Annual Fall Awards Program 2025
Please join us as we celebrate this year’s recipients of the Roland K. Hall Award and the Amicus Award.
This year our awardees are: John “Jack” Ueberrhein for the Roland K. Hall Award, and Cheryl Cunha will receive the Amicus Award.
The event will be held on Thursday, October 30, 2025, at the Seymour Marine Discovery Center, 100 McAllister Way, Santa Cruz, from 5:30-7:30 pm.
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About the award recipients
Roland K. Hall Award to be presented to John “Jack” Ueberrhein
The award is presented by the SCCBA to attorneys who have displayed outstanding public service to their community. The recipient must be a California lawyer, living or working in Santa Cruz County, who excels in the profession, is in good standing with the Bar and has provided outstanding community service over the years. In addition, the recipient should epitomize the spirit of Rollie Hall and be a credit to his memory. He or she should be eclectic and kind-spirited, someone who works hard.
John “Jack” Ueberrhein
Jack was born in Watsonville CA on August 1st, 1950. He is a graduate of Watsonville High School, where he played football, water polo and swam. While at Watsonville High, he won the 1965 Manresa Invitational Surfing Contest. Before attending Cal Berkeley, he attended Cabrillo College where he swam for The Seahawk’s’’ swim team. He graduated from Cal Berkeley and then got his law degree from Lincoln Law School. After being licensed to practice law in 1979, he first worked out of his own house. In 1980 he opened a practice and got together with Richard Taylor as his associate. They practiced law together for about 35 years. Richard is now house counsel for Nordic Naturals. Since 2010, Jack shares office space with his partner Heidi Simonson and now also with Cherish Om and their two wonderful staff, Irene and Jennifer.
Jack lives in the La Selva Beach area with his partner Heidi and their dog Gus. They share five children and four grandchildren together.
Jack wanted to be a lawyer ever since he was a freshman in high school at Watsonville high. Prior to becoming a lawyer he was a lifeguard for the City of Santa Cruz and the State of California, he waited tables at The Soup Galley in Capitola, and was a carpenter with his brother.
Jack enjoys spending time with his family, bicycling, surfing, beach volleyball, practicing law once in a while, and walks with his dog.
The Amicus Award will be presented to Cheryl Cunha
The Amicus Award honors individuals whose generosity of time, knowledge, and service strengthens both the legal community and the broader community of Santa Cruz County.
Cheryl Cunha
I was born and raised in Firebaugh, a small farming community in the Central San Joaquin Valley, the fifth of seven children. Some football fans may recognize Firebaugh as the hometown of Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, who happens to be the nephew of one of my childhood friends. (I’ve never met him, but they’re a wonderful family.)
After graduating from CSU Fresno with a BA in Biology, I explored a variety of jobs—from Medfly trapper to appraiser aide. One of my favorite early roles was inspecting new homes for the Stanislaus County Assessor’s Office—driving around, observing construction, and documenting details with very little public contact.
In 1995, I joined the Santa Cruz County Assessor’s Office with the goal of becoming an appraiser. Within six weeks, I was an Appraiser I, working the coastal area from Park Avenue to La Selva Beach. I went on to earn my Advanced Appraiser certificate, promoted to Appraiser II, and later to Chief of Assessment Standards. Over the years, I supervised the counter, deeds, exemptions, and drafting—often stepping in where needed as our small staff required us to wear many hats.
In 2011, I became Chief Deputy Assessor – Administration, a role that combined leadership with problem-solving. Along the way, I also benefited greatly from CAASA, where assessor staff across the state share knowledge and support one another.
I retire with gratitude for the dedicated colleagues I’ve worked alongside, and confidence in the capable leaders now stepping into these roles. It has been an honor to serve the people of Santa Cruz County for nearly three decades.
