Andera and Leandro's father works for UK behemoth Kingsley Oil, heading up their Middle East natural gas exploration division in London. Andera is indifferent to their father's work, as it has provided a comfortable lifestyle for her growing up. Andera continues to try to smooth things out between Leandro and their parents. She et Yasmin, Ginny, and Jillian at USM in 1993 and they've all been friends ever since. Their mother's maiden name is Apollonius. She lives alone in a house in the Bayview neighborhood. Their parents refuse to acknowledge which twin was born first. Andera is proficient at neuro-linguistics, a form of hypnosis.
Leandro Babaracos
After college, Leandro traveled the world for several years. Growing increasingly disconcerted at the state of the world, particularly the role US foreign policy plays in the misery of indigenous communities worldwide, he became involved in a variety of causes: anti-globalization, anti-nuclear power, worker's rights, women's rights, etc. Extremists in the Frente de la Liberación de la Ecología (FLE), one of the anarchist groups he organized with, claimed responsibility for a bombing in Barcelona that killed three people. He was not involved and didn't know of their plans but police rounded up anyone with ties to the group so he decided to return to the US. Andera and Leandro's father works for UK behemoth Kingsley Oil, heading up their Middle East natural gas exploration division in London. Leandro rejected his parents values once he became active in the social justice movement after college and had a falling out with them years ago. He barely keeps in contact with them today. Their mother's maiden name is Apollonius. Leandro lives alone in a loft apartment Downtown. Their parents refuse to acknowledge which twin was born first.
Caillan Bailey
Caillan was lovers with Cole while he was in law school and Cole was at the police academy. He lives alone in an apartment in the Orchard Grove neighborhood.
Jillian De Vries Bailey
Jillian and Nathan's mother Charissa died in 1980 when Jillian was 10. She's known Ann Benton Manning and Gail Renwick since childhood. Jillian met Yasmin, Ginny, and Andera at USM in 1993. She married Seamus in 1995. They lived with Trevor and Maggie for several months as newlyweds. Jillian met Max at a Clash cover band performance. After Seamus's death on 9/11, Jillian poured herself into her work, eventually becoming a partner at her architectural firm. She lives alone in a house at 156 Bayview Ln. in the Bayview neighborhood.
Maggie McDonough BaileySeamus Bailey [CAUTION: SPOILER]
Seamus married Jillian in 1995. They lived with Trevor and Maggie for several months as newlyweds. In NY with an appointment at World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, Seamus was not seriously injured during the terrorist attacks but developed amnesia. He's been living in New York ever since, creating a new life while trying to recover his identity. With the aid of close friendships he developed during his amnesia, he began to recall pieces of his past. Memories led him back to San Marcello but, overwhelmed by the flood of memories upon returning home, he chose to keep his identity secret.
Siobhan Bailey
Siobhan (pronounced shuh-VAWN) lives in an apartment in the McDonough Park neighborhood.
Trevor Bailey
Trevor
married Maggie in 1967. He lives with Maggie in a house in
the Orchard Grove neighborhood.
Autumn married Courtland in 1960. She had an affair with Ignacio Martinez in 1962 that was discovered by Courtland. Before she began to show, Courtland shipped her off to Europe to secretly give birth to Antonio. Antonio was flown to Mexico to meet up with Sabina Martinez who returned to San Marcello to raise him with Ignacio. Autumn lives with Courtland at Bay Vista Ranch in the Jensen Hill neighborhood.
Courtland Benton [CAUTION: SPOILER]
Courtland married Autumn in 1960. After discovering that Autumn was pregnant with Ignacio Martinez's child, Courtland arranged for Autumn to fly to Europe before she began to show and for Sabina Martinez to go to Mexico to "visit family". Once Autumn gave birth to Antonio, he was flown to Mexico to meet up with Sabina who returned home to raise him with Ignacio. Courtland lives with Autumn at Bay Vista Ranch in the Jensen Hill neighborhood. Courtland is the great grandson of San Marcello founder Emerson Sterling Benton, grandson of Hollis Benton.
