ANTIOCH – On Friday August 11, 2023 Governor Newsom appointed Richard Hobin of Antioch to the 23rd District Agricultural Association, Contra Costa County Fair Board of Directors.

Hobin has been the owner and an attorney at Hobin & Hobin LLP since 1977. He served at the rank of O-3 in the U.S. Navy in 1974. Hobin is a member of the Lone Tree Golf Course Board of Directors, the Contra Costa County Bar Association, the California State Bar Association, the Federal Bar Association, and the Rotary Club of the Delta.

He earned a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco.

Fair CEO Joe Brengle stated that he is excited to have Hobin as a Board Member.

The next Contra Costa County Fair Board of Directors meeting is scheduled for September 13, 2023. For noard meeting agendas visit the Fair’s website at www.contracostafair.com.

Mark your calendars for the 2024 Contra Costa County Fair May 16 – 19, with the theme “To FAIR and Beyond”.

Former business owner, long-time Rotarian, co-founder of Antioch Sports Legends and the Leo Fontana Lifetime Achievement Foundation

By Allen D. Payton

It was announced by several Antioch organizations on Monday, August 14, 2023, that long-time resident, two-time Citizen of the Year and former Councilman Leo Fontana passed away on Sunday. He turned 100 years old earlier this year.

The Antioch Rotary Club of which he was a long-time member posted a message on their Facebook page which reads, “It’s with great sadness to let you know that long time Antioch Rotarian Leo Fontana has passed away. Our condolences to Leo’s family. He will be greatly missed.” They also shared several photos of members with Fontana and mentioned his Leo Fontana Lifetime Achievement Foundation benefiting youth in Antioch. An annual trivia night fundraiser is held and the winning team is awarded The Leo Trophy.

A brief message posted on the Facebook page for the Antioch Historical Museum, where the Antioch Sports Legends wing is located, reads simply, “We grieve the passing of Leo Fontana” and later “A legend in so many ways.”

On the Facebook page of the Antioch Sports Legends, which Fontana co-founded, the following was posted about him:

“It is with a heavy heart that the Antioch Sports Legends Program, shares the passing of Antioch Sports Legends Hall of Fame Community Sports Leader inductee and Co-Founder Leo Fontana.

Our condolences go out to his daughter Andrea, Family and Friends.

Leo Fontana’s bio from his 2008 Antioch Sports Legends Hall of Fame induction.

If it existed, Leo could easily claim the title of ‘Father of Modern Antioch.’ His behind-the-scenes involvement goes back six decades. He had a hand in bringing County East Mall, East County Bank, Delta Memorial Hospital and the Antioch Senior Citizens Center into existence. He’s served on the boards of several local charities and organizations. Antioch’s voters elected him to the Antioch City Council, on which he served from 1982-1986. He was also an Antioch Planning Commissioner, Parks and Recreation Commissioner and Charter President of the Antioch Merchants Association. The Chamber of Commerce honored him twice as Antioch Citizen of the Year. Leo might easily be called the ‘Cal Ripken, Jr.’ of service club members. He has a perfect attendance record of 29 years with the Lions Club and since 1978 with the Rotary Club of Antioch. Sports and recreation programs in the city all seem to trace their origins back to Leo. He participated in the creation of the Antioch Hornets football team, Lob Ball League, Antioch Softball League and Antioch Babe Ruth Baseball, for which he served as its first president. An athlete himself, Leo played catcher for the Antioch Merchants team and left halfback for the Antioch Alumni Football team in the late 1940s and early 1950s. He was chairman of a committee that created a new corporation to run the Antioch Municipal Golf Course, and helped found the Antioch Bocce Ball League. His love of sports and his community led to his involvement in assisting in the creation of the Antioch Sports Legends Program and display in 2007, for which he was honored, with the other four founders, as Antioch Citizens of the Year.

Leo was 100 years old.

Funeral services for Leo to be announced!”

