Person Page - 124

     Angela D'Ambra was born.

     Frank Cvitanich was born.

     Clara Bartolo was born. She married (?) Borg.
     Her married name was Borg.

     (?) Borg married Clara Bartolo, daughter of (?) Bartolo.

     Frank Xavior Agius was born on 21 July 1927 in Mosta, Malta. He married Violet Mary Chetcuti, daughter of Joseph J. Chetcuti and Dolores Colero, circa 1950. Frank Xavior Agius and Violet Mary Chetcuti were divorced in April 1968 at San Mateo Co., CA, USA; also Nov 1971. Frank Xavior Agius married Ida I Estrada on 10 February 1973 at Reno, NV, USA. Frank Xavior Agius died on 31 December 2007 at Millbrae, CA, USA, at age 80; age 80. He was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery, Colma, San Mateo Co., CA, USA.
     Frank Xavior Agius was also known as Francis Agius.
Frank Xavior Agius A seminary student. He emigrated from Malta on 23 September 1952 to New York, NY, USA. He was naturalized on 1 October 1986 at Millbrae, CA, USA. He was a member of the Maltese American Social Club in 2007.
Obituary: on 3 January 2008: Frank X. (Severine) Agius Of Millbrae passed away peacefully December 31, 2007 at the age of 80. He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Ida Agius; father of Dolores Fino, Frances Agius, Joseph Agius and his wife Lyla, Marian Beeman and husband, Tony and Johanna Agius; Nanu of eight and also survived by one great-granddaughter. Frank was born and raised in Mosta, Malta. Frank was a carpenter and foreman for 32 years. He loved to travel each summer to Malta and Europe. Dad loved Malta, the church and his family. He was a devoted parishioner of St. Dunstan's Church in Millbrae for over 40 years. He was a loving father. We will miss him terribly.¹ Frank Xavior Agius was also known as Severine.

     Ida I Estrada was born circa 1935. She married Frank Xavior Agius on 10 February 1973 at Reno, NV, USA.
     As of circa 1973,her married name was Agius. Ida I Estrada was a member of the Maltese American Social Club in 2002. She was living in 2022 in Millbrae, CA, USA.

     Mary Dolores Agius was born circa 1950 in Malta; age 2 in 1952. She married (?) Fino.
     Her married name was Fino. Mary Dolores Agius was also known as Dolores Agius.

     (?) Fino married Mary Dolores Agius, daughter of Frank Xavior Agius and Violet Mary Chetcuti.

     Frances A. Agius was born circa 1953 in San Mateo Co., CA, USA.
     She was living in 2022 in South Lake Tahoe, CA, USA.

     Marian Agius was born on 4 February 1958 in San Mateo Co., CA, USA. She married Anthony Scott Beeman.
     Marian Agius was also known as Marian Agius. Her married name was Beeman. She was living in 2022 in Hamilton City, NV, USA.

     Anthony Scott Beeman was born circa 194. He married Marian Agius, daughter of Frank Xavior Agius and Violet Mary Chetcuti.

