Ag One Foundation
In Memory
Thank you to the families who have chosen Ag One and the Jordan College to carry on the legacy of some of our dear friends.
To make a donation to honor or in memory of an individual, please select the donate button below and add a comment during the transaction with the individual's name.
2017
John Etcheverry (1957 - 2017)
Ag One lost a dear friend on Sept. 26, Mr. John Etcheverry. John graduated from Fresno
State in 1957 with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture science. His 42-year agricultural
career started out working on his family farm before working for Bidart Bros, Kern
County Land Company, Tenneco West and Arroyo Seco Vineyards. John was a proud advocate
for the community, serving as a director and chairman on numerous boards and foundations,
including serving as an early board member of Ag One. John was also a founding member
of the Ag One Kern County Alumni and Friends event. Click below for his full obituary http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/bakersfield/obituary.aspx?page=lifestory&pid=186816183
Viggo Andersen (1924 - 2017)
Viggo Brandstrup Andersen, 92 of Newman passed away Tuesday, January 3rd at Turlock Nursing and Rehab in Turlock.
Mr. Andersen was born in Denmark and was a resident of Newman for 57 years. He was a dairy inspector for Stanislaus County for 20 years and was in the Danish Resistance during WWII. He was a member of Sigma XI, Ships-In-Bottles Association of America Inc. and enjoyed building ships in bottles.
Mr. Andersen is survived by his son, Eric (Joan) Andersen of Denair; sister, Kirsten Sorensen of Denmark; grandchildren, Analyssa Andersen, Kristen Andersen and Sean Andersen whom are all Fresno State Alumni. He was preceded in death by his wife, Stella Andersen in 2010.
Donald "Doc" Casperson (1940 - 2017)
Donald "Doc" Casperson passed away peacefully in Bellingham, WA, on June 23, 2017,
with his caring wife, Elaine, and adoring daughter, Leslie, by his side. Don and Elaine
moved to Lynden, WA in January of 2016, to be closer to Leslie and her family. In
1970, Don was hired as an Assistant Professor at Fresno State, teaching health science
where he stayed for 13 rewarding years. Don's interest in the wine and liquor business
began in the late 1970s and this interest evolved into the opening of Old Doc's Discount
Liquor with a special emphasis on good wines. During the 34 years in business, he
assisted many customers and developed lasting friendships. Over the years, he supported
many community organizations. Full Obituary. (Photo courtesy of Fresno Beehive)
William C. "Bill" Cutting (1929 - 2017)
Ag One and the Jordan College lost a dear friend, Mr. Bill Cutting, on
March 4, 2017. Bill was born in Kansas in 1929 – coming to Fresno at the age of 12.
He graduated from Fresno State College in 1951 with a Bachelor of Science degree
in Agriculture – emphasis in Animal Science. Beginning in 1951 Bill helped develop
the family’s Cutting Veterinary Supply to become the fifth largest animal health business
in the USA. He also owned the landmark “Golden Horse” store on Blackstone Avenue
in Fresno.
Faithful to his alma mater, Bill served thirty years on the Agricultural Foundation Board at Fresno State. He earned recognition in 1990 for service to Fresno State while elected to the Ag One Board of Directors and a 1998 College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology Lifetime Service award.
Ken Fugelsang (1946 - 2017)
K.C. Fugelsang was a Professor Emeritus of Enology at Fresno State. He joined the
university in 1972 and after four decades of service, he began teaching part time
for the Department of Viticulture and Enology during his retirement. Fugelsang has
published over 150 technical papers and 14 books including Wine Analysis and Production.
Ken is the past president of the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi and recipient of the
University's Outstanding Research, Scholarship and Creative Activity Award the Salgo-Noren
and NACTA Awards, the Claude Lavelle Award for Innovative Technology, and the Outstanding
Alumnus Award ( Top Dog Classes of 1969 and 1972). During his service to the enology
program, Fugelsang also managed Fresno State's 20,000 case commercial winery where
his students received over 350 awards in major wine competitions.
Angelo Papagni (1922 - 2017)
Angelo started farming at age nine when tall enough to follow his father's footprints
in the soft vineyard rows. Using farming techniques learned here and abroad, Angelo
started his winery in 1973. His belief in the region led to his first gold medals
in Italy in 1976. By 1986, Angelo's farming practices earned him the moniker "Maverick
In the Big Valley". Today, his technological advances in wine juice concentrate enhance
the production of high quality wines at home.
He attended Fresno High School and Fresno State college. He was very supportive of the Viticulture and Enology department at Fresno State, both financially and with his leadership.
2016
Vernon Conrad (1926 - 2016)
On December 10, Ag One and the Jordan College lost a dear friend and longtime supporter,
Vernon Conrad. Vernon was a dedicated valley agri-businessman and retired member of
the Fresno County Board of Supervisors. He was recognized as the 1996 Ag One Community
Salute honoree, which established the Ag One – Vernon Conrad Scholarship Endowment fund. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, remembrances be made to his endowment
fund. To donate online, please visit the Ag One – Vernon Conrad Scholarship Endowment fund webpage.
Gerald Steiner (1922 - 2016)
Gerald J. Steiner, founding member of Ag One at Fresno State, passed away on December
29, 2016 at the age of 94.
Mr. Steiner was a graduate of Visalia Union High School where he was an active member of the Future Farmers of America and was a State Star Farmer. He continued to engage in the agriculture industry in the Central Valley as well as state and national organizations including the Pork Producers Association, Bank of America Livestock Symposium, Ranchers Cotton Oil and Cattlemen's Association. Mr. Steiner farmed and resided in the Visalia area until his retirement in 2003. More
Dr. Vincent Petrucci (1925 - 2016)
On December 27, 2016 the Jordan College and Ag One lost a dear friend, Dr. Vincent E. Petrucci, at the age of 91.
Dr. Vincent E. Petrucci, professor emeritus of viticulture at Fresno State, will be remembered as a wonderful man who inspired and trained generations of young people for the grape industry. Few people have had an impact on the lives of students and an industry more than Dr. Petrucci. Click for press release
To honor their father, the family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial tributes may be made payable to the Ag One Foundation for the Vincent E. Petrucci Endowment (est. 1994) in support of scholarships for deserving viticulture and enology students, or to support the Vincent E. Petrucci Library Endowment (est. 1996) serving students, researchers and professionals in the grape industry.
2015
Dee Jordan (1928 - 2015)
On November 17, 2015 Ag One and the Jordan College lost a dear friend. Mrs. Dee Jordan
passed away in San Francisco at age 87. Dee and late husband Bud, along with her brother-in-law
Lowell, were responsible for the largest cash gift in Fresno State's history - $29.5
million to Ag One in support of the Jordan College. This gift remains the largest
single cash gift ever received by the California State University system. She, Bud
and Lowell have forever transformed agriculture at Fresno State. We will greatly miss
her.
Harry Moordigian (1939 - 2015)
Fresno State alumnus and longtime supporter Dr. Harry B. Moordigian, Jr. passed away
on November 11, 2015 at the age of 76. An active supporter of Fresno State since the
1970’s, Harry’s contributions benefited numerous University programs including the
Bulldog Foundation, Armenian Studies, Athletics, the Kremen School of Education and
Human Development and the Jordan College. In 2007 he honored his parents, Harry and
Nevart Moordigian, by establishing an Ag One endowment to support students in the
Department of Viticulture and Enology.