Neil Benton
Neil is the great great grandson of San Marcello founder Emerson Sterling Benton, great grandson of Hollis Benton.
Philip Benton
Philip is the great great grandson of San Marcello founder Emerson Sterling Benton, great grandson of Hollis Benton. He lives alone in a house in the Bayview neighborhood. Philip's assistant's name is Donna Finelli.
Loch Brogan
Loch and Max's parents died in a fire that destroyed the family home in 2001 when Loch was 14. Max and Loch barely escaped with their lives. Max is his legal guardian. Loch was a straight-A student but the tragic loss of his parents took its toll on him. He began to drink and his grades slipped. Max and the Bailey family have worked hard to support and challenge him to make the right choices. Loch became involved with a group of anarchist punks who were out to change the world. Through them, he discovered that there was a lot wrong with the world and he developed a sense of purpose in life. Loch met Leticia Martinez at Emerson High and they started dating. He lives with Max in a house in the McDonough Park neighborhood.
Max Brogan
Max met Jillian at a Clash cover band performance soon began to work as her assistant in the architectural firm. Loch and Max's parents died in a fire that destroyed the family home in 2001 when Max was 18. Max and Loch barely escaped with their lives. As Max was an adult, he argued that he should be legally responsible for his little brother. With the help of Caillan Bailey, he became Loch's legal guardian. Max lives with Loch in a house in the McDonough Park neighborhood.
Frank Cain
Frank grew up very poor in a trailer park in Mikesboro with an alcoholic mother and little brother Daniel. He's been estranged from his mother for years and has little contact with Daniel. His mother was single when he was born and he never knew his father. There was a steady succession of "step-dads" throughout his childhood. Frank has long-delayed plans to refurbish his 1973 Chevy Camaro Rally Sport Z28. He likes heavy metal music. Frank lives alone in an apartment at 1019 Celeste St. in the Riverview neighborhood.
Bruno Corelli [CAUTION: SPOILER]
Bruno was born several weeks premature. His mother June died in labor. After Joe’s murder in 1994, 17-year-old Bruno was declared an emancipated minor. Both Bruno and older brother Leo despised Marcus as they believed he was responsible for their father’s death. After Marcus was acquitted of the murders of both Joe and Ramona, Bruno and Leo came to hate him. Vincenzo reached out to both, offering support and jobs, bringing them into his legitimate business, but soon had them working in the underworld. Bruno mainly dealt drugs and was arrested for trafficking in 1999. Vincenzo spared no expense, hiring him the best lawyers but, despite their best attempts, Bruno was convicted and sentenced to 7–10 years at Cold Forest Prison. With good behavior, he will be eligible for early parole in 2003.
Vittorio Cuzzuppe
Carter De Vries [CAUTION: SPOILER]
Carter married Charissa in 1965. He and a business partner started Foretell Technologies, a small electronics firm in the late 1960s. Carter was the business and marketing man, his partner was the technician. As the personal computer market exploded in the late-1970s, they found their business growing by leaps and bounds. In time, Carter bought out his partner, and the company became a subsidiary of De Vries International (DVI). In 1980, Charissa discovered the affair Carter had been having with another woman and threatened to divorce him and sue for sole custody of 14-year-old Nathan and ten-year-old Jillian. Carter arranged for his wife's death, rigging the propane system in their mountain cabin in Colorado to explode. Though the cabin was destroyed, Charissa survived. Carter kidnapped her before the authorities arrived, and sent her oversees to a private psychiatric institution in which he owned majority interest. He has paid the corrupt head psychiatrist for nearly a quarter-century to keep her drugged and imprisoned. Carter lives alone in New York.
