Please welcome the newest member of Mission Lodge #169.

Brother Ronald R. Hunter

I am a third generation San Franciscan; however, I grew up in South San Francisco, attending grades through my senior year of high school there. I originally married young and have three children, ages 35, 31, and 29 (two girls and a boy). My oldest daughter, Charity, has three boys and a girl. Being a military wife, they move around frequently, but they have been in Kansas for the last two years (it’s tough being a long distance Grandpa!). Emily, 31, lives locally and works on Potrero Hill in The City. Scott, 29, lives outside of Atlanta, Georgia, working in the restaurant business. In 2005, I married Virginia (who I met at a class reunion 30 years after being acquainted with her in high school). We live in the back of Linda Mar Valley in Pacifica with our special brood of aging and diverse animals.

Virginia is a 5th grade schoolteacher in the South City school system, teaching near Serramonte in Daly City. I have been in the Quality Assurance field for virtually my entire professional career (almost 40 years!), primarily in the Aerospace and Defense business sectors. I also worked in international telecommunications for a number of years, also dealing with quality and process quality aspects of the business. I currently have 16 years in with The Boeing Company. As a Supplier Quality Representative, I work out of my home, developing many of our key suppliers in the Bay Area. I report to management in our Long Beach offices in Southern California.

My hobbies and interests have varied over the years; however, mainstays are reading, particularly comparative religion and culture, and layman’s versions of quantum mechanics or astrophysics. Interestingly enough, from the time I was a young boy, one of my very favorite authors and poets was Rudyard Kipling. Weigh that against my penchant for Edgar Allan Poe, and you’ll get some idea of the spectrum of my literary interests! I have at times claimed to be a golfer, and still get out the Frisbee infrequently (and suffer the aches and pains later!). A good walk seems to be the order of the day at this stage of life. I am a lifelong Giants and 49ers fan. I love to travel and embrace the diversity of life experiences.

I was asked to say a few words about how and why I have come to pursue the study of Masonry. It all started with a discussion about classic movies with my friend, Richard San Mames (now, my brother!). I brought up The Man Who Would Be King, and the rest, as they say, is history! What I have seen in Masonry (particularly at Mission Lodge) are many wonderful, interesting, generous people with a diversity of experience and background, yet with a common focus and a strong fraternal bond. I look forward to using the tools and teachings at my disposal, applying them to my life to improve as an individual while, at the same time, cultivating many new and lasting friendships.

Little Known Facts about Me:

• I was born not too far from the Lodge- St. Mary’s at 24th and Guerrero (now ICA)
• I was born with four fingers on my right hand (never lost my pinkie, don’t miss it!)
• I attended 3 years of Bible College in Oakland as a teenager

MEET OUR NEW MEMBER

Please welcome the newest member of Mission Lodge #169.

Brother A. Arthur Rugama

Download

I was born in Newark, New Jersey in 1957, while my father was attending medical school in that area. My parents were from Nicaragua, Central America. Thus, when I was very young they decided to return to Nicaragua where I spent my formative years in Managua, the capital of Nicaragua.

I went to primary and secondary school in Managua, attending the famed Jesuit College Preparatory Academy there. I received a superb Jesuit education which emphasized character, virtue, honesty and integrity in one’s life. I grew up in nice neighborhood with a very loving family.

My parents instilled in me a positive and healthy view of life by encouraging me to be the best person that I could be and by developing my talents to help others around me. Their kind words of love and praise made me into the person that I am who sees the glass always “full and overflowing”, not just “half full” as opposed to “half empty”; but saying with confidence “my cup overflows” as the Psalmist said in Psalm 23. One could say that I had a perfect childhood.

My mother’s father, grandfather, and great grandfather were all Masons in Managua, Nicaragua. Unfortunately, her father (that is my grandfather) did not take Masonry seriously, but I grew up hearing stories told by my mother about how her father and ancestors were Masons who were very active in Masonry. This aroused a curiosity in me which has finally began to be satisfied as I became an Entered Apprentice Mason in June 2011.

Last year, I was invited to go to Lodge 169 by two good friends: Richard San Mames and Enrique Pasos. There I met with some people I already knew from my association with the Odd Fellows, Apollo Lodge. I continued to come for the Tuesday night dinners, and finally one day, I filled up an application the very same night that my fellow “Odd Fellow” Nasseem Khan received his Hiram Award.

Immediately, after graduating from the Jesuit school in the early ‘70s, I returned to live to the United States. I recall that at that time, two new elements of the periodic table had been discovered: Berkelium and Lawrencium in honor of the great university and its famous laboratory where they were discovered. I wanted to study medicine and go to a great academic school. Therefore, I attended the University of California at Berkeley. Destiny, however, had a different plan for me and I did not study pre-medicine. I majored in Economics instead. I made a decision at Berkeley to go to Law School and become an attorney.

After Berkeley I continued my studies in a sort of a detour, a different area than economics. I received a Masters of Divinity, where I learned biblical languages (Hebrew and Greek, theology, and just about everything there is to know about the Bible). Later I was ordained as a Baptist Minister by the only Italian Baptist congregation in the US located here in San Francisco. I forgot to mention that in addition to Spanish and English I can also speak Italian and understand and read some French.

