Ronald "Ron" Henry Brunet

On July 14, 2025, at 12:01 PM at Stanford Hospital in Palo Alto, California, Ronald Henry Brunet drew his final breath surrounded by family. A devoted husband, father, grandfather, gardener, Army officer, and true friend, he listened to Dinah Washington’s “What a Difference a Day Makes,” inhaled the sweetest rose from his garden, and set off for whatever comes next—embraced by those he loved most.

Ron was born three days before Thanksgiving—on November 24, 1947—in Monterey, California, to first-generation Italian-American Catherine Brunet (née Benech) and Italian-born René Brunet, whose family came from the Waldensian community of Torre Pellice in Italy’s Piedmont region in the Province of Turin. René was born in Paris, France, where his parents had made their temporary home for work. Though Ron was their only child—long hoped for and deeply cherished—he grew up amid the strong roots of his Italian-American family. Nearly all his extended relatives lived within a three-block radius in the Oak Grove neighborhood of Monterey, fostering a tight-knit community. He formed lifelong bonds with his cousins Gene, Richard, and Bob, who were more like brothers than cousins.

He spent his childhood in the family home and attended Oak Grove Elementary and Walter Colton Jr. High School. He graduated from Monterey High School in 1965, where he excelled in football (playing on an undefeated senior team), wrestling, and swimming. He then attended Monterey Peninsula College, joined the Circle K service club, served as the sports editor for El Yanqui, the student newspaper, and played water polo. He later earned a Bachelor of Science in Social Studies Education with a minor in History from the University of Missouri in 1971—becoming the first in his family to graduate from college—and a Master of Science in Education, focusing on Community Counseling from St. Bonaventure University in Olean, NY, in 1982.

Military Service

Ron was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army on March 31, 1971, and served for nearly 21 years as a Counterintelligence Officer. In 1972, when the newly established Defense Investigative Service (DIS) assumed responsibility for Department of Defense personnel‑security investigations, he was selected as one of its first special investigators, continuing the sensitive background investigations and screenings he had already been performing for the Army in Southern California during the Vietnam era. As a junior officer, he led a highly effective 12‑agent team during a tense political climate, helping safeguard U.S. service members deployed to Southeast Asia.

In 1974, Ron returned home for a five‑year tour at Fort Ord—just minutes from the Monterey streets of his childhood. He began as the battalion intelligence and security officer and was soon promoted to lead the brigade’s section, expanding his watch from about 800 soldiers to more than 3,500 as the Vietnam War drew to a close. During that period he literally wrote the handbook on weapons care and security drills for more than 10,000 soldiers in the division, helping keep the unit ready for its post‑war missions. Those years were also personally transformative: he and Roberta welcomed their sons, beginning a new chapter of family life on familiar soil.

In July 1979, Ron was assigned to the ROTC program at St. Bonaventure University in Olean, New York, where he served as Assistant Professor of Military Science. He guided cadets through field training, leadership courses and coaching competitive orienteering while completing his master’s degree in Community Counseling. During those New York years, Ron and Roberta threw themselves into remodeling their historic home—doing much of the work by hand—and, amid the tile grout and wallpaper paste, welcomed their daughter, completing their family of five.

In 1983, Ron and his family moved to Ansbach, Germany, where he joined the 501st Military Intelligence Battalion of the storied 1st Armored Division as a senior planning officer. He coordinated daily operations and large‑scale training for thousands of soldiers and, most memorably, helped conceive and lead a landmark desert exercise with Moroccan forces in the Sahara. This experience forged cross‑cultural friendships and became the source of many cherished tales—attending Berber weddings, navigating mile‑long convoys, and working with an unforgettable Moroccan colonel whose limited English famously included little more than the phrases "Hello," “Pepsi,” “Coke,” and “I have big hands!”

In January 1986, Ron moved his family to West Berlin and assumed one of the most demanding roles of his career as deputy commander of the 766th Military Intelligence Detachment—widely regarded as the U.S. Army’s premier counter‑espionage unit at the peak of the Cold War. Working with a tight‑knit team of skilled counterintelligence officers and support staff, the unit tracked hostile agents, protected Allied secrets, and helped close out the final tense chapter of the Cold War. Ron served proudly in this post until mid‑1989, just months before the Berlin Wall fell.

In 1989, Ron accepted his final assignment at U.S. Army Europe headquarters in Heidelberg, Germany. There he helped modernize and link the Army’s intelligence and communications networks across Europe—work that proved vital when Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm began in the Persian Gulf.

