California Woman Reunited with Ring Found on Maui

Class ring found on Maui.

By Wendy Osher

A California woman is being reunited with her high school class ring, years after losing track of the item. The ring somehow ended up on Maui and was found in the dirt along a roadside in Happy Valley earlier this year.

The woman who found the ring stumbled upon it about six months ago on Kahawai Street, across the street from her home.

She turned it in to police on Sunday, Nov. 11, 2012, after attempts to find its owner through the Lost and Found pages on Craig’s List went unanswered.

Officer Ka Lae O Ka Ena Brown with the ring.

The ring was a Jostens women’s ring, containing a blue stone, and engraved with the words St. Mary of the Wasatch, the year 1970, and the initials “JM” on the inside.

Wailuku Patrol Officer, Ka Lae O Ka Ena Brown, who was assigned to respond to the incident, did an internet search and found a website and email address for the director of the alumnae for the school formerly known as St. Mary of the Wasatch in Utah. In 1970, St. Mary of the Wasatch was an “all girl” high school, but later changed to a college.

Officer Brown then emailed the school informing them of the investigation and a picture of the ring. On Monday, an email response was received, confirming that the ring belonged to a graduate from 1970, and that there was a single student matching the initials on the ring. The Director of Archives and Records related that the student’s name was Jane McGill, and she was among 84 students that graduated that year.

St Mary Class Ring found on Maui.

The school official contacted the woman’s brother, who in turn called his sister Jane Razzeca (maiden name Jane McGill).

Razzeca told authorities that she was ecstatic that her class ring was found after all these years and that she was very happy that Officer Brown went out of her way to return the ring.

Razzeca told police that she did visit Maui about six years ago when her daughter got married in Wailea; however, she did not recall bringing the ring on the trip. Police say the woman had related that she lost track of the ring many years ago, as she has since moved to California.

As a result of her diligent work, Officer Brown was recommended for a commendation by her supervisor. “We are very proud of Officer Brown, who epitomizes the spirit of professional policing for the Maui Police Department and the caring nature of the people of Hawaii,” said Chief Gary Yabuta in a media statement.