SAN JOSE, Calif. – At halftime of Sunday’s match, the San Jose Earthquakes will honor 10 recipients of a Devotion Scarf, an honor bestowed upon only the most devoted Earthquakes fans, staff, alumni or other members of the Earthquakes family. The Quakes presented Devotion Scarves for the first time in 2015, and they are now awarded annually at the final home game of the regular season. The 10 recipients of a 2019 Devotion Scarf are included below with descriptions of their commitments to club. The complete archive of all Devotion Scarf recipients can be found here.
Almaden – Almaden has been the longest running sponsor of the team, dating back to when the Quakes were the Clash in 1996. When the team returned in 2008 after a two-year hiatus, they immediately signed on again to sponsor and support the team. Some of the work that fans can appreciate today from Almaden are the large entrance wall prints (Women's World Cup, City of SJ, etc.), game day player cards, and the practice field fence mesh.
Anastasio Garcia – Hard work and commitment are just two words to describe Anastasio Garcia. Working as part of the stadium operations department since 2000 at Spartan Stadium, Garcia has experienced many memorable moments with the Quakes. Since 2012, Garcia has worked part time as an assistant engineer for the San Jose Earthquakes, two years at Buck Shaw Stadium, and five at Avaya Stadium. His favorite memory with the Quakes is seeing the team raise MLS Cup twice.
Bang Huynh– Bang is a soccer leader in the Vietnamese community and has been spearheading the Quakes’ Vietnamese Heritage Night efforts for years. Arriving in the United States in 1990, Bang quickly began following the Quakes and has been a fan ever since. Bang is an active member and leader at Vietnamese Soccer League of Northern California, based in San Jose. The league focuses on three pillars: Competition, Fellowship and Community. Bang has helped grow the beautiful game in our community and support local youth through events, fundraising, and soccer clinics.
Beatriz Torres – Beatriz Torres is everything and more that you’d dream of when thinking about the ideal Quakes supporter and community leader. Not only does she give unconditional love and support for the Quakes but as a group leader for San Pablo United, she spreads the love of the game to hundreds of kids and families within the San Pablo Community. Because of her dedication and work behind the scenes, hundreds of kids over the years have got to be a part of the Quakes family by participating in special experiences like halftime mini games, Ball Kids, and Team Escorts.
Carlos Chang – Carlos Chang has been a member of the club’s media relations staff since the first MLS match back in 1996. Working for many years on a volunteer basis, Chang even flew out to MLS Cup in 2003 to support the Quakes in pursuit of their second league championship. Chang has also been heavily involved in Soccer United Marketing and has served as a team liaison for many international competitions. He continues his role on the Earthquakes’ media relations staff to this day and can be seen overseeing photographers on matchday.
Crystal Cuadra – Oddly enough, Crystal Cuadra started to really follow soccer right after the Earthquakes moved to Houston in 2006. When the team returned in 2008, Cuadra vowed to make sure to support her local club. She not only supported the Quakes but became actively involved. In 2009, Cuadra became a season ticket holder. Ten years later, she’s still here supporting loudly from the stands. Cuadra’s favorite memory as a fan was watching Chris Wondolowski score four goals against Chicago and breaking the all-time MLS goal-scoring record.
Jerri Johnson – Jerri Johnson is a longtime supporter of the Earthquakes and has been a member of the club’s matchday operations crew since the 90s. Johnson followed the NASL Earthquakes back in the 70s and later became an avid fan of the team when Eric Wynalda scored the league’s inaugural goal at Spartan Stadium in 1996. He is a big supporter of former defender Troy Dayak and believes his comeback from neck surgery to help the Quakes win their first MLS Cup is the best reflection of The Beast’s work ethic and dedication. He can be found working in the player tunnel at all Quakes home matches.
Juan Alcaraz – Juan Alcaraz has been a loyal and hardworking employee and fan of the San Jose Earthquakes since 1982. During his time working for San Jose State University, Alcaraz would help set up and maintain the fields at the Quakes’ original home, Spartan Stadium. For the last seven years, Alcaraz has been a part-time assistant engineer at Avaya Stadium, sharing his expertise with the future generations. During his 30+ years of service, his favorite memory is seeing the Quakes win two MLS Cups.
Ned Zuparko – Ned Zuparko has been a volunteer Board member since 2006 and a past President of Soccer Silicon Valley, where their motto has been “Building Community Through Soccer.” As a teacher, Zuparko was able to recruit and organize other teachers to help the Quakes create and pilot the original “Get Earthquakes Fit” program in the Evergreen School District. Zuparko believes the Scarf indicates he’s been able to make a useful contribution to the club. His most memorable moment was the day before his birthday in 2003 sitting in Spartan Stadium when the Quakes played the Galaxy and achieved the greatest comeback in MLS history.
Scott Schlotfeldt – Scott Schlotfeldt went to his first San Jose Earthquakes match in 1977 with his dad and has been a fan ever since. As time went on, his love for soccer grew too. He’s been coaching now for over 20 years and he has worked with over 15,000 kids during that time. He is currently a coach wtih Kidz Love Soccer, focusing on the Los Gatos and Willow Glen neighborhoods. Schlotfeldt, a longtime Quakes season ticket holder, believes Chris Wondolowski is the perfect example for the kids he coaches due to his underdog mentality and desire to be a good person.
Previous Devotion Scarf Recipients:
2018: Dorene Bolanos, Terry Cotting-Mogan, Curtis Hisao, Jacquie & Jeff Hofmann, Colin McCarthy, Kevin Moore, Raul Peralez, Cezar Popovici, Joe Santos Sr., Susan Silveira, John Wondolowski.
2017: Raul Bueno, Debbie Freeman, Brian Holmes, Betty Jean Schweitzer, John Jussen, Darryl Kojima, Amanda Farina-Morris, Jeff Ota, Easy Perez, Mike Pizzo and John Todd.
2016: Dan Burkhead, Olly Bayliss, Ted Firestone, Krazy George Henderson, Dan Ignacio, Bryan Jarvis, Jerry and Bernie Larkin, Mayor Sam Liccardo and Eric Santiago.
2015: Mark and Patty Biagini, Marlee and Glenn Castleman, Shaun Del Grande, Julie Di Maria, Dr. Michael Furlong, Jose Fuentes, Don Gagliardi, Jeff Kordes, Dan Margarit, Dave McAllister, Carol Haner, Shelley McCune, Jesse Mendes, Dave Obenour, Anthony Perry, Carlos Cesar Rivera, Brenda Scott, Alan Wolfe and Ken Yeager.
