SUPPORTER STORIES
CAPT. James P. DiMatteo
This year’s newest endowments join a robust and the longstanding portfolio of existing funds that have continued to make Cal rugby fiscally responsible for its annual budget and the future sustainability of the program. As part of an effort to propel the program’s financial success, a total of nine new endowments of $250,000 each opened this year and have had a tremendous impact.
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The new California Positional Rugby Endowments, which join another new $250,000 gift, the Sonsini Family Rugby Endowment funded by two generations of former players, are formally known as the following: The Donald W. James Jr. Rugby Prop Endowment, The Brian and John Frantz Rugby Prop Endowment, The Irving F. "Bud" Lyons III Rugby Hooker Endowment, The Robert J. Paylor Rugby Lock Endowment, The CAPT. James P. DiMatteo Rugby Scrumhalf Endowment, The Steve Ellis Rugby Center Endowment, The Gregory J. Chenu Rugby Center Endowment, The Charles A. "Art" Mower Rugby Wing Endowment and The George C. Roeth Rugby Wing Endowment. These newest endowment gifts bring rugby’s total endowment funds to approximately $10 million.
Brian Thure
This year’s newest football endowment of $250,000, formally known as The Brian and Julie Thure Right Tackle Endowment, was generously given by Brian and Julie Thure in support of Cal football. Brian Thure, who played both strong/weak tackle and graduated from Cal in 1995. After completing his collegiate career, Thure was selected by the Washington Redskins in the sixth-round NFL Draft that same year.
After sustaining a neck injury in a car accident in 1996, Thure was no longer able to play professional football. The former pro then began his career with River Ranch after a short stint as a college football coach. In 2010 Taylor Farms purchased River Ranch and in 2012, they moved to Tennessee to run the operation in Nashville.
Thure, now Taylor Farms Tennessee President, attributes much of his professional and personal accomplishments to his time here at Cal as a student-athlete; his pathway to success can be traced back to his hard work and dedication in the classroom and on the field.
Betty Ann Pacheco
Earlier this year, University of California, Berkeley alumnus and former dual student-athlete Betty Ann Pacheco created four separate endowments with a seven-figure impact to support women’s basketball, field hockey, the library and biological sciences.
Pacheco first entered Cal as a 16-year-old freshman in the fall of 1950, played field hockey and basketball, and assisted a research team all while pursuing a major in psychology.
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She later went on to pursue a career in education after receiving her Master’s from Cal in 1957. She spent the rest of her 50-year educational career earning numerous academic and professional achievements.
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Looking back, Pacheco credits athletics for opening doors to a wider world and providing a healthier life balance. In her own words, Pacheco expressed, “it helped me develop important communication and analytical skills that are critical for success later on.” Having devoted her life as a public servant to the youth across the Bay Area, Pacheco has made amazing financial contributions to the well-being of the Cal community with the creation of four endowments. Cal Athletics sincerely thanks Betty Ann Pacheco for her lifelong commitment to supporting our Golden Bears.
