Lee Sousa Volta

Heliodoro “Lee” Sousa Volta, of Brentwood and previously Santa Clara, our beloved husband, father, grandfather, uncle, friend, teacher, counselor and coach entered into eternal rest on September 25, 2025. He is preceded in death by his parents Joe and Lucy, and siblings Mary Caires, Joe, and Victor.

Lee was born September 5, 1939, in Santa Cruz, Madeira, Portugal. Nine months later his father left for California during WWII to make a better life for his family. During the war, his father raised the money for his wife and four children to join him in June 1946. The family went through the famous immigration center at Ellis Island and then took a long train journey from New York to California. The family spent their first years in Santa Clara Valley at a cousin’s (Rodrigues) ranch in Cupertino. By 1950, the Volta family moved to Santa Clara. Like many in the valley, Lee spent a good part of his childhood in the prune and apricot orchards helping to earn money for the family.

Lee graduated from Santa Clara Union High School in 1958 and played on the 1957 SCVAL League Championship Football Team. After graduation Lee chased his goal of becoming a teacher and coach by attending Monterey Peninsula College and later graduating from San Jose State in 1964 with his teaching credential. While in college, Lee met his bride to be Jackie, who had come from North Dakota in hope of starting her teaching career. They were married in August 1964 just prior to his first teaching and coaching job at Newark High School. In 1965, Lee returned to his alma mater, Santa Clara, after being offered the opportunity to teach Physical Education and be the Head Track & Field and Assistant Football Coach. Lee took over as the Panthers, and later Bruins head football coach from 1977 to 1985. Lee was the first coach in Santa Clara High history to win a CCS playoff game. Lee finished his career at Santa Clara High as the freshmen counselor and retired in 2002. With what little time he had away from Santa Clara High, Lee loved to vacation with his family, especially if there was good fishing nearby. He also loved his many DIY projects at his workbench or in his yard.

In 2004, Lee and Jackie relocated to live the Summerset lifestyle in Brentwood. Much of their time was spent golfing and enjoying an active lifestyle with their new, and old, friends. Lee is survived by his wife Jackie, sons Eric (Judy) and Chris (Candy), and grandchildren Abby Guido (Mike), Ashely Koepplin (Grant), Ally Ajlouny (Jared), Casey, Ryan, Krista, Daniel, and Jennie. A visitation will be held at the Lima Family Mortuary, Santa Clara, on Tuesday, October 7 from 5:30-9:00pm with a 7pm prayer service. A funeral mass will be held on Wednesday, October 8 at St. Justin’s Parish Church, Santa Clara beginning at 11am with burial at Santa Clara Mission Cemetery and reception following the mass.