Nathan De Vries [CAUTION: SPOILER]
Nathan and Jillian's mother Charissa died in 1980 when Nathan was 14. Nathan was Rhonda's lover from early 2001 through that fall but their relationship came to an end because neither of them truly trusted the other. Nathan approached Rhonda about defrauding the Bank of San Marcello in spring, 2002 and she willingly colluded, dressing in disguise, signing papers, receiving the check for a bogus loan. Lives alone in a house in the Bayview neighborhood.
Ed Evans
Ed married his wife in 1966. She died in 1976 when Yolanda was 10. He lives alone in a house in the McDonough Park neighborhood.
Isra Fahmoud
Isra emigrated to the US with her parents, aunt, and uncle in 1982 at the age of 3 when the Israelis invaded neighboring Lebanon. She lives with her cousin Yasmin in an apartment in the Orchard Grove neighborhood.Yasmin Fahmoud
Yasmin emigrated to the US with her parents, aunt, and uncle in 1982 at the age of 12 when the Israelis invaded neighboring Lebanon. She met Jillian, Ginny, and Andera at USM in 1993. Yasmin lives with cousin Isra in an apartment in the Orchard Grove neighborhood.Latrice Wilmore Jones Dupree Gaither
Latrice married Mr. Jones in 1961 while in high school and divorced in 1975; Married Mr. Dupree in 1978 and divorced in 1989; married Mr. Gaither in 1995 and divorced in 2000. She lives alone in an apartment in the Bayview neighborhood.Benjamin Grondahl, PhD
Ben lives alone in an apartment in the Orchard Grove neighborhood.
Darius Jones
Darius was a gang member in his teens. As a young adult, he spent some time living on the streets and in jail. He eventually pulled his life together and went to law school. Darius married Yolanda in 1997. He lives with Yolanda in a house in the Bayview neighborhood.Yolanda Evans Jones
Yolanda's mother died in 1976 when she was 10. She married Darius in 1997. Yolanda lives with Darius in a house in the Bayview neighborhood.Marcus Lazano [CAUTION: SPOILER]
As the result of severe abuse by Vincenzo, Marcus developed multiple personalities to cope. Marcus was a straight-A student until he was accused of murdering his mother Ramona in 1993 at age 15. Lack of evidence kept him from being prosecuted. He was planning to move in with the Corellis in 1995 when he had a car accident. Soon after, he was again accused of murder, this time of Joe Corelli, his biological father (unknown to anyone but Ramona). During the trial, lack of evidence kept him from being convicted of that crime as well as the murder of his mother. After dropping out of high school, Marcus began to commit petty crimes, including theft and computer hacking. He recently faked his death after committing a large jewel heist at Twin Creek's Van der Griff Museum. Marcus has the rare Type O-negative blood. He lives in a flat above Mrs. Williams' house in the Bayview neighborhood. Previous address(es): 195 Colonial Dr., Twin Creeks, 1019 Celeste St. (Frank's apartment); AKA Marc Lanza, Gian Capriola; alter-personalities: Jeff, Mario, Vermin.Veronica Roderick Lazano
Ronni was raised by her mother Amy after the death of her father (at least that’s what she was told). They lived barely above the poverty line and her mother vowed that Ronni would have a better life than she ever did. She began working for Vincenzo as his assistant in 1992 and was pushed by Amy into marrying him in 1994. She resides at Villa Lazano.
Vincenzo Lazano [CAUTION: SPOILER]
Vincenzo married Ramona in 1978. In 1993, enraged after she admitted to him that Ramona slept with Joe Corelli before they were married and that Marcus is Joe's son, he killed her and framed Marcus. While claiming that he believed Marcus was innocent, he worked to ensure he was convicted for the murders. When Joe discovered the truth after Marcus needed a blood transfusion following a car accident in 1995, Vincenzo killed Joe and again tried to pin it on Marcus. He began pursuing Veronica after he hired her as his assistant in 1992 and married her in 1994. Vincenzo resides at Villa Lazano.