While Ron never saw battle firsthand—something he humbly carried as a quiet regret—his family is deeply proud of the vital behind-the-scenes intelligence, personnel-security, and communications support he provided during the Vietnam and Gulf Wars.

His honors include the Meritorious Service Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Army Commendation Medal with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, the Army Achievement Medal, the Army of Occupation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal with bronze service star, the Armed Forces Reserve Medal, the Army Service Ribbon, and the Overseas Service Ribbon (x3). He also completed the Command and General Staff College and other advanced courses, reflecting his professionalism, leadership, and dedication to duty. He retired as a Major on February 29, 1992.

Post-Military Career & Community

After retiring, Ron returned to California and settled in Carmel, where his children attended school. He started a new career as Guidance Director at Palma High School in Salinas for 21 academic years (1993–2014), advising the National Honor Society and helping hundreds of students gain admission to their top college choices. Many of his former students became respected local professionals—physicians, nurses, local businessmen, lawyers, renowned winemakers, and even professional athletes—reflecting his profound and lasting impact. He was respected by colleagues and beloved by students for his dedication and unwavering support, often recognized by community members who fondly recalled his guidance.

A longtime member of the Kiwanis Club and an early enthusiast in Monterey’s home-computing community through Club Mac of the Monterey Peninsula, he also volunteered at community events and supported educational efforts throughout the Central Coast.

Family & Personal Life

Ron married Roberta (née Goulding) Brunet on January 30, 1971, and together they raised three children: Robert, Russell, and Renée-Michele. He was a devoted husband, a proud father, and a deeply loving grandfather to Charlotte, Catherine, Forest, and Benjamin. He is also survived by his daughter-in-law Angela; his cousins David Benech, Kathy Benech, and Janice Brown (née Benech) and her husband Bill Brown.

In his younger years, Ron loved the outdoors—hiking (especially Volksmarching in Germany), skiing, orienteering—and served as a Scout leader for both his sons. He was a proud supporter of Mizzou sports and a lifelong fan of Bay Area sports, especially the Giants, 49ers, and Raiders. He enjoyed golf when he could but rarely made the time, always putting others first. Music filled Ron’s home, creating an atmosphere where melodies of love, friendship, and resilience flowed from room to room—jazz horns mingling with classic‑rock riffs, a constant soundtrack to family life. Photography was another lifelong passion; a camera was seldom far from his reach. In 2018, he and Russell took an online photography course together, rekindling his creative eye, and one of his final adventures was a photography tour of Santa Fe in the summer of 2019, blending his love of travel with the art of capturing light.

A passionate home gardener, Ron lovingly continued his father’s garden in Monterey, tending the citron tree, concord grapes, and wisteria. His roses were known throughout the neighborhood for their extraordinary fragrance. He cared for several beehives to help pollinate the garden and nurtured a bounty of vegetables and a second generation of fruit trees. He also loved cooking—especially big breakfasts and Italian dishes—and in recent years joined his cousin David in making cannoli at Festa Italia, joyfully celebrating family, food, and community.

Character & Legacy

Ron was a man of honor, integrity, and quiet strength. Soft‑spoken yet unwavering in his convictions, he greeted everyone—from four‑star generals to high‑school freshmen—with the same genuine courtesy and attention. He believed life’s true measure lay in humble service: showing up early, staying late, and doing the unglamorous work that helped others succeed. A patient mentor and a gifted storyteller, he sprinkled lessons with dry humor drawn from his eclectic experiences—whether navigating Army bureaucracy, coaxing roses into bloom, or coaxing teenagers through college applications. Above all, he showed his love not through grand gestures but through the consistent devotion of his time, his hands, and his heart.

A private interment with military honors will take place at the Veterans Cemetery at Fort Ord. A public memorial service will be held on Thursday, July 31, 2025, at 12:00 PM at St. John’s Episcopal Chapel, 1490 Mark Thomas Drive, Monterey, CA 93940. Reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, Ron would have appreciated donations to Natural Farming Life LLC, a nonprofit community garden founded by his eldest son, Robert Brunet. The organization is dedicated to regenerative agriculture and youth education; contributions will help continue Ron’s legacy of growth, learning, and service.

The family extends heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated doctors and staff at the Palo Alto VA and Stanford University Hospital, especially the Pulmonary Hypertension team. Their compassion, expertise, and tireless commitment provided strength and guidance to Ron and his family during his final journey.

RONALD HENRY BRUNET's Memorial vlm.cem.va.gov