August Bernard Venturi

August "Augie" B. Venturi was a member of the Abraham Lincoln High School physical education Faculty during 1942-43.

        He was born on August 20, 1918, to Nicolas and Ottavia (Granucci) Venturi in San Francisco. His father, Nicolas, was born on January 3, 1888, in Italy and died on December 4, 1956, in San Francisco. His mother was born on September 8, 1891, in Italy and died on December 28, 1982, in San Mateo County, California. Augie had two sisters: Lee Mary, born on December 5, 1911, in Italy, and Aida Maria "Edith" born in San Francisco on October 12, 1915.

        Lee Mary married John Kelleher, who was born on May 1, 1906, in San Francisco, and died on September 21, 1992, in San Francisco. They had two children born in San Francisco: Judith Ann, and Patrick John. Judith Ann married Nicholas Rigas and they had three children born in San Francisco: Linda M., Christen T., and Diana C. Patrick John married, first, Barbara Jones, and two daughters were born in San Francisco to this marriage: Eileen M. and Clleen P. He then married Alana McKittrick, and they had no children.

        Edith married Leonard Emil Fregosi, and they had three children born in San Francisco: Leonard Emil Fregosi, and they had three children born in San Francisco: Leonard Albert, James Nicholas, and Carole Ann. Leonard Albert married Marjorie Bergmann, and two children were born to this marriage in San Francisco:Kevin M. and Gina T. Carole Ann married Walter K. Madage, and they had two daughters: Judith J., born in Santa Clara County, California, and Deanna M., born in San Mateo County, California.

        Augie attended Balboa High School in San Francisco and received a basketball scholarship to the University of Southern California. However, he stayed only one semester. He then entered San Francisco State College. Upon graduation from San Francisco State College, "Augie" became a member of the Physical Education Department at Abraham Lincoln High School. He was also a postgraduate student at Stanford University.

        He coached the lightweight basketball team to third place in the Academic Athletic Association of San Francisco. He also coached the highly popular and successful lightweight and varsity crews. Needless to say, he was a very popular teacher and well remembered by his players.

        He married Gladys M. McCabe who was born in San Francisco on March 28, 1920, and attended Balboa High School. They had one child born in San Francisco: Steven August Venturi, born on April 14, 1945. Steven married Denise Rae Ginn, and they had two sons: Todd Nicholas, born in Santa Maria, California on September 23, 1974; and Scott Allen, born on August 26, 1977, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

        Augie entered military service with the United States Army in August 1943. He was eventually stationed at Truax Field, Wisconsin. On his way home from Truax Field for a 15-day leave, a twin-engine Cessna in which he was a passenger crashed. He and three others were killed in the accident on November 6, 1944, near Garden City, Kansas.

        The 1944-1945 Abraham Lincoln Roundup lists his name as being deceased. The World War II Honor List of Dead & Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel from California notes that he was a private and died of non-battle cause.

        His remains were returned to California and subsequently interred, November 14, 1944, at Holy Cross Cemetery, Colma, San Mateo County, California.