TRIBUTE TO JOHN P. GENER
WHEREAS, In His Infinite Wisdom, God has granted eternal peace to John P. Gener, an outstanding athlete and dedicated public servant, after succumbing to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), often referred to as Lou Gehrig's Disease; and
WHEREAS, John Gener started life on February 13, 1952 as the only boy in his family along with his 3 sisters. He was a part of the Mendel Catholic High School Class of 1970 on this city's far south side where he played on the football team and was at that time among an elite group of blue chip athletes. Although he was short for a football player and not particularly fast, he would not accept these limitations. He took up weightlifting to become stronger and played as an All-State linebacker for Mendel Catholic's 1968 City Champions and 1969 Catholic League finalists; and
WHEREAS, John Gener accepted a full scholarship to the University of Illinois. As a sophomore, he won a starting job as linebacker for the Fighting Illini. He continued as a linebacker at the University of New Mexico where he met his future wife, Mary Ann Salerno. Although an injury cut short his football career, the couple moved to San Diego, California where John became a highly decorated police officer in service for three decades. The well-known novelist, Joseph Wambaugh, based several of his heroic characters on John's actions as an undercover narcotics officer; and
WHEREAS, Four months after retiring from the San Diego Police Department, John Gener was diagnosed with ALS. His youngest son Michael decided he was going to hold a golf tournament in John's honor to raise money to help find a cure for ALS. More than two hundred people participated in what is now an annual event and has become the primary financial support for the Gener Foundation; and
WHEREAS, John Gener leaves behind to celebrate his legacy his wife Mary Ann, sons Bryan and Michael, his father Jack Gener, his sister Peggy Pesavento, Salerno in-laws Dominic, John, Fra...
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