Ernest Dutra

Ernest Dutra was a lifelong resident of the Bay Area, growing up in Santa Clara Valley's agricultural period. Born to Portuguese parents, his mother from San Jose and his father from Pico, Azores, Ernest was influenced by the history and growth in the valley. His family were active members of the IFES (Stierlin Rd, Mountain View), so he was involved in many activities and learned about his heritage.

Ernest's childhood was mostly spent on dairies in Mountain View and Alviso/Santa Clara, and this built a strong work ethic and a deep appreciation for the area. He graduated from Santa Clara High School, where he forged lifelong friendships, and played football. His passion for the sport continued through his college years at Cal Poly and San Jose State. In college, he also joined the Delta Sigma Phi fraternity and met with his brothers for lunch several times a year.

After college, he served two years in the Army in Washington, D.C. Upon his return, Ernest began his teaching career where he taught social studies and coached football. Over his career he taught at Samuel Ayer, Mannheim, and Andrew Hill High Schools, with the majority of his time at Hill.

He met his beloved wife, Jan, on a blind date. Their shared love for adventure took them to Germany for two years, where they explored Europe at every opportunity, kindred spirits discovering new sights and experiences together. Returning to the United States, Ernie and Jan built a life filled with love and adventure, raising their two children, Andrea and Matthew. Summers were filled with camping trips, seeing the country and visiting family and friends. The loss of his son, Matt, in 1987, was a deep sorrow for Ernie and the family.

Golf became a cherished pastime, a sport he enjoyed on and off since his college days, rekindling his passion after his children were grown. He and Jan spent many years traveling with the senior golf association, Ernie playing the golf courses and Jan touring interesting sites in the area. They made many friends and enjoyed seeing more of the country.

They also began taking cruises, exploring the world by ocean and river. They were part of a group of twelve who cruised together and met for dinner parties in between cruises. The loss of Jan in 2009 was a deep blow, but Ernie eventually began traveling again, both on his own and with friends. He joined his daughter and her friends for regular BBQs and crab feeds, and was well loved for his conversation and the fresh salsas, potato salads, or brussels sprouts he brought to the events.

Ernest's zest for life was boundless. He achieved his goal of visiting all 50 states and traveled extensively throughout Europe, and even cruised to Australia and New Zealand. He was always ready for a new adventure. He'd often surprise people with his dry, and sometimes unexpected, sense of humor.

Ernest's life was a testament to his resilience, his love for family and friends, and his unwavering spirit of adventure. He will be deeply missed by all who knew him.

A visitation for Ernest will be held Tuesday, April 8, 2025 at 10:00 AM with Funeral beginning at 11:00AM at Lima Family Santa Clara Mortuary, 466 North Winchester Blvd, Santa Clara, CA 95050. Interment to follow at Santa Clara Mission Cemetery, 490 Lincoln St, Santa Clara, CA 95050.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in Ernest's memory may be made to KQED, https://donate.kqed.org/donatetoday; and National MS Foundation, https://www.nationalmssociety.org/.