“It’s not what we have in life,  
but who we have in our life  
that matters.”
~ Unknown

I first saw Michael on the San Francisco Muni bus on my way to school during my freshman year in high school. He climbed aboard each morning with his school books and his clarinet case. He was a sophomore. It wasn’t until a year later that, through a number of mutual friends, I had the pleasure of getting to know him. I had no idea, at that time, that our friendship would be going strong fifty-five years later!

Michael Cetinich (S.I., Class of 1971) is, first and foremost, a gentleman. He is one of those guys who can be trusted implicitly. During his years as a student at St. Ignatius College Prep, he got involved in school activities and made the most of his high school experience. In addition to his membership in the California Scholarship Federation, Michael was an active member of the school band, the Sanctuary Society, the Sodality, the Service Club, and Student Government. He was best known, perhaps, for his successful involvement in the S.I. Drama Department. He had lead roles in the stage productions of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Luther, and Celebration.

After his high school graduation, Michael attended the University of San Francisco, where he majored in marketing and communications. This experience opened doors to a successful career in business. Having gained valuable experience at companies such as McCann-Erickson, Clorox Corporation, and International Diamond Corporation, Michael accepted an administrative position with the San Francisco Unified School District, where he served for twenty years. His effective organizational and communication skills served him well in each of these positions.

While Michael was keeping busy in the world of business, I had moved to the Santa Clara Valley to attend college and begin my own career in education. Despite the fifty-mile distance, we have been able to connect fairly regularly over the past fifty years. Today was one of those days. We thoroughly enjoyed lunch together at the Cypress Grill at Harding Park Golf Course. Both of us had played a number of rounds of golf at Harding Park through the years, so it was nice to visit the recently-renovated facility. We spent six hours sharing memories of the people we know in common and the myriad experiences which have enriched our lives during the past five decades.

William Shakespeare’s definition of a friend accurately describes my relationship with Michael:

“A friend is one who knows you as you are,
understands where you have been,
accepts what you have become,
and still gently allows you to grow.”

For this friendship, I will always be grateful.