Downey High announces 2021 Hall of Fame class

DOWNEY — Downey High School has revealed its 2021 Hall of Fame class, which will be honored at an induction ceremony Oct. 29. 

This year’s class includes physician and scientist Dr. Kathleen Fisch (2002); Downey Unified superintendent Dr. John Garcia (1985); civic leader Javier Lizarde (2004); Miami Dolphins executive Darline Llopis (2006); and ABC television executive Mark Mandala (1955).

The induction ceremony begins at 10:30 a.m. in the Downey High theater. Inductees will also be honored that same night at the Downey-Warren football game. 

Below are brief bios of each of the inductees as provided by Downey Unified School District. 

Kathleen Fisch, Ph.D., graduated with Honors from Downey High School in 2002.  In addition to graduating as an AP Scholar, she participated in several extracurricular activities. 

Dr. Fisch graduated from the University of California (UC) Berkeley in 2006 studying Integrative Biology. She went on to obtain her Ph.D. in Ecology from UC Davis in 2011, where she studied conservation of genetics of endangered fish species. Through postdoctoral research positions the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research and The Scripps Research Institute, Dr. Fisch transitioned her research focus to human genetics and computational biology.

Dr. Fisch in now the Faculty Director of the UC San Diego Center for Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, Co-Director of Altman Clinical and Translational Research Institute Center for Excellence in Translational Immunogenomics, and Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, in the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine and UC San Diego. In her leadership roles, Dr. Fisch spearheads the development of a vibrant, leading edge vision for computational genomics, bioinformatics support and infrastructure at US San Diego Health Sciences. 

She has played a pivotal role in the molecular surveillance of COVID-19 virus variants in California as a member of the San Diego Epidemiology and Research for COVID Health Alliance, where she has led the computational effort to analyze thousands of virus samples. Dr. Fisch continues to work to advance her field through active, ongoing research, focusing on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying pregnancy disorders and exposures to improve maternal and child health throughout the lifespan.

John A. Garcia, Jr., Ph.D., returned to his roots in Downey when he was selected to be Downey Unified School District’s Superintendent. He is the fourth Superintendent since 1971 and the first ever Downey Unified alum to serve as Superintendent. 

Dr. Garcia attended Carpenter Elementary, South Middle and graduated from Downey High School in 1985.  He earned his Ph.D. in Education with an emphasis in Urban Leadership at the Claremont Graduate University, as well as an Executive MBA at the Peter F. Drucker and Masatoshi Ito Graduate School of Management at Claremont Graduate University.  He holds a second Master’s Degree in Education Administration from California State University, Fullerton and a Bachelor’s Degree from California State University, Long Beach.

In Dr. Garcia’s 30 years in the field of public education, he has served in five California districts where he held the roles as a teacher, site administrator, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources/Director of Classified Personnel, and Deputy Superintendent of Educational Services. He continues his passion for educating others by currently serving as an Adjunct Professor for the doctoral program at the Claremont Graduate University School of Educational Studies.

In addition to his work in the state of California, Dr. Garcia has also been involved at the national and international levels, serving as the Chief Ambassador for a delegation of educators who traveled to Isehara City, Japan.  In that role, Dr. Garcia visited schools and facilitated the exchange of ideas and practices between American and Japanese education systems.  Dr. Garcia has also studied the relationship between education, government and non-profit organizations at Templeton College at Oxford University in the United Kingdom.

Dr. Garcia still considers Downey home, where he formed lifelong friendships that began in elementary school and into his years at DHS.  Dr. Garcia and his wife Nicole have two children, Madeline (26) and Jacob (22).  Because of his father’s great school experiences and family legacy of DHS grads, in 2014, his son Jacob chose to attend DHS and graduated in 2018.  Dr. Garcia has shared that handing Jacob his DHS diploma has been one of the true highlights since becoming Superintendent.

Javier Lizarde graduated from Downey High School in 2004.  Before attending Downey High School, Javier attended Carpenter Elementary, Williams Elementary and Sussman Middle School. While attending Downey High School he was well liked by the staff and his peers. He was a model student and a citizen of strong character.

Lizarde is an active member of St. Dominic Savio Church in Bellflower, where he has been the Altar person since 2004. He is an active member of Gangs Out of Downey (GOOD) and wants young people to make healthy choices in life. He can be counted on to help distribute backpacks, attend National Night Out, Coffee with a Cop and various philanthropic golf tournaments. He attends the Chamber of Commerce Ribbon Cuttings, car shows for charity, concerts in the parks and much more. He is also a strong supporter of our Downey Police and Fire Departments.

Recently, Lizarde became known as the “Unofficial Mayor of Downtown Downey” and that title has stuck because he represents what Downey is all about, supportive and uplifting its residents.

Darline Llamas Llopis was a top student in the class of 2006.  She held multiple leadership positions in student government (ASB), was an AP Scholar, member of the National Honor Society, four-year honor roll recipient and student athlete. She received her B.S. in Business and Accounting from the University of Southern California and Master’s Degree in Business from the University of California (UC) Los Angeles.

In 2017, Llopis joined the Los Angeles Rams as Controller after leaving the multinational accounting firm of Ernst and Young Global Limited. She began with the Rams shortly after their return to Los Angeles and assisted in finalizing the Finance Department’s transition from St. Louis. 

In June 2021, Darline joined the Miami Dolphins as Senior Director of Finance.

Mark Mandala graduated from Downey High School in 1955. He was a proven leader throughout his life. Following his elections as Junior Class President, Senior Class President and Student Body President at Downey High School. Mark was selected as one of five varsity cheerleaders at the University of Southern California (USC) and served there on many service organizations.

After his studies at USC, he was a 33-year veteran for the American Broadcasting Company (ABC), becoming President of ABC owned television stations and ultimately rising to the post of President of the network in 1986.

As President he oversaw sales, affiliate relations, affiliate marketing services, sales development, network operations, program administration and public relations. He possessed the traits of intelligence, a solid work ethic and an incomparable sense of humor.