On December 15, 1968, a charitable trust, Printing Specialties Union Retirement Center, was registered with the California Secretary of State to build and maintain a retirement home for low-income seniors. The creation of this Retirement Center was the product of the vision of Fred Sullivan. He, along with the eight other directors, saw the need for affordable housing for low-income seniors. Working within the regulations of HUD, the unique modular building was constructed and occupied by low-income seniors.
The founding directors were: Fred Sullivan from Printing Specialties Union – DC#5 (President), Jack McCormick from Western Graphic Arts Union #14 (Vice President), Ray Geiger (Secretary-Treasurer), Norm Amundsen from the Institute of Industrial Relation of UC Berkeley, John Ferro and Leslie Moore from Auto, Marine & Specialty Painters Union Local 1176, Frank Shallenberger, Thomas Wilkins and Wade Moore (Local 382 of the Printing Specialties Union). All worked as directors without compensation or recognition.
To assure there would always be quality workers who understood that seniors would have quality living facilities and good response to maintenance needs, the maintenance employees were the earliest of organized workers in a retirement home. They were also among the first retirement employees to have a fully paid pension plan and full family coverage in a medical plan.
Over the years, there were changes; the Union’s name changed to Graphic Communications Union and eventually became a part of the Teamsters Union. The building name was recognized as Northgate Terrace. All the original directors moved on, and the HUD loan ran out in 2015. Recognizing that maintaining a stand-alone facility would be difficult, the then-Directors made the difficult decision to sell the building and, using the monies from the sale, to move the Charitable Trust to provide financial assistance to non-profits who provide services to low-income seniors. By August of 2015 the transition had been completed, and Senior Assistance Foundation Eastbay became the new name for the private foundation.
Our Board of Directors
Julie Wang – President
Le Roy Salido – Treasurer
Frank Mellon – Secretary and Chair of the Board
Liz Lucero
Gregory Chan
Bob Strelo
Debbie Dimery