Rooted in the East Bay: The Varni Family’s O’Dowd Story
- 3 hours ago
- 3 min read
Tony Varni ’57 traveled from Hayward each day to attend Bishop O’Dowd High School. A graduate of All Saints Catholic School, he and his family were committed to continuing his Catholic education. “O’Dowd was the new Catholic high school,” says his grandson Graham Ramiza ’17, “and was a natural landing place with our family’s roots in the East Bay.”
That legacy drew in Tony’s daughter, Sara Varni Bright ’96, who also attended All Saints and knew she wanted to follow in her father’s footsteps. She was drawn not only by academics—she was excited by the size and diversity of the student body.
“O’Dowd has always attracted students from across the East Bay,” Sara says. “It was very appealing to go to a big school and meet kids from Berkeley, Oakland, Richmond, Castro Valley. It was a lot of new people, new perspectives, new experiences.”
That same spirit of openness drew in the third generation. Sara’s daughter Ava Bright ’28 and nephew Graham Ramiza ’17 both chose O’Dowd because they wanted to meet new people and take on a challenge. Ava came from St. Philip Neri in Alameda, Graham from St. Paul’s in Oakland—and both found something energizing in the opportunity.
“O’Dowd has stayed the same, in the best way,” Sara reflects. “It’s kept a great culture intact all these years, while always evolving to meet the current generation.”
One constant across generations has been a drive toward leadership. “I guess we’re all Type A,” Sara laughs. Tony served on Student Council, and Sara followed suit—eventually becoming class secretary as a senior. “I loved helping to plan the rallies,” she says. Ava, too, has stepped into leadership early, becoming a class representative her freshman year. “O’Dowd is a place that allows you to flourish, pursue your interests, and become your own person,” adds Graham.
That drive often showed up on the field. Tony ran track, Sara played soccer, and Graham took up lacrosse. Sports weren’t just about competition—they were a way to build community with students from different grades and backgrounds. “You really got to connect with people you might not have known otherwise,” Sara says. “Sports helped bridge those groups.”
Another powerful thread across generations is service. Graham volunteers with a nonprofit, finding meaning in meeting new people and giving back. Ava has already exceeded the 10th grade 25-hour service learning requirement. She spent three weeks last summer working with a community organization that serves autistic children. “O’Dowd always emphasized how important it is to be a contributing member of our community, wherever that is,” Graham says.
Sara has also given back to O’Dowd as a parent volunteer, most recently as a co-chair of the annual Transforming Lives Dinner in support of tuition assistance. “I’ve always appreciated the diversity of O’Dowd’s student body,” she says. “Supporting the Transforming Lives Dinner helps sustain what makes O’Dowd special.”
Intergenerational connection is part of the school’s story—and the Varni family’s. One of Tony’s good friends at O’Dowd was Kip Wixson ’57, and the two families became closely intertwined. Kip’s daughter Heidi Wixson Novak became best friends with Sara’s sister, Andrea Varni Ramiza. Their children, including Graham and Owen Ramiza ’19, and Charlie ’17 and Atticus Novak ’23, grew up together and all attended O’Dowd.
One of Sara’s best friends, Becky Wacht Cusack ’96, now has three Dragons: Brody ’25, Adam ’27, and Aubrey ’29. Sara’s daughter Ava fits right into the lineup as the Class of 2028. “We always text each other at O’Dowd events,” Sara laughs. “We’re big Dragon nerds.”
Looking back on 75 years of O’Dowd history, the Varnis feel proud—and hopeful. Tony still keeps up with the latest school news, celebrating new additions to campus like the Center for Environmental Studies and the Cummins Center.
“I’ve met people who graduated 10–15 years ahead of me and 10–15 years behind me,” Sara says. “No matter what they were into—sports, drama, music, debate—they had a great experience. And that’s rare. O’Dowd was great then, and it’s great now. We’re excited for what’s next.”
