(Parishioners of Previous Months)

       "I was never alone." Tom Jovick repeatedly said throughout the interview.  Narrating quite enthusiastically the story of his productive life as an official of Penn Mutual Life, Tom became also known as a famous Montana baseball player [first baseman] that finally earned him a college scholarship. But what he is proud of is his rewarding married life with Wanda, his third wife. Wanda also had a successful career in business working at Blue Shield for 22 years.
        When asked why he said, "I am never alone." He exclaimed that all his life, whenever he had to make any decisions, there was always God to guide him so he never made his decisions all by himself.
        Wanda, also in her third marriage, is still enjoying the game of tennis, her favorite sport, which she plays almost every day.  Wanda contributed her experiences as one who has been married for the third time just like her husband Tom. During the war years she was an employee at Hunters Point building war ships.
        Tom, a former parishioner of St. Anne, at Sunset District since he came over from Montana in the early nineties, is now a parishioner of Our Lady of Mercy. Wanda was confirmed Catholic on Easter 1997 when she also celebrated her birthday at OLM. Fr. John officiated.
        Tom and Wanda first met at Doelger Senior Center in Daly City during one of the dinner dances of the club.  Tom and Wanda became dancing friends thereafter. Both find the OLM parish truly memorable because it was there where Wanda says, "I finally became a Catholic" after going through the Rites of Christian Initiation for Adults.  OLM is also memorable in the sense that it was in this parish where they were married with Fr. John Glogowski as their officiating priest.
        Tom's first marriage bore him three daughters. As fate would have it, all three daughters eventually pledged their life's work totally in the service of Our Lord.  The eldest, Rosemary, was the first to join. She entered the Dominican Order from Dominican College in 1955,and rose to the level of Principal of the Order with offices in San Francisco.  At the peak of a record career as a nun, Rosemary died of cancer at the age of 35.  Then came Rita and Alberta, who, like their sister Rosemary were educated at St. Anne's parochial church.  Rita entered the Presentation Sisters in in 1954. Alberta also entered the convent after studying at Gonzaga University joining the Presentation Sisters.
        A few years into the Order, Alberta saw that her vocation really was into being married and raising a family. So she decided to leave the convent and marry. She now lives with her husband and two children in Livermore, CA. Wanda has two children. LaDonna and her family live in Belmont, CA. Charles, Wanda's son lives in Fremont, CA. All of the children celebrate each and every special event with Tom and Wanda who will celebrate their 2nd Wedding Anniversary at the end of August.
        Tom, an articulate marketing and public relations expert in the "winter" of his life is an avid and dynamic conversationalist betraying his actual age of 96.   Reflecting on his early life he narrated that they were seven brothers.  When both their parents died just a year or so from each other, the boys were still in their grades.  So, the older ones had to stop their studies and had to work.  Tom, however, because of his outstanding record in amateur baseball was offered a college scholarship at Gonzaga University. It was while there and his business connections that he was able to help two of his brothers get good jobs and eventually were able to continue their studies toward graduation while working students.

        Tom and Wanda now make their home in Daly City. Tom a devout Catholic and former Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus, admonishes his fallow Catholics "Do not just Keep the Faith...spread it!"  Spoken like a true public relations man. -interview and presentation by Antonio K. Joaquin