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INVESTIGATORS ASSOCIATIONFRIENDS REMEMBERED |
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INVESTIGATORS ASSOCIATIONFRIENDS REMEMBERED |
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Anaheim Police Department, National Insurance Crime Bureau Ladies and Gentlemen: July 19, 2005 I think that most of us who knew Bill through OCATI and WSATI when he was at Anaheim PD and NICB, used to enjoy his little jokes. I know for me, the irony of NICB assigning Bill Ports to the Los Angeles Ports as part of his job was not lost... and I know how much effort he put in with U.S. Customs to assist me and other detectives in getting stolen vehicles back that had been containerized and shipped out... I last saw Bill a few months ago at the Block of Orange. He and his wife were walking around the mall. He told me that he was remodeling his house and enjoying the time he was having to do things around the house. Little did I know that would be the last time I saw him. He was very happy and seemed to be enjoying his retirement. These past few years have been difficult for many of us, losing a lot of friends in the WSATI family. I know that after Carol and Fritz passed away last year, Marianne Finney and I were talking and thinking that 2004 was a bad year... it looks like 2005 is outdoing 2004. Gary The following article regarding Bill Ports, retired Anaheim Police Auto Theft Detective, retired NICB Agent, and WSATI Southern Chapter member, was in the 7/19/05 edition of the Orange County Register. William John Ports, 64, of Anaheim, a police officer,
died July 14, 2005, of a heart attack. Services: 9 a.m. today, Pope John
Paul II Polish Center, Yorba Linda. Arrangements by Ferrara Colonial Mortuary,
Wife, Frances; son, Daniel; daughters, Angela McKee, Diane Stresak, Christina Ports; sisters, Norma Ports, Celeste Adams; one grandchild. -----Original Message-----
Gary; Another sad bit of news. Bill was
a great guy. Keith
-----Original Message-----
Bill was one of the good guys. An excellent Auto Theft Investigator and one hell of a nice guy. He had all of the connections in Anaheim for the Training Scions in 1982. He was not only on the committee for the program but single handily made almost all the arrangements and the three day affair changed the way W.S.A.T.I. conducted those scions and started them on a profitable road. He will surly be missed. Dennis GENE MEREGILLANO Escondido Police Department, National Auto Theft Bureau, Mercury Insurance Ladies and Gentlemen: June 16, 2005 A few notes regarding the passing of Gene Meregillano, 1978 WSATI Southern Chapter President and 1996 Billy Osborn Award recipient...Gary -----Original Message-----
Gary, as I related to you the other day, Harold, "Gene" Meregillano passed away this week after a prolonged bout with cancer. Gene was formally with Escondido PD and the National Automobile Theft Bureau, (1980 -1989), and was an active member and former President of WSATI, Southern Chapter. A graveside service is planned for Gene as follows: Monday June 20, 2005
Ya might integrate the mapquest information with the message. Thanx as always. MAS Mark A. Stowell
FORMER ESCONDIDO COP, FAMILY MAN REMEMBERED By: LORELL FLEMING - Staff Writer MURRIETA ---- Harold "Gene" Meregillano might have
been disliked by car thieves, but it appears that he was loved and
Meregillano, who spent many years as an auto theft detective with the Escondido Police Department, died Sunday after battling several illnesses through the years, his wife Lelia said. He was 71. In addition to his wife, Meregillano is survived by his five children. Meregillano was born in Pasadena, but moved to Escondido as a young child and graduated from Escondido High School in 1952. He went on to become a police officer with the Escondido Police Department from 1966 to 1980, including time spent targeting car thieves. Meregillano's first wife died of cancer nearly 20 years ago. He and Leila moved to Murrieta about eight years ago. "He was a one of the best auto theft detectives in the State of California," said Dick Schleigh, a former captain with the Escondido Police Department. "Gene was good and thorough and reliable. I was proud of him and his work." In his work, Meregillano often came across youngsters in trouble, his wife said. "Gene would take those kids under his wing and help them," Leila Meregillano said. "He would talk to them about doing what's right." "Parents .. (would write) Gene letters, thanking him for his help," she added. Meregillano later worked for the National Auto Theft Bureau between 1981 and 1988, and as a fraud investigator for Mercury Insurance between 1990 and 1995. Police work did not harden Meregillano, his wife said. Gene Meregillano had a romantic side to him and for the first year after their first date ---- on May 27, 1989 ---- he sent her long-stem red roses on the 27th of each month, she said. "He was this big, tough cop, but when we were alone he'd cry at sad movies," Lelia Meregillano recalled. "He's that type of guy." She describes her husband as a very spiritual man, who was a Pentecostal Christian and attended a few years of Bible College in the Los Angeles area during his youth. When he wasn't working on or spending time with his family, Gene Meregillano spent time on the other joys of his life: music, motorcycles and model cars. Meregillano led his own local country western band, "The Country Playboys." The group often performed in the former Oakvale Lodge in Valley Center and in a few Escondido venues. Meregillano sang and played bass. He was also a fan of Harley Motorcycles, his wife said, adding that her husband knew a lot about nearly every car ever made. His extracurricular activities also included serving as president of the Palomar Model "A" Ford Club of America, and participation on the Escondido Police Motorcycle Drill Team and the Escondido Horse Mounted "Posse." A graveside service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Monday at Oak Hill Memorial Park in Escondido, 2640 Glenridge Road. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be sent to the Building Fund for Lighthouse Assembly of God Church, 38435 Innovation Court #108, Murrieta, CA., 92563. Contact staff writer Lorell Fleming at (760) 731-5798 or lfleming@nctimes.com. Los Angeles Police Department, Avis (Grand) Rent-A-Car -----Original Message-----
Gary- This is to inform you of the passing of George Sentman,
retired L.A.P.D. and Avis (Grand Rent a Car). Funeral services will
be on Thursday, March 3, 05 at 1200. The location is Forest Lawn
Cemetery, 1712
Jerry Park (Retired S.D.P.D. and Good Friend) For those of you who had the opportunity to work with or know George, he was another of those amazing people who would help you out in an instant. I remember George assisting me when he was managing the LAX operation and I couldn't get cooperation from the Santa Ana zone management. He arranged to have Bill Borman come out from NY Corporate to explain to the Santa Ana management that something had to be done about their lack of concern for inventory losses off their lots. George retired from Avis and enjoyed dancing. He was presented the Billy Osborn Award in 1997, along with his long time friend, Jerry Park. They were both recognized as co-recipients of the Award for their dedication to WSATI. Gary BOB HOLM -----Original Message-----
Lou and Gwen; Could you please notify as many people as you can who knew Bob. I regret to inform you that Bob Holm, recently retired Security Manager for Budget Car Rental Group has passed away after a battle with Cancer. Bob was a retired Los Angeles County Sheriff and was a great help to those in law enforcement as well as the private sector. Bob was also an active member of WSATI Western States Auto Theft Investigators, as well as IAFCI, International Association of Financial Crimes investigators. He will be greatly missed. Services for Bob will be held at: 1200 NOON Tomorrow,
Sept 17th. at:
Patty Fogerson
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