Rhonda Lynn [CAUTION: SPOILER]
Rhonda grew up working-class in Santa Rosa. Her father is deceased and her mother still lives in the North Bay. Rhonda was Nathan's lover from early 2001 through that fall, but their relationship came to an end because neither of them truly trusted the other. In late fall/early winter 2001/02, she had a brief affair Eamon Riley, the president of the hospital's board of directors. Considering blackmailing him, she set up a secret camera in her bedroom and photographed them making love. She never did use the photos but kept them in case. She began seeing Philip in early 2002. Nathan approached her about defrauding the bank in spring, 2002 and she willingly colluded, dressing in disguise, signing papers, receiving the check for a bogus loan. Her assistant's name is Jenny Drew. Rhonda lives alone in an apartment in the Bayview neighborhood.Ann Benton Manning
Ann is the great great granddaughter of San Marcello founder Emerson Sterling Benton, great granddaughter of Hollis Benton. She's known Jillian De Vries Bailey and Gail Renwick since childhood; married Roger on 09/28/02. Ann is the chair of the Silicon Valley Daughters of the Pioneers; lives with Roger in a house in the Bayview neighborhood.Roger Manning
Roger married Ann on 09/28/02. He lives with Ann in a house in the Bayview neighborhood.Adriana Martinez
Adriana has always been extremely envious of and competitive with her sister Leticia. She lives with Antonio, Sierra, Diego, and Leticia in a house in the Orchard Grove neighborhood.Antonio Martinez [CAUTION: SPOILER]
Antonio is really Ignacio Martinez & Autumn Benton's son, Philip, Ann, & Neil's brother; Benicia & Desiderio's half brother, Sabina's stepson (see Sabina, Ignacio's back-story). lives with Sierra, Diego, Leticia, and Adriana in a house in the Orchard Grove neighborhood.Benicia Martinez [CAUTION: SPOILER]
With Honor, Benicia was ‘jumped out' of their gang: they had to fight the rest of the gang in order to leave honorably. Both were badly beaten but survived. In 1992, after Joaquin Sonora beat Honor and threatened Zac, Benicia stabbed him with a switchblade in front of the DVI construction site. With the help of another friend, she dumped his body in SF Bay and stashed the murder weapon in the foundation of the plaza in front of the building before they poured the concrete. Police investigated Sonora's disappearance, but since a body was never found, Ms. Martinez was never charged with a crime. She lives alone in an apartment in the McDonough Park neighborhood.Ignacio Martinez [CAUTION: SPOILER]
Ignacio had an affair with Autumn Benton in 1961. She gave birth to Antonio in 1962. Courtland Benton paid Ignacio and Sabina to raise Antonio as their own. The money afforded them to send Antonio to medical school. Ignacio lives with Sabina in a house in the McDonough Park neighborhood.Leticia Martinez
Leticia met Loch at Emerson High School and they began dating. She lives with Antonio, Sierra, Diego, and Adriana in a house in the Orchard Grove neighborhood.Sabina Martinez [CAUTION: SPOILER]
Courtland Benton paid for her to go to Mexico for several months in 1962 to "visit family". In reality, she stayed at a farm far from her relatives. Once Autumn Benton gave birth in Europe, baby Antonio was flown to Mexico so that Sabina could return home and raise him as a Martinez. Sabina lives with Ignacio in a house in the McDonough Park neighborhood.Sierra Martinez
Sierra lives with Antonio, Diego, Leticia, and Adriana in a house in the Orchard Grove neighborhood.Hanh Nguyen [CAUTION: SPOILER]
Hanh began working for rebel Northern Vietnam forces in the south at the age of 14. She met Tuan in 1973 after helping him escape after he was captured by the South. He was seriously wounded and she nursed him back to health. Believing he was a spy from the North, they fell in love and went underground until 1974. Hanh got pregnant with his child. The Communist's discovered Tuan's true identity. Though furious with him, Hanh truly loved Tuan and agreed to flee to the US Embassy in Saigon. Soon, all US personnel and many at-risk South Vietnamese were airlifted to safety as Saigon fell to the Communist North. Minh (Martin) was born in the Embassy immediately prior to the airlift, making him a US citizen. Hanh lives with Tuan and Luan in a house in the Orchard Grove neighborhood.Kevin (Khang) Nguyen
Khang means "to be in good health". Kevin lives with Martin in an apartment in the McDonough Park neighborhood.
