In Memory

Tom Gunnari

Tom Gunnari

Mr. Gunnari died in 1984 after a long and courageous bout with cancer.

"Tom was the head varsity football coach at Pacific from the day the school opened until it closed in June, 1983. He had been specifically recruited to develop the athletic program. Keeping with his Norwegian heritage, he selected the "Vikings" as our mascot.
 
Tom had a great sense of humor and really enjoyed socializing with the other teachers & staff. He always arranged and orchestrated the end-of-the-year faculty parties where he would present the "Ensign Pulver Award" to that employee whom he and his committee deemed had accomplished the least during the just completed school year. Everyone dreaded being selected, but they all enjoyed and had a good laugh at Tom's elaborate presentation. Even though Tom became increasingly ill during the 1983-84 school year, he still put on the faculty party at San Leandro High, where he finished out his career, just two months before his death.
 
In addition to being a highly respected coach and athletic director, Tom was also an excellent teacher. As student enrollment declined in Pacific's final years and the faculty became smaller and smaller, he stepped forward to teach both math and wood shop. Tom Gunnari loved Pacific High School and its students."

Bob Stammerjohan

3-16-2012



 
go to bottom 
  Post Comment

01/10/11 08:34 AM #1    

Timothy Eovino (1968)

 He was a nice man.  I liked him.  He was always looking for Wrestlers and Football players for his teams.  I was not a wrestler, but I was a football player, but I came to school in the fall and the season had already started.  The next year I went back to Florida.  I eventually coached high school football for six years,  and he was one of my role models.


03/09/11 09:24 PM #2    

Don Muriset (1963)

TOM GUNNARI WAS THE COACH,ONE GREAT COACH.I ONLY GOT A SHORT TIME TO PLAY FOR HIM.I WAS A RUNNING BACK,MADE THE TEAM BUT WAS OUT OF THE AREA.I ENDED UP PLAYING 2 YEARS FOR LOGAN VARSITY LETTERED,MOVED BACKED TO SAN LEANDRO PLAYED 2 YEARS VARSITY FOR ARROYO.WON THE HAL CHAMPINGSHIP IN 61-62.OWE IT ALL TO TOM GUNNARI HE WAS THE COACH.


05/07/11 08:20 PM #3    

Rebecca Caldira (Bjelland-Soto) (1970)

My brother's loving coach, and my driver ed teacher.  Got my license, and I'm still driving. YEEEEHHAAAAAAAA go figure?! Rebecca Caldira Soto


03/12/12 03:52 PM #4    

Jon Gledhill (1969)

Tom Gunnari is a legend.  I'm sure you all know about his "All American" days at Washington State when he was a student athlete there and his time as a professional football player in the Canadian league, but most of us knew him as coach Gunnari.  There are so many stories to tell, but his real legacy is the many years he spent molding boys into men through athletics.  The countless hours he spent on the field with us, pushing us, testing our limits, psyching us up, taking care of our injuries, always pushing us to do better, it was a great training ground for just about every aspect of life.  These are the memories that last throughout your life, and, of course, I never was able to articulate my appreciation adequately for the years of effort he gave to me.  Thanks Coach for the sweat and tears, the trials and tribulations, the victories and the defeats, I learned so much from all these things.  I will always be in your debt.  God bless and keep you.


01/30/15 11:31 AM #5    

Larry Campos (1966)

He was a great running style football coach. I never went out for football because its would have  never turned into a passing team. We had some really good recieveres along with running backs.A good passing team would have killed San leandro high. He was a good man an a great instructor. May he forever rest in peace. Larry.


05/19/16 02:51 PM #6    

Connie Guerra (Silva-Skivers) (1980)

I will always remember Mr Gunnari as my Drivers Ed\training instructor.  I was already done with my turn to drive one morning and one of the others in my group was taking her turn.  Mr G.  was a bit relaxed and had his head turned to the right, when the two of us non driving students sort of gasped .  The current driver must have came about 1 inch from hitting a parked car.  Mr. Gunnari never moved so fast to turn the wheel away, hence dodging the car by that inch.   I do believe it was a slight scream that came out of him that morning. R.I.P.  Mr Gunnari.  You saved us all from an early demise that day!


go to top 
  Post Comment