Fontana was also honored with a Key to the City by the Antioch City Council, during Mayor Wade Harper’s term. The Leo Fontana Fountain at City Hall was first dedicated in 1987, then redesigned, rebuilt and rededicated last year.

Publisher’s Note: Leo was my sponsor when I first joined the Antioch Rotary Club in 1994 and was a mentor and advisor to me while I served on the city council. Leo was my long-time friend, and we had the chance to meet one final time, last year as I brought him copies of the latest issues of the paper. We spoke about what was happening in, and he shared his concerns about, the city for which he cared, so much. Leo left an indelible mark on Antioch. He truly lived the Rotary International official mottoes of Service Above Self and One Profits Most Who Serves Best. Leo will be missed.

By Antioch Police Department

After 30 years of service, Sergeant Steve Aiello has retired. Sergeant Aiello began his career in June of 1992 serving the citizens of Antioch as a Reserve Police Officer. In June of 1999, Steve Aiello graduated the police academy and was promoted to the rank of police officer where he proudly served for the next 24 years.

During his career, Sergeant Aiello worked as a member of the Special Response Unit, Auto Theft Investigator, Narcotics/Vice Detective, Gang Unit, Community Engagement Team and a member of the Rifle team. As a detective, he was awarded the Medal of Valor in 2012 for his participation of a robbery/homicide investigation.

In 2017, he was promoted to the Rank of Corporal where he supervised numerous patrol teams, the Crisis Negotiations Team and helped purchase and design the department’s first Mobile Command Vehicle.

Sergeant Aiello served 17 years as part of the Antioch Police Officer’s Association (APOA) holding every position to include POA President for the last 4 of those years. His biggest accomplishment while serving the POA was the purchase, design and overseeing the yearlong construction of our new POA building for current and future members to enjoy.

In 2022, he was promoted to the rank of Sergeant where he has served proudly and honorably until retiring.

Enjoy your well-deserved retirement, Sergeant Aiello. Thank you for your service and you will be missed.

By Antioch Police Department

After 25 years of distinguished law enforcement service, Captain Trevor Schnitzius retired on August 4, 2023.

Trevor grew up and attended school in the City of Vallejo where he threw shot put and discus for his high school track team. After high school, he attended Diablo Valley College, where he earned an Associate’s degree before transferring to CSU Sacramento. There, he completed his Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice.

Trevor was hired by the City of Antioch in 1998, shortly after graduating from Sacramento State, as a police trainee and attended the Police Academy at Los Medanos College. While many of Trevor’s family members chose to serve as firefighters, he found police work to be more interesting and exciting and chose Antioch.

During his service with APD, he has worked patrol, as a Detective, as a Field Training Officer, as a member of our Honor Guard, a defensive tactics instructor and as a member of our social media team. Trevor has served as our VIPS Coordinator as well as being heavily involved with our Cadet program for over 18 years (his oldest son also served as a Police Cadet and is now a Community Service Officer). Trevor is also involved in his community and has also coached water polo and wrestling.

We wish Trevor plenty of time with his family in retirement and we will deeply miss someone who has been such a big part of this department for so long.

By Marisa Greenberg, Marketing & Communications Coordinator, 4CD

MARTINEZ, California – The Contra Costa Community College District (4CD) has selected Dr. Tony Wold as the next Associate Vice Chancellor, Chief Financial Officer (AVC CFO). Following a nationwide search that began in May 2023, the 4CD Governing Board will vote on ratification of his contract at their August 9, 2023, meeting.

“We are excited to welcome Dr. Tony Wold to 4CD. He brings an impressive amount of experience in finance, public education, labor negotiations, and bond programs. He embodies a student-first approach, complementing our focus on student equity and success,” shared Executive Vice Chancellor of Administrative Services Dr. Micaela Ochoa.