Luan Nguyen
Luan means "to debate". She lives with Tuan and Luan in a house in the Orchard Grove neighborhood.
Martin (Minh) Nguyen
As his parents fled Vietnam in 1975, Martin was born in the US Embassy in Saigon as it fell to the Communist North, making him a US citizen. The family was airlifted and brought to San Francisco to be processed as refugees. Minh means "bright light". Martin lives with Kevin in an apartment in the McDonough Park neighborhood.
Tuan Nguyen [CAUTION: SPOILER]
In 1968, the US military tapped Tuan to go deep undercover in North Vietnamand an alternate identity was created: a North Vietnamese resident since birth named Loc Le Minh. He was groomed in Hanoi to become an operative. Once in the north, he rose through the ranks to become a high-ranking secret agent to spy on the south. All the while, Tuan gave information to US military intelligence. In 1973, as US forces were exiting Vietnam, he was captured by the South Vietnamese military and kept as a POW. Hanh, working for rebel forces in the south helped him escape but he was seriously wounded. She nursed him back to health and they fell in love. Tuan felt abandoned by the US and questioned his role in the war. They went underground until 1974. Hanh got pregnant with his child. The Communist's discovered his true identity. They fled to the US Embassy in Saigon. Soon, all US personnel and many at-risk South Vietnamese were airlifted to safety as Saigon fell to the Communist North; Minh (Martin) was born in the Embassy immediately prior to the airlift, making him a US citizen. Tuan lives with Hanh and Luan in a house in the Orchard Grove neighborhood.
Margaret Park, MD, PhD
Margaret emigrated from Busan, South Korea and settled in Oakland, CA in 1985 at the age of 20. She studied psychiatry at UCSF, graduating in 1995. Margaret lives alone in a house in the Bayview neighborhood.
Samir Patel
Samir emigrated from Bangalore, India in 1999 at the age of 24. He lives alone in an apartment in the Orchard Grove neighborhood.
Amanda Renwick [CAUTION: SPOILER]
Amanda married Charles in 1970. In 1973, she discovered she was unable to conceive. Charles began an affair with Mary, his married secretary, getting her pregnant. Mary gave birth to Gail and blood tests revealed that her husband Jim was indeed the father. Amanda believed that Charles was falling in love with the woman and vowed to get rid of her. Planning to threaten Mary to leave town, she confronted her in her home with a gun. During the struggle that ensued, Amanda pushed Mary backward. She fell, hit her head on an end table, and lost consciousness. Jim threw the door open, startling Amanda who pulled the trigger, killing him. Amanda placed the gun in Mary's hand, planning to call the police to frame her but when she regained consciousness, Mary had no memory of events immediately before she passed out. Amanda told Mary that she and her husband had fought over his discovery of her affair with Charles, and that Mary pulled the trigger. Amanda offered Mary money to leave town to avoid prosecution, provided that she leave baby Abigail to be raised by Charles and Amanda. Mary reluctantly agreed, and has been a fugitive ever since. Amanda lives with Charles in a house in the Bayview neighborhood.
Charles Renwick
Charles married Amanda in 1970. He began an affair with Mary, his married secretary, getting her pregnant; Mary gave birth to Gail and blood tests revealed that her husband Jim was indeed the father. Charles lives with Amanda in a house in the Bayview neighborhood.
