by Hibah Samad
The Mira Costa High School 2024 Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame program last Thursday continued a decade-long tradition of honoring outstanding former students.
The honorees came from diverse backgrounds and experiences with a common thread — they were all once students at Mira Costa High School. The program this year was led by former Mira Costa student, teacher, and football coach, Chuck Currier, who has been part of the Mira Costa community for 50 years.
“One of the special things about our Hall of Fame is that it’s not just one type of hall of fame,” Currier said. “Every profession and every endeavor is welcome.”
Five alumni — Joe Marcy, Steve Napolitano, Dr. David Morrison, Eileen Shea Davis, and Naomi Kalish — returned to Mira Costa to be officially inducted into the Hall of Fame. The day began with a breakfast at which current students had the chance to meet the honorees. The event was attended by Hall of Fame selection committee members, school staff, former staff members, and City of Manhattan Beach dignitaries.
Manhattan Beach Mayor Joe Franklin, Councilmember Amy Howorth, and Councilmember David Lesser were in attendance. Each inductee received certificates from the City of Manhattan Beach, Senator Ben Allen’s Office, Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi’s office, and Congressman Ted Lieu’s Office.
“It’s a lot different when the person on the stage is somebody who may have lived on your block, sat in these rooms, competed on these fields, and were in the same club that you’re in,” Currier said. “These are our people. They have taken time out of their lives to show up because Mira Costa is important to them too.”
Each honoree was introduced by a current Mira Costa student. The school’s mascot, Melvin the Mustang, made a surprise appearance for photos with the crowd.
Mira Costa Principal Jennifer Huynh emphasized the significance of the event, saying it “celebrates excellence, inspires pride, and connects every generation of current and past students.” She added, “This moment is about more than just recognizing accomplishments — it’s about inspiring the next generation of Costa to dream big and leave their own legacy.”
During the ceremony, each inductee shared memories of their time at Mira Costa and offered advice to the students.
Joe Marcy, Class of 2003 is now a Senior Business Development Executive at See Monterey. He serves on the US Council of Meeting Professionals International’s Global Board of Trustees, as well as the Manhattan Beach Parking and Public Improvement Commission.
Marcy recalled the last time he was in the same seats as the students in the crowd. He shared that he never imagined being back in the MCHS auditorium with one of the greatest honors of his life by being inducted.
“Anything is possible…don’t hide what makes you unique and special,” Marcy said. “Embrace it because it’s going to take you far. Stay grounded and remember to be kind even on your worst days.”
Naomi Kalish, Class of 1988, who serves as the Harold and Carole Wolfe Director of the Center for Pastoral Education and is an assistant professor at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City, took the stage next. In college she majored on Jewish and American studies, which led her to become a Rabbi. She subsequently worked as a hospital chaplain. Rabbi Kalish highlighted the importance of human connection, saying, “Being engaged with one another and supporting one another, not only discussing our differences but connecting as human beings builds the very foundation of trust and respect, which is necessary.”
Dr. David Morrison, Class of 1984, is a physicist at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) at Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York. His focus is the sPHENIX detector, exploring the conditions of the universe just microseconds after the Big Bang. He shared how his English teacher impacted his life at a crucial time and noted that the journey to where he is now wasn’t always linear.
“I have very fond memories of Mira Costa,” Morrison said. “It was a place where I started to make big decisions on where I would be going in life. That’s something you are looking forward to…as you go forward and do things, trust you will also have green and gold in your veins for the rest of your lives.”
Eileen Shea Davis, a Class of 2010 graduate, is a Naval Aviator. Shea Davis is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Space Systems. Her long-term goal is to become a NASA astronaut. She created a video to share with students about her last 10 years in the U.S. Navy. She also talked about how her path was also not linear, and that her past failures helped her get to where she is now.
“Past failures define future successes,” she said. “Every endeavor I sought out, I learned a valuable lesson.”
Councilman Steve Napolitano said he didn’t know being a public servant was going to be his passion when he was a student. A graduate of the Class of 1984, Napolitano was the youngest councilperson in the City’s history when he was first elected in 1992 and has served a record six times as mayor. He is also a State Appointed Attorney, specializing in parole representation for California inmates.
Napolitano accepted the induction in honor of his late friend and Mira Costa teacher Mike McAvin who passed away last year. “Just keep moving forward,” he said. “Don’t forget you have amazing people who support you…I built a life of public service. It’s not what I set out to do but it was what I was meant to do.”
At the lunch reception, there was a special presentation to the very first individual to receive a Mira Costa diploma, Peggy O’Reilly Bibee (‘53). She recently donated her diploma to Mira Costa.
With this year’s induction, the Mira Costa Hall of Fame now boasts 70 members. This year’s ceremony coincided with the school’s 75th anniversary. ER