     Joseph Paul Agius was born circa 1952 in Malta; age 1 in 1952. He married Lyla Jean Schuelke on 4 October 1980 at San Mateo Co., CA, USA.
     Joseph Paul Agius witnessed the Newspaper of Violet Mary Chetcuti and Maltese In the News on 1 June 2001 at San Francisco Chronicle, San Francisco, CA, USA; Santa Rosa gains another war hero By Kelly St föhn
Vioiet Agius never kept it a secret that in Malta as a child, she witnessed pain, death and hunger almost daily during World War II. But the Santa Rosa resident didn’t talk about it either. That is until a suprise gift from her son changed all that. Joe Agius of San Bruno wasn't with his mother at Christmas, but he sent a package with simple orders: Take Violet Agius' picture when she opens it. It was a framed silver medal — a replica of the George Cross, Britain's highest honor for civilian bravery - that Violet and the rest of Malta earned six decades ago. But the bubbly grandmother didn't smile and jump for joy. She ran to the bathroom. "I cried for two days," she said. "All the honor came through my mind.” Controlled by Britain and strategically located near Italy’s coast, Malta was a key Axis target, starved by a blockade and attacked almost daily by German and Italian air forces. About 14,000 bombs were dropped on the tiny island that's just over 300 square kilometers, making it one of the most heavily bombed areas during the war. In 1942, Britain's King George VI acknowledged Malta's suffering with an unprecedented gesture. He granted the George Cross medal - Britain's highest honor for civilian bravery — to every Maltese citizen living there during the war.
That's the big story the history book tells. Violetl Agius remembers the little things. As a 12-year-old girl, the English soldiers stationed at her mother's farm taught her how to defuse the small butterfly-shaped bombs that littered the Malta countryside. She used a pen point to gently wind the hands of a clock in their middle. "Even now, when I see a nun’s watch, that’s what 1 think of. It’s amazing now the mind works, she recalled. "You are a kid, and you’re learning all these things.’’ A German fighter plot swooped down over a field wiere she was walking with her mother one day. There was no shelter nearby, so they dived to the ground. A bullet grazed Volet Agius’ head, but she and her mother survived.
“We just got up and looked at each other. It was an ugly silence,’’ she said.
Agius was also with her mother when they encountered an injured German pilot who’d jettisoned from his plane. As they approached, her rrother asked him if he spoke English. In silence, he drew his pistol and shot himself in the temple. The war also thwarted Agius' schooling, and she regrets never completing high school.
But, Agius recalled, it also brought strange moments of beauty. During a nighttime backout, she heard the buzz of German planes, the sky was lit up by red parachute flares floating down to Earth. “I like to remember the day we saw the parachute flares. Malta was lit up more than the sun,^:> she said.
Agius' son, Joe Agius, 49, never served in the military, but he is fascinated by military history and wartime collectibles.
He grew up always knowing that his mother endured hardships during the war, but after he became a parent himself, he came to appreciate what she went through, he said. Then he came up with the idea ot getting the medal.
“I wanted her to understand how much trauma she’d seen in her childhood.’ he said. “People don’t say thanks to people who survived and endured as civilians.”
Among survivors, friendships endured as well. Sebastopol resident Mary Grech, 73, lived just down the street from Violet Agius' home in the Maltese town of Mosta. Agius' sister was hiding in a public shelter during one air raid that devastated a hospital nearby. She survived. Grech’s father didn’t.
“In our backyard, we had grapevines. I saw my dad trying to tie them onto the wall. Then when the air raid came, we went one way to one shelter, while he ran the other way, Grech recalled. 'That was the last thing I saw of him.”
Born Violet Chetcuti in a family of 11, Agius met her future husband at a Maltese Catholic school where both were taking music lessons. She had considered becoming a nun, but at age 21 she married a young seminary student instead.
In 1953, the couple — Violet Agius eight months pregnant — traveled by ship to San Francisco. The marriage ended in 1972, and Agius resettled in Lake Tahoe. She landed a job as a captain in a casino showroom, and later worked with celebrities such as Ann Margret, Liberace and Wayne Newton.
Three years ago, Agius moved to Santa Rosa to be closer to her grown children; besides her son, Joe Agius, she has daughters living in Healdsburg and Chico.
Since she received her son's gift, Agius has been talking about the war — and not just with her old friend Grech. She said she relates to Sen. John Kerrey's very public dialogue about his experience killing civilians during the Vietnam War. “People are coming out to show ‘don’t do wars.’ People hear him because he’s a big man,” she said. “And there’s a lot of people that say a lot of things.” “It was living in fear, all the whole five years. You never knew when you were going to get it,” Grech said. “So the ones that stayed alive, it was a miracle.”. Joseph Paul Agius and Lyla Jean Schuelke were living in 2022 in Ipswich, SD, USA.

     Lyla Jean Schuelke was born circa 1960. She married Joseph Paul Agius, son of Frank Xavior Agius and Violet Mary Chetcuti, on 4 October 1980 at San Mateo Co., CA, USA.
     As of 1980,her married name was Agius. Lyla Jean Schuelke and Joseph Paul Agius were living in 2022 in Ipswich, SD, USA.