Gail Renwick
Gail was adopted (see Amanda's back-story). As of 2002, Gail hasn't had contact with her birth family. She's known Jillian and Ann since childhood. Gail lives with Paige in an apartment in the McDonough Park neighborhood.
Brigit Riley
Brigit married Eamon in 1968. She lives with Eamon in a house in the Bayview neighborhood.
Eamon Riley
Eamon married Brigit in 1968. In late fall/early winter 2001/02, he had a brief affair with Rhonda Lynn. Eamon lives with Brigit in a house in the Bayview neighborhood.
Ginny Riley
Ginny lives alone in an apartment in the McDonough Park neighborhood.
Honor Solis
Honor was in the same gang as Benicia in the mid-80s. When Honor's family moved to Los Angeles in 1987, she dropped out of school and ran away from home to live with her gang back in San Marcello. She served time in jail but after being released, Honor and Benicia were both ‘jumped out' of their gang: they had to fight the rest of the gang in order to leave honorably. Both were badly beaten but survived. She got pregnant by an abusive man named Joaquin Sonora. After Joaquin's disappearance, she moved back to LA to provide a stable home for her infant son Zac and to rebuild her relationship with her parents. Following in Benicia's footsteps, she became a PI.
Zac Solis
Zac was born in San Marcello after his biological father Joaquin Sonora disappeared in 1992. He moved with his mother to LA soon after to live with her and his grandparents.
Paige Turner
Paige grew up in tiny McKittrick, in California's Central Valley. Her parents both worked at the Kingsley Oil Fields. She is the host of The Paige Turner Show, a live radio call-in show on KSMO-FM. Paige lives with Gail in an apartment in the McDonough Park neighborhood.
Cole Washington
Cole's father Andre was murdered in 1986 (see Emerald's back-story). At 17, he vowed to avenge the murder and enrolled in the police academy immediately after graduating high school. Cole came out of the closet at the academy and was shunned by everyone in his class. Chief Evans, longtime friend of the Washingtons, hired him knowing he was gay. In time, he was accepted on the force after proving to them he was a good cop. His colleagues don't embrace homosexuality, but they don't mind because he's a good detective. Cole was lovers with Caillan while in the academy. He has an Aunt Sarah. He lives with a Belgian Tervuran-mix dog named Winchester (so named because he was found near the Winchester Mystery House in San Jose) in an apartment in the McDonough Park neighborhood.
Earl Washington
Earl was only four years old when his father was killed by crack dealers. He went into the army after high school, thinking it was the only way to get an education and wanting to serve his country. Earl is on tour of duty in Iraq. He has an Aunt Sarah.
Emerald Washington
Emerald raised two sons under difficult economic circumstances with husband Andre, a construction worker, while she worked at the cannery. She witnessed their working class neighborhood decline over the decades. "White flight" of the '50s and '60s left the district's remaining residents--mostly people of color and immigrants from Mexico and Southeast Asia--without the services funded by a formerly-thriving tax base. The crime rate skyrocketed in the '70s and '80s. A new wave of drug-related crime swept through the area with the advent of crack cocaine. Andre was killed by drug dealers in 1986 as he fought to rid the block of a crack house. After being laid off by Jensen's Fine Fruits in the early-90s, Emerald trained to become a licensed occupational therapist. Emerald lives alone in a house in the McDonough Park neighborhood.
Lillith Williams [CAUTION: SPOILER]
Born Lillian Jensen, she married Jurgen Wilhelm in 1931. Lillian was a school teacher at Emerson High and coached the boys basketball team to two winning season during WWII. A descendant of Claus Jensen who started Jensen Fruit Packing and built what would become the Wilhelm Estate on Jensen Hill, she was thought to be a witch by local schoolchildren for decades. Lillian faked her death in 1997 at age 80 and changed her name to Lillith Williams. She lives in a house in the Bayview neighborhood, renting the upstairs unit to Marcus.
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