Hal Thilmony

EARLY YEARS: Born in Bremerton, WA.  Spent childhood in several locations and schools across both western and eastern Washington.

MILITARY: In 1967, after two years of community college, enlisted in the Army.  Served 10 months stateside and two years in Germany.  Finance MOS.  Discharged as a Staff Sergeant.

 EDUCATION: BA-Economics from San Jose State University. MBA from UC Berkeley’s nighttime MBA program in San Francisco.

 CAREER: First job out of college was with the U.S. General Accounting Office performing operational audits. That was followed by 3 years at NASA Ames Research Center as Deputy Director of the Office of Inspector General.  Left government in 1983 to work at the Clorox Company in Oakland.  Ten years later, joined EDS Management Consulting specializing in the implementation of financial systems.  Closed out last 10 years of professional career at Cisco Systems managing a Business Process Improvement group under the CFO.  Retired in 2005.

 CENTRAL COAST CONNECTION: In 1998, while living in Oakland, we bought a second home in SLO as housing for a daughter who was going to college here. That home subsequently became a rental for several years. Living in SLO long term had not been on our radar, but one year after retiring we decided to transition the rental home into our retirement home.

 POST RETIREMENT: From 2006 to 2018 we floated between our retirement home in SLO and our family home in Oakland where we could continue to spend time with my wife’s aging parents. They both lived to be well over 100. Sold our Oakland home in 2018. Retirement has given us time to travel. Numerous domestic trips as well China, Europe, Japan, and Africa. In 2023, we were fortunate to visit Israel and Jordon a few months before the terrorist attack.  Next up is Southeast Asia.

 FAMILY:  Married my better half, Priscilla, in 1988.  We blended her two daughters with my three daughters. All five of them are now hard-working independent women who in addition to careers have blessed us with 11 grandchildren ages 5 to 24 (9 girls and 2 boys).  Their families are spread across the US which keeps us on the go to stay connected.

 HOBBIES / INTERESTS: In addition to family, friends, and traveling, I enjoy puttering in the garden, wood-working projects, dabbling with photography, playing cards and engaging in a variety of DIY projects (a classic jack of many trades and master of none).  Joined SLORAM in 2009. Current RAM activities include golf, luncheon caller and organizing Day Trips.