According to his grandson, Horace O. Lanza wanted to be an attorney; but at age 20, with a degree from the University of Buffalo he was too young to sit for the state bar exam. He decided to bide his time for a year while working at his brother's winemaking business in New York--thus began a life long passion. Lanza moved to California in 1913, and established himself as a leader in the California wine industry. Lanza was one of the few producers of wine during Prohibition, producing sacramental wines and grape concentrates.
Alan and Gladys Hoefer are long time supporters of the UCDavis campus. Alan graduated UCD in 1955 with a BS in Agriculture. He served in the US Navy with Underwater Demolition Team 21. He later obtained an MBS from Harvard Business School in 1962. Alan has been a Trustee on the UC Davis Foundation during the 1980's and has actively supported and initiated various programs at UC Davis over the past twenty years.
Still an avid sailor, he and Gladys are members of the Lahaina Yacht Club in Hawaii and also enjoy sailing the San Francisco Bay.
Dr. Haskell F. Norman was a psychiatrist who specialized in psychoanalysis in the San Francisco Bay Area. Aside from his profession, his two great passions were books and wine; Norman was a noted bibliophile who had acquired the most extensive collection of medical books anywhere. He was generous to the Bay Area History of Medicine Club and the local American Association for the History of Medicine. Dr. Norman passed away in December of 1996 at the age of 81.
Harry G. Serlis was a leader in the wine industry for over 40 years. He began in Chicago, with one of the first wine import licenses to be issued after the Repeal of Prohibition in 1933. In 1969, he became head of the Wine Institute and directed a far ranging program that promoted wine education, research, and program development. In 1975, Serlis returned to managment consulting and at the time of his death in 1984, we was director of the Robert Mondavi Winery.
Harry Baccigalupi was a true California wine pioneer. He obtained his first job in the wine industry while still in high school. In 1922, he met Horace O. Lanza, and together they formed an association that lasted over 50 years. Baccigalupi's exciting career included serving as president of the California Wine Insitutue and as a member of the Wine Advisory Board. Baccigalupi was highly regarded by colleagues for his fairness and his endeavors to establish financial stability in the wine industry.
Harold P. Olmo was a faculty member of the Department of Viticulture and Enology. A true wine icon, Olmo was the leading grapevine geneticist of his era. Olmo received his BS degree in Horticulture in 1931 from UC Berkeley, followed by a PhD in Genetics from UC Berkeley in 1934. He then worked as an Associate in the Experimental Station before beginning his career at UC Davis as an Assistant Professor of Viticulture in 1938. Olmo retired in 1977 with a legion of awards and merits, which continued to be bestowed upon him during his emeritus years.
“The passing of Professor Harold Olmo marks the end of an era for the wine and grape industry. His breadth of knowledge and his adventurous spirit were critical to the reemergence of viticulture in California. His lasting imprint will be his tradition of innovation; illustrated by the tremendous collection of diverse Vitis vines that remain a key asset in California viticulture.” Dr. Andrew Waterhouse, Professor and Interim Chair, Department of Viticulture and Enology, UC Davis.
Harold Berg began his career at UCD as an Associate Specialist at the Experimental Station is September of 1949, in 1960 became a Professor of Enology. Berg served as Department Chair from 1966 to 1973. In June of 1974, Berg was awarded the American Society of Enology Merit Award. Upon his death, friends and family contributed to an endowment fund created to honor his memory.
This endowment is to be used for enological research, with emphasis on wine stabilization.
Frank H. Bartholomew was a not only a wine lover, he was also UPI's last reporter-president. Bartholomew worked for the Oregonian newspaper and later served as President and Chairman of United Press International (UPI) from 1955 until 1972. He died in 1985.