     Johanna Agius was born on 18 May 1974 in San Mateo Co., CA, USA.
     She was living in 2022 in Millbrae, CA, USA.

     Frank Vella was born on 9 January 1941 in Gozo, Malta. He married Jozet Mary Mifsud, daughter of Joseph Francis Mifsud and Carmen Brincat, on 18 July 1970 at San Mateo Co., CA, USA. Frank Vella died on 26 January 2008 at Millbrae, San Mateo Co., CA, USA, at age 67; age 67. He was buried on 30 January 2008 at Holy Cross Cemetery, Colma, San Mateo Co., CA, USA.
     Frank Vella was also known as Francis Vella. He was naturalized on 14 November 1986 at San Francisco, CA, USA. He was a member of the Maltese American Social Club and was Helped with remodel of new Maltese Club location between 1991 and 2020 at South San Francisco, San Mateo Co., CA, USA.
Obituary: on 27 January 2008: Frank Vella Late of Millbrae, and San Mateo County resident for 40 years, passed away peacefully in Millbrae January 26, 2008. Beloved husband of Jozet M. Vella. Loving father of Elizabeth (Christopher) Clements. Cherished grandfather of Gavin Clements. Loving son-in-law of Carmen Mifsud. Caring brother-in-law to Theresa Vella and Marlene (Emil) Picchi. Dear uncle to John (Joanne), Phillip (Lori), Joseph Vella and Joe and John (Maria) Miller. Great-uncle to Charesse, William, Kimberly, Lyndsay, Mathew and Maria. Devoted son of the late Carmel and Carmela Vella. A native of Malta, age 67. He worked for Gilmore Envelopes for 38 years. He loved to cook, garden and spend quality time with his family and friends, especially his beloved grandson Gavin. He was also an active member of the Maltese-American Social Club.¹
Frank Christian Vella May be related.

     Jozet Mary Mifsud was born on 10 January 1948 in Malta. She married Frank Vella, son of Carmelo Vella and Carmela Portelli, on 18 July 1970 at San Mateo Co., CA, USA. Jozet Mary Mifsud died on 30 May 2020 at Millbrae, CA, USA, at age 72; age 72.
     Jozet Mary Mifsud was also known as Mary Josephine Mifsud. As of 18 July 1970,her married name was Vella. She was naturalized on 14 November 1986 at San Francisco, CA, USA. She was a member of the Maltese American Social Club and was Helped with remodel of new Maltese Club location between 1991 and 2020 at South San Francisco, San Mateo Co., CA, USA.
Obituary: in May 2020: January 9, 1948 - May 30, 2020
Jozet Vella, age 72 of Millbrae and San Mateo County resident for 57 years, passed away peacefully in Millbrae on May 30, 2020. She was preceded in death by her loving husband of 37 years, Frank Vella. Loving mother to Elizabeth (Christopher) Clements. Cherished grandmother to Gavin and Leah Clements. Beloved sister to Marlene (Emil) Picchi. Caring sister-in-law to Theresa Vella. Dear aunt to Joe (Kathryn) and John (Maria) Miller, John (Joanne), the late Phillip (Lori), and Joseph Vella. Loved great-aunt to Maria, Emily and Joey Miller, and Charesse, William, Kimberly, Lyndsay, and Matthew Vella. Devoted daughter to the late Joseph and Carmen Mifsud.
A native of Malta. She loved spending quality time with family and friends, and enjoyed playing bingo. Above all, she cherished time with her daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren Gavin and Leah. Always found on the sidelines at their games or in the audience during their performances, she was always cheering them on. She will be deeply missed.
Obituary: : Jozet Vella, wife of the late Frank Vella, sadly passed away on Saturday, May 30th. Jozet and Frank were both long time members of Maltese American Social Club. She is also the mother of Elizabeth Clements and the sister of Marlene Picchi, who are also members.