For the past year, Dr. Wold served as Chief Business Officer in Residence for School Innovations & Achievement, where he focused on rebuilding systems to bring students back into schools while addressing the learning loss and changes in attendance behaviors resulting from the pandemic. He recently served as Associate Superintendent, Business Services, for West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD), where he oversaw the daily operations and management of accounting, budget, purchasing, payroll, employee benefits, labor relations, school operations, athletics, safety, warehouse, transportation, nutrition services, and risk management. He also helped lead the passage of WCCUSD’s $575 million Measure R Bond in March 2020, and overcoming a $49.9 million structural deficit to restore the WCCUSD budget certification.

“I am excited to join the 4CD team and support their vision of a college-going culture for its diverse student population,” said Wold. “Community colleges are essential in providing an affordable and quality higher education given the changing job market locally and across the world, and I look forward to helping 4CD successfully achieve that mission.”

Dr. Wold received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California (USC), his School Business Management Certification and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership at USC. He also earned Chief Business Official certifications from the Council of Great City Schools, and Lead Negotiators certification from the School Employers Association of California (SEAC).

The Contra Costa Community College District (4CD) is one of the largest multi-college community college districts in California. The 4CD serves 1.2 million residents, and its boundaries encompass all but 48 of the 734-square-mile land area of Contra Costa County. 4CD is home to Contra Costa College in San Pablo, Diablo Valley College with campuses in Pleasant Hill and San Ramon, and Los Medanos College with campuses in Pittsburg and Brentwood. The District headquarters is located in downtown Martinez. Each college is individually accredited by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges. For more information visit www.4cd.edu.

By Antioch Unified School District

Please join us in welcoming Mr. Tim Cooper to his new position as Director of Student Support Services.

Mr. Cooper or “Coop,” as many students and staff affectionately call him, has been with the Antioch Unified School District since 2001 having served as Vice Principal of Deer Valley High School, Vice Principal at Bidwell High School, Principal of Black Diamond Middle School and, most recently, Principal of Live Oak High School.

Growing up, Mr. Cooper lived in San Francisco and San Bruno prior to moving to Carson, California where he said he learned a lot of street wisdom growing up in a city then plagued by gangs and crime. At the age of 15, his family moved to Concord, California wherein Cooper says he was in culture shock having come from a very diverse city to a school where only 10 of the nearly 2,000 students were African American. There, he says, he experienced racism for the first time.

“I knew racism existed, I’d read about it and watched television programs about it, but until it’s in your face, it’s a whole different story.” To adjust to his new environment, Cooper says he focused less on sports and more on academics. “I’d always been a good student, but my drive to become even better took some of my attention from sports.”

Nonetheless, Mr. Cooper played football, basketball, and track while attending high school but was sidelined from getting a college football scholarship when an injury took him off the field most of his senior year. Thus, Mr. Cooper attended Diablo Valley College for two years after high school where he reengaged with sports while simultaneously focusing on his academics. As a result, two years later he was offered a football scholarship by both San Diego State and St. Mary’s College.

“I decided on St. Mary’s, even though their team was 2-8, because I knew friends there and I wanted to focus on my degree. I was aware of the deal, I’d play football for them, and they’d pay for my college education.”

Cooper said his father had a big impact on him. “He was born in North Carolina in 1941. He would tell us stories about growing up like how he had to stop attending school in the fall to work the tobacco fields and how he had to attend an all-African American segregated school separated by a chain link fence from a white school. He said the basketball courts and facilities were well-maintained at the all-white school while his school was dilapidated and missing many of the things the other school had.”

Cooper said his father always stressed the importance of leading by example. As he grew up, he watched his father lead by example as he served in the Navy then worked at Southern Pacific Railroad where he retired as Head of West Coast Communication.

Mr. Cooper said he is most looking forward to working with agencies to ensure the District has increased and sustainable mental health support for students. “I think sometimes we underestimate what some of our students are coping with, but they come to school because it is a safe, consistent space. It’s our job to meet them where they are and provide the support they need to be successful.”

