In early January, San Francisco State Athletics Hall of Famer Dr. Adolph "Floyd" Gonella passed away at the age of the 87.
Dr. Gonella and his wife of 42 years who survives him, Margaret Taylor, have been prominent in San Mateo County philanthropic, government and political circles for several decades, he as former superintendent of the Jefferson Union High School and Ravenswood school districts and as elected County Superintendent of Schools; and she as the former director of the San Mateo County Health Services Agency.
Dr. Gonella was born in 1933 in Colma, the son of Amedeo and Margherita Gonella. His parents were Italian immigrants who lived through the Depression; Italian was his first language. The family - he and brother Raymond - moved to Daly City, where Gonella began first grade at Jefferson Elementary School.
During his youth, Dr. Gonella worked at August Conci's plant nursery in Daly City, a job that supported him through Jefferson High School and at San Francisco State University, where he played football and competed in track & field. Dr. Gonella was inducted into the SF State Athletics Hall of Fame in 1985.
Dr. Gonella earned a degree in education and several teaching certificates from San Francisco State. He obtained his doctorate in education at UC Berkeley. During his long career in education, including an adjunct professorship at Santa Clara University, he received many awards, from Coach of the Year in 1962 to the Fred Kiesel Distinguished Service Award, to many other awards from state and local educational organizations. He was a member of the California Advisory Council on School Restructuring and was named outstanding alumnus by SF State's Education Department. For more than thirty years, he was Team Chair of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, and frequently traveled to various countries to accredit schools. In addition, he led the Daly City Chamber of Commerce in an extensive membership drive, as he recognized the need for a vibrant business community.
Along with his wife, Dr. Floyd collaborated to create the Daly City Youth Health Center, a valued community resource serving low income teens. The center recently marked 30 years of operation.
Among his many board memberships were San Mateo County Child Car Partnership Council, the Criminal Justice Council, the county AIDS Program Community Advisory Committee, the Junior Statesmen Foundation, the First 5 Commission, and the American Heart Association.
In 2003, the County Office of Education honored him by naming its offices as the Floyd Gonella Education Center.
Private memorial services and a Celebration of Life in Dr. Gonella's honor are pending resolution of the pandemic. Donations in his honor may be made to the Mills-Peninsula Health Services Foundation, 1501 Trousdale Dr., Burlingame, CA 94010, or to Pets in Need, 851 Fifth Ave., Redwood City, CA 94063.
