For the past several weeks, we’ve been asking South Valley
residents to tell us where to find some great, single guys, and we
got our answers. Friends, family and co-workers phoned in and
e-mailed us the names of their favorite bachelors who are just
waiting to be caught. Ladies, start your engines.
Frank Leal, Hollister
Age: 35
Occupation: Winemaker and vineyard owner
What he’s looking for in a partner: “An honest person with a good work ethic.”
The way to his heart: “Wine and chocolate.”
What he does with his free time: “Travel and enjoy the fruits of my labor.”
His pet peeve: “Fake people.”
Number of marriages: none
Number of kids: none
Favorite movie: ‘Gladiator’
His car: Ford F-150 and a 1965 convertible Impala
Ideal date: “Dinner, good conversation and dancing.”
Dave Clapham, Hollister
Age: 51; “I just had my third 49th birthday.”
Occupation: “I took early retirement from law enforcement. I worked as a Santa Clara County probation officer, and I still work part time.”
What he’s looking for in a partner: “I like a person who is bright, witty, has a good sense of humor and a nice butt.”
The way to his heart: “I think someone who is real in terms of down to earth, a good conversationalist and a person who likes to have fun.”
What he does with his free time: “I like to travel a bit and I like the outdoors, so I like to go to the ocean and the Sierras. I like to fish, I like to work out and I like to go to new restaurants for nice dinners.”
His pet peeve: “I’m pretty easygoing, but I think probably talking on the phone too long or talking too much about nothing. And I don’t like smokers.”
Number of marriages: “I’ve been married, but my wife passed away about eight years ago.”
Number of kids: ” I have two boys who are 17 and 20.”
Favorite movie: “‘The Quiet Man,’ although I like a lot of movies.”
His car: Chevy Suburban
Ideal date: “For fun, a restaurant overlooking the ocean, starting out with an appetizer of pickled eggs followed by Basque-style barbecue and maybe a horseshoe game. Or maybe a pampered serious getaway weekend in Yosemite at the Ahwahnee Hotel with a fireplace in the room and champagne in the snow. You never know.”
David Cox
Age: 41
Occupation: Director of a nonprofit
What he’s looking for in a partner: “Someone who has a zest for life. I’m looking for what I like to say is a Renaissance woman; someone who is as comfortable at the opera as she is at the bowling alley. She has to have a good sense of humor and be smart, intelligent and have a spirit for adventure.”
The way to his heart: “Someone who makes me feel special, who hopefully allows me to make them feel special. And you know, there’s that kind of admiration and pride you hope to find in one another.”
What he does with his free time: “I like to read and to volunteer. I love music, travel and I like to play golf. I love food and wine, and spending time with my dog.”
His pet peeve: “I’m kind of a neat-nik. I’m not a slovenly messy person – that’s not my cup of tea.”
Number of marriages: none
Number of kids: none
Favorite movie: ‘The Shawshank Redemption,’ ‘Annie Hall,’ ‘Roger and Me’ and ‘The Godfather’
His car: Chevy Silverado pickup truck
Ideal date: “For a first date, I like to be in a comfortable situation; nothing too over the top, but nothing too mundane, like going to a movie where you can’t talk. There has to be an opportunity for talking, for her to get to know me and me to get to know her. I’m sometimes passive, so someone who will take initiative, be adventurous and who isn’t scared to try new things would be good.”
Deepu Kochuparambil
Age: 22
Occupation: Student, “Manny” (a male nanny), volunteer core member for Life Teen, a Catholic youth-ministry organization
What he’s looking for in a partner: “A good personality, a sense of humor is important, honesty. I’m looking for an all-around good person, a good talker and a good dancer, too – she’s got to be able to dance – and someone who likes all different kinds of music.”
The way to his heart: “Through my rib cage. Just kidding. I would have to say that the person has to like me for who I am, and they need to get along with my family and my family should like her. ”
What he does with his free time: “I practice the piano a little bit, I listen to music a lot, watch TV and hang out with my friends, you know – going out, getting drinks and dancing.”
His pet peeve: “I don’t really have one.”
Number of marriages: none
Number of kids: none
Favorite movie: “That’s a tough one. I’d have to say ‘Super Troopers,’ ‘The Incredibles,’ ‘West Side Story’ and ‘Dogma.'”
His car: Volkswagen Jetta
Ideal date: “I think going to dinner somewhere and doing something other than movies, because during a movie you can’t really talk. Then maybe a nice long walk on the beach. And she pays.”
Heinz Mailbaum, San Francisco
Age: 31
Occupation: Gilroy firefighter and paramedic
What he’s looking for in a partner: “Someone who is honest. Honesty is real big with me, not only in our relationship but someone who will be honest with herself, too.”
The way to his heart: “It has to be a smile that lights up the room; a sincere, lovable smile that makes me say ‘Wow, that girl is really cute.'”
What he does with his free time: “I like traveling and going to different parts of California, nothing too far away. I like working out, I do a little boxing, and having family time. It’s hard because most of my friends are working when I have my free time, but I try and go out and enjoy the nightlife in San Francisco, and I do a lot of eating out.”
His pet peeve: “I don’t like people who make big deals out of nothing or someone who’s really fussy and has to have her exact way all the time. I like someone who’s open-minded.”
Number of marriages: none; “I’ve been lucky.”
Number of kids: none
Favorite movie: “It has to be ‘The Shawshank Redemption.'”
His car: Nissan Maxima
Ideal date: “I like to keep first dates simple. That way, if it doesn’t work out, we’re not stuck. Maybe something like a romantic dinner – not too romantic, just kind of romantic but still casual – so I can talk to the person and get to know them and see if it’s going to work out. Then maybe go to drinks after if we’re getting along well.”
Mario Bena, Gilroy
Age: 25
Occupation: Gilroy firefighter paramedic
What he’s looking for in a partner: “Someone who is sweet, kind, sincere, compassionate, outgoing and caring.”
The way to his heart: “Just being a normal person, not trying to be someone you’re not. Just be yourself.”
What he does with his free time: “I weight lift and work out, I go to the beach, hang out with my dad and my friends, and I work on house projects.”
His pet peeve: “I’m a pretty clean guy. I don’t like stuff just thrown around.”
Number of marriages: none
Number of kids: none
Favorite movie: “Tears of the Sun”
His car: ’87 Chevy pickup, 3/4 ton
Ideal date: “Somewhere with a good atmosphere, where you can sit down and talk, have a good dinner, but if there’s a silence, there’s stuff to look at so it’s not awkward.”
Phillip Gibson, Hollister
Age: 22
Occupation: Mechanic
What he’s looking for in a partner: “There’s nothing I’m really looking for specifically, just a good person who’s fun to be around.”
The way to his heart: “I like having a good time, going out, and I like someone who laughs a lot.”
What he does with his free time: “I ride dirt bikes and hang out with my friends.”
His pet peeve: “I don’t like it when people call you too much.”
Number of marriages: none
Number of kids: none
Favorite movie: “I don’t really have a favorite, but I like ‘Scarface’ and ‘Tombstone.'”
His car: Chevy 4-wheel drive pickup truck
Ideal date: “I think dinner and a movie; something simple, so you can talk and get to know the person.”
Come and Get ’em
– Do you have your eye on one of these guys? Give us your name, age, occupation and contact information, and we’ll pass it on to your favorite bachelor. Provide your information to Kelly Savio at (408) 842-2205 or ks****@**********rs.com.
And Now for the Bachelorettes
– You can also contact Kelly to nominate a most eligible bachelorette for an upcoming story just like this one, but featuring – you guessed it – women.