     Elizabeth Lillian Vella was born on 28 April 1975 in San Mateo Co., CA, USA. She married Christopher Clements.
     Her married name was Clements. Elizabeth Lillian Vella was a member of the Maltese American Social Club in 2002. She was living in 2020.

     Christopher Clements was born circa 1975. He married Elizabeth Lillian Vella, daughter of Frank Vella and Jozet Mary Mifsud.

     Gavin Clements was born.

     Carmelo Vella was born circa 1900 in Malta. He married Carmela Portelli.

     Carmela Portelli married Carmelo Vella, son of Francesco Vella and Maria Agius.
     Her married name was Vella.

     Mario Anthony Vella was born on 18 October 1922 in Gozo, Malta. He married Therese A. Mizzi, daughter of Joseph Mizzi and Lorenza Cuschieri, circa 1943. Mario Anthony Vella died on 4 November 2006 at Burlingame, CA, USA, at age 84; age 84. He was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery, Colma, CA, USA.
     He began military service British Royal Navy in WWII. Mario Anthony Vella was also known as Marius Vella. He was naturalized on 17 April 1956 at San Francisco, CA, USA.
Obituary: on 5 November 2006: Mario Anthony Vella A resident of Millbrae for 39 years, entered into rest in Burlingame on November 4, 2006. Beloved husband of Theresa Vella for 63 years. Loving father of John (Joanne), Philip (Lori), and Joseph. Dear brother of Frank (Jozet). Dear uncle of Elizabeth (Christopher). Cherished grandfather of Charesse, William, Kimberly, Lyndsay, Matthew; three great grandchildren and his great nephew Gavin. A native of Malta, age 84 years old. He served in the British Royal Navy during World War II; a member of the Machinist's Union and worked for Schlage Lock for 34 years; loved to cook and grow vegetables in his garden, and loved his family.

     Therese A. Mizzi was born on 19 April 1926 in Zebbug, Malta. She married Mario Anthony Vella, son of Carmelo Vella and Carmela Portelli, circa 1943. Therese A. Mizzi died on 4 August 2022 at San Bruno, CA, USA, at age 96.
     As of 1943,her married name was Vella.

     Marlene Vella was born circa 1942 in Malta.

     Emil Picchi married Mary Carmela Mifsud, daughter of Joseph Francis Mifsud and Carmen Brincat.
     Emil Picchi and Mary Carmela Mifsud were living in 1999 in Millbrae, CA, USA.

     Thomas Andrew Blai was born circa 1922. He married Anita Grech, daughter of Angelo J. Grech and Speranza Fenech, circa 1947. Thomas Andrew Blai died on 20 January 2007 at Discovery Bay, CA, USA.
     He had the following children: Stephen Thomas and Christine Marie Blai.
Obituary: on 24 January 2007: Thomas Andrew Blai
85, died on Jan 20, 2007 at his residence at Discovery Bay.
A native of San Francisco, Ca. Thomas served in the US Navy as a radioman during VVWII. He owned and operated Blai's Hobby Shop in San Francisco for over 13 years. He attended St. Anne Catholic Church in Byron. Was an avid soccer player, woodworker, x-word puzzle worker, reader and started the San Francisco Ravens Airplane Club.
Thomas is survived by his wife of 60 years, Anita Grech Blai; and children, Stephen Thomas and Christine Marie Blai, granddaughter, Lisa Granados, and great-grandson, Matteo Granados.

     Edward Michael Avanzino was born in 1927. He married Frances Josephine Grech, daughter of Angelo J. Grech and Speranza Fenech, on 28 May 1948 at San Francisco, CA, USA. Edward Michael Avanzino died in 2014. He was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery, Colma, San Mateo Co., CA, USA.

     Christine Cardiel was born circa 1935. She married Louis Anthony Grech, son of Angelo J. Grech and Speranza Fenech, on 10 August 1957 at San Francisco, CA, USA.
     Her married name was Grech. Christine Cardiel was a member of the Maltese American Social Club in 1995 at San Francisco, CA, USA. She was living in 2024 in Millbrae, CA, USA.