I worked for a few years for the United States Government before finally attending law school at the Jesuit University of San Francisco where I graduated with a Doctor in Jurisprudence, J.D. degree. I have been practicing law for over 21 years. I have a diverse practice involving real property, tax, bankruptcy, litigation and immigration. My offices are located on Filbert Street in Pacific Heights. I am able to help people in my capacity as an attorney every day. To me being an attorney is not a job, but a calling to serve others.

Although I am almost 54 years old, and still single, I have a lovely and beautiful fiancée that I hope to marry soon. I have never been married and have no children.

Brother Arnold Rugama, Entered Apprentice Mason

Tuesday, June 21st, 2011, Mission Lodge No. 169 became proud to receive our newest obligated brother, Arnold Rugama as an Entered Apprentice Mason.

A link to download the photographs is provided at the bottom of the page.

Downloads

• Click Here to download the original photographs taken after this degree.

Hakki K. Ayverdi, 1st°, Entered Apprentice Mason

On February 15, 2011, Mr. Hakki Ayverdi was obligated as an Entered Apprentice Mason at Mission Lodge No. 169. The ceremony was also attended by our traveling brother Frank Buchter of R. L. Europa No. 42  in Barcelona of the Gran Logia de Espana.

Biography

I was born, September 25th, 1966 in Istanbul, Turkey. My Father was an Architect and a college professor and my Mother was a theater actress. Most of my childhood was spent on job sites on location with my Father and backstage with my Mother while she was performing in various theaters. In my youth, I learned that my Father was a Freemason. After my father’s death, I entered the military and completed my service in the Turkish Marine Corps. Shortly thereafter, I made a decision , with guidance of my mother, to explore opportunities and in the United States.

In New York, NY, I worked in retail loss prevention positions which led me to my current employer, Integrated Security Service (ISS). I have worked with ISS for the past nine years, starting with jewelry show logistics and private events.

In 2003, I was promoted to a Field Supervisor and relocated to Miami, Florida where I worked until I was again promoted to a Project Manager.

A professional opportunity arose, which brought me to San Francisco, California in February 2009. When I was preparing the Security Department, prior to the opening of new building, I had a chance meeting with Mr. Brain Morton (member of Naval Lodge #87) and through our conversation I mentioned that my father was a Freemason. He had asked at that time if I was a member. I replied no, however, that it had always been a desire of mine to seek out the knowledge and ideas of Freemasonry and follow my father’s footsteps. In late 2010, I asked Mr. Morton about becoming a member of the Fraternity. He gave me the contact information for the Grand Lodge, which referred me to Mission Lodge #169. When I attended my first meeting at Mission Lodge #169 I received such a warm welcome that I knew that I had made the right decision. After deep thoughts I asked myself “Am I ready for a life long commitment to Freemasonry?” The answer was “yes” and I submitted my application and received my first degree, February 15, 2011.

San Francisco, CA gave me two big steps in my life. The first step was meeting the love of my life, Rebecca Schult, and the other, with God’s help, is to be a part of a brotherhood bigger than life. Other than that, my hobbies are reading and travelling.

Downloads

• Click Here to download a zip file of all original sized images.

Michael Tarver, 1st°, Entered Apprentice Mason

On February 15, 2011, Mr. Michael Tarver was obligated as an Entered Apprentice Mason at Mission Lodge No. 169. The ceremony was also attended by our traveling brother Frank Buchter of R. L. Europa No. 42  in Barcelona of the Gran Logia de Espana.

Brother Michael Tarver

I would like to start out thanking everyone in Mission Lodge 169 for extending the right hand of fellowship and showing me true Brotherly Love and accepting me into the Masonic Brotherhood.

I grew up in San Francisco and in my senior year of High school we moved to Georgia. After High school I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps for four years and when discharged worked for a fortune 500 company in electric and gas supply and distribution marketing. After Enron, I decided to return home to help my father with the family plumbing business. When he passed away a year later I worked for a few local companies and stocked my equipment and machines to start my own business.
I currently run a plumbing company in San Francisco and my beautiful wife is a homemaker and we have 3 beautiful children together.

I always had Masons around me when I was growing up be it the coach of the basketball team at the boys club, chess club or other activities I participated in, guiding me along the way. I knew that Masons were well respected in the community and good people but not really what they do or why they do the good things in the community or even how I could become a part of Freemasonry. That changed when I was approached by WB Richard Downing, who was handing out fliers for the Child ID program at the street fair on Valencia. I was amazed to see people providing a service that might be so valuable in a time of festivities and concerts, people selling goods at the event and here the brothers of Mission Lodge were volunteering their time to help others. When I got home I saw the website on the paperwork I had received and started reading everything I could about the Lodge and all of the good things Masons do for Charities and people in general. I knew that this would be a great place for me to improve myself and become a better person for my family and in the community.

I am looking forward to my journey into Freemasonry and with great humility, I am proud to be a member of Mission Lodge # 169 and a brother.

Downloads

• Click Here to download a zip file of all original sized images.