The Distinguished Alumnus award is bestowed each year on a graduate who typifies the Northwood School tradition of excellence and who has brought credit to the school through personal accomplishments, professional achievements, or humanitarian service. This year’s award recognized Bob Valentine ’57, at left with Head of School, Mike Maher.
Bob received his BA from UCLA and his JD from Loyola University, Los Angeles where he served as a teaching fellow. He has been in private practice with an emphasis on estate planning, trust and probate, personal injury, real estate, domestic partnership formation and dissolution, business formation and litigation, and criminal defense. He is admitted to practice in California, the District of Columbia, and New York State. Bob is an annual recipient of the Martindale-Hubble AV Preeminent rating, which is the highest possible rating for an attorney for both ethical standards and legal ability.
Although Bob has been practicing law for over 55 years, perhaps his greatest passion has been for the Beacon House Association of San Pedro, a residential recovery program that assists men addicted to alcohol and drugs with treatment, housing, and other supports for lives free of addiction. He shares, “I joined the Board of Beacon House in 1982, the beginning of my third year of sobriety. I retired from the Board approximately 33 years later, the last 25 of which I was Board President."
Beacon House was established in 1974 with a single house providing accommodation for 16 residents. Through Bob’s tenure, the organization has expanded to six residential facilities housing over 100 residents.
Importantly, Beacon House has provided the foundation for recovery for thousands of men. Bob says, “Beacon House is one of the most important things in my life. It’s worthwhile if you save just one life.”