     Dr. Doreen Marie Grech PhD was born on 18 September 1961 in San Francisco, San Francisco Co., CA, USA.¹ She married Stephen Robert Brand.
     Dr. Doreen Marie Grech PhD graduated at UCSB, Santa Barbara, CA, USA; BA, Biology. She graduated at Texas A&M University, TX, USA; MS, Biology. She graduated at Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, VA, USA; PHD, Pharmacology & Toxicology. She was educated at The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA, Research Fellow, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences,
Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit (BPRU.)
She was educated at Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, USA, Post-Doctoral Fellow at HMS / New England National Regional Primate Center, Department of Psychiatry, Division of Neurobiologv. Her married name was Brand. She was living in 2021 in Chapel Hill, NC, USA. She was a Asklepios BioPharmaceutical, Inc. (AskBio)
Total Duration 1 yr 8 mos
Title Vice President, Business Development
Dates Employed Mar 2021 – Present
Employment Duration 9 mos
?? Manage internal Business Development team activities and priorities, and coordinate M&A activities across AskBio and affiliates. Initiate and manage US and EU research collaborations. Serve as Alliance Manager for two publicly traded biotech collaborations, one focused on evaluating gene editing approaches and the other on immunogenicity strategies. …

Title Sr Director, Business Development & Alliance Management
Dates Employed Apr 2020 – Feb 2021
Employment Duration 11 mos
Location Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
?? Worked side-by-side with the AskBio CBO, Sr. Leadership Team, and Board of Directors to successfully close a $4B acquisition of the company by Bayer Pharmaceuticals in 2020, bringing the deal to closure in six months. …

Duke University
Mentor In Residence (MIR)

Company Name

Duke University Contract
Dates Employed Jan 2019 – Jun 2020
Employment Duration 1 yr 6 mos
Location Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina Area
?? Advised and directed Duke scientists and physicians, and business school Venture Fellows on all aspects of start-up company creation including strategy, operations, non-dilutive and seed funding, and business development.

?? Actively managed a portfolio of 10-12 projects and Duke spinouts and start-ups, working closely with founders and internal and external collaborators to advance from concept to operating company. …
LaunchBio Inc.
Program Director

Company Name

LaunchBio Inc. Contract
Dates Employed Jun 2018 – Dec 2019
Employment Duration 1 yr 7 mos
Location Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina Area
?? Conceived of and executed initiatives that fostered business and scientific collaborations locally and nationally, including Invest In Cures: A Disease Foundation Forum that brought disease foundations and Venture Funds together with life science entrepreneurs to explore innovative ways to fund and support translational research and early stage biotech companies. …
UCB
Company Name UCB
Total Duration 8 yrs

Title Director, External Partnerships, Global Neurology Business Unit
Dates Employed 2015 – 2017
Employment Duration 2 yrs
Location Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina Area
?? Led cross-functional team dedicated to sourcing and evaluating innovative technologies including devices, sensors, apps, and services complementary to global neurology business strategy and products.

?? Collaborated extensively with external partners including technology companies, academic groups, US and EU government agencies, and investors, to advance UCB’s Patient Solution and Co-creation initiatives. …

Title Director, CNS Scouting & Partnering
Dates Employed 2014 – 2015
Employment Duration 1 yr
Location Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina Area
?? Developed search and evaluation strategy, led due diligence and developed business cases for licensing or acquisition of CNS clinical-stage programs and marketed products.

?? Member of the Global CNS Clinical Development & Medical Team and Global BD team. …

Gloucester Pharmaceuticals Ltd (acquired by Celgene)
Business Development Lead

Company Name

Gloucester Pharmaceuticals Ltd (acquired by Celgene)
Dates Employed 2007 – 2009
Employment Duration 2 yrs
Location Cambridge, MA
?? Owned all business development & M&A activities including outreach, due diligence, and management of external stakeholders and activities.

?? Leveraged clinical and nonclinical background to meet business objectives including CRO management and writing US and EU marketing dossiers for romidpesin. … in 2021.
Dr. Doreen Marie Grech PhD.