Mr. Cooper lives in Antioch with his wife of 29 years. Their children, now 27 and 25 attended AUSD schools.

By Josef Britschgi, Marketing & Communication Administrator, BAC Community Bank

BAC Community Bank is proud to announce the promotion of Jerry Marquez to the role of Relationship Manager, leveraging years of expertise in serving the bank’s valued customers.

As an integral part of the BAC family for over eight years, Marquez has excelled in various roles, including branch management and central banking operations. This promotion reflects his outstanding contributions and unwavering commitment to delivering exceptional service to the bank’s clients.

Marquez has a passion for building meaningful relationships within the community, a quality influenced by his growing up in a small farming town. He carries this spirit into his new role, embracing the small-town essence that has made BAC Community Bank a cornerstone of Antioch, Brentwood and surrounding Contra Costa communities.

As a Relationship Manager, Marquez will draw upon his wealth of experience to cater to the diverse financial needs of both existing and new bank customers. The bank is confident that he will excel in this capacity, ensuring that consumer and commercial clients continue to receive the best products, technology, and service that have defined BAC Community Bank’s commitment to excellence.

“We are confident that the passion, expertise, and dedication Jerry Marquez demonstrates will continue to contribute to the success of our clients and reinforce the position of BAC Community Bank as a trusted community financial institution,” said Eddie Lira, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Banking Officer.

Marquez is excited to assume this new responsibility and looks forward to further strengthening the connections between BAC Community Bank and the communities it serves. “I am truly honored by this opportunity to serve as a Relationship Manager,” he shared. “My aim is to build enduring customer partnerships, providing each client with personalized financial solutions to help them achieve their goals.”

About BAC Community Bank

BAC Community Bank is California’s 10th oldest state-chartered bank. Established in 1965, BAC operates branch offices in Contra Costa, San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties and is identified as “one of the strongest financial institutions in the nation” by BauerFinancial, Inc. 

The bank is centrally headquartered in Stockton, California, and is continuously recognized for banking excellence through local awards and banking industry accolades. The Antioch branch is located at 3448 Deer Valley Road.

BAC Community Bank is an Equal Housing Lender and Equal Opportunity Employer. Member FDIC. More information is available online at www.bankbac.com.

By Contra Costa County Fire Protection District

We are pleased to announce that Father Robert Rien has accepted the newly created position of volunteer Fire Chaplain – lead as part of the fire district peer support program. He is the first-ever official Fire Chaplain for Contra Costa County Fire Protection District. This appointment is effective immediately.

He has been the Pastor of St. Ignatius of Antioch Parish in Antioch for the last 18 years. During that time, he served as Chaplain for the Antioch Police Department and for the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District. He holds the distinguished Master Chaplain Certification from the International Conference of Police Chaplains.

Father Robert Rien is a native of Oakland, California, and is a Priest of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Oakland for the past 50 years. Ordained in 1974, he served parishes in Alameda and Contra Costa County. Three years after ordination, he served as the Catholic Chaplain for the 349th Military Air Lift Wing, stationed at Travis Air Force Base for five years.

Before being assigned to parishes in Contra Costa County in 2001, he served as Chaplain for the Oakland Fire Department. In addition to his other duties and responsibilities, he serves as Catholic Chaplain for both Sutter-Delta and Kaiser Deer Valley Hospitals.

Additionally, he serves as a Regional Chaplain for the East Bay Regional Park District and a Contra Costa County Peer Support Services Association member.

Father Robert currently resides in Antioch. When not tending to his parish, he enjoys reading, cooking, and watching the 49ers, Warriors, and Giants. He appreciates being with friends and loved ones.

Located in East County, Father Robert can be reached by email at Rrien@cccfpd.org. Please assist Father Robert in becoming familiar with the District and join us in making him a welcome part of the Con Fire team!