Diana L. Severance

Diana L. Severance is the contact for two scholarships: the SCC Major John Fino Scholarship and the SCC Spencer and June Severance Textbook Scholarship. Both of these scholarships were established by her late husband, Gordon Severance, who passed away in 2013 at the age of 92. Gordon attended Sacramento Junior College (as it was called at the time) and was student body president and manager of the football team. He graduated in 1940 and went on to have a successful career as an attorney and businessman. Gordon established these scholarships in honor of people he admired and for whom he felt great affection.

The Major John Fino Scholarship was created in memory of Major John “Johnny” Fino, who was Gordon Severance’s classmate at Sacramento City College in the late 1930s. Johnny enlisted in the Civilian Air Corps during WWII and served with great honor as a bombardier who flew in numerous important missions throughout the war, before going on to have a long and distinguished career in the insurance industry. Gordon had deep admiration for Johnny’s heroism during WWII, and created this fund to recognize the accomplishments of his friend.

The Spencer and June Severance Textbook Scholarship was created in honor of Gordon Severance’s brother, Spencer, and his wife June. Spencer attended Sacramento City College in the late 1930s and also went on to serve in World War II, achieving the rank of commanding officer in the engine room of U.S. Navy vessels in the Pacific theatre. He was honorably discharged and worked as an engineer for Campbell’s Soup at their factory in Sacramento. Spencer and June were married for 69 years and had three children.