James P. Gulli

James Paul Gulli, or Jimmy as known by many, was born April 2, 1935 in Hollister, California and passed away on December 2, 2024. James was beloved as husband, father, and grandfather. He was a loving brother, friend to many, educator, and was proud to have served his county in the Air Force, as well as in his role supporting the Apollo space-faring missions. James was the ninth of eleven children. Five brothers and five sisters from John and Pauline Gulli, who legally migrated to the great USA from Reggio-Calabria, Italy. James, right after high school, enlisted in the US Air Force and served in the Korean Conflict. After his service in Korea, he attended Citrus College to play football and golf. He was a running back and wide receiver for the great quarterback, Billy Kilmer, one of his many life-long friends, with whom they later teamed to organize 17 charitable fund-raising golf tournaments. He met his wife, Jeanette at Citrus College and were married at St. Dorothy’s Church in 1959. They had two lovely daughters, Lisa Ann, and Pamela Jean, and eventually, their grandchildren Gabriella and Deven, who he adored with all his heart. After graduating from Citrus College and Cal State LA, he was employed in the Apollo space program as an engineering writer for the Leach Corporation, who created the recording devices on board the Capsule and Lunar Excursion Module (LEM). James wrote instruction manuals for astronauts and engineers. His words made it to the moon and back! Being involved in Apollo 13’s rescue, providing technical support for Astronaut Lovel and the crew to make it back home, was a great source of pride to him. When funding ended for the Apollo Missions, he returned to Citrus College where he taught Journalism and Management classes, as well as being their Public Information Officer before being promoted to Dean. He joyfully worked there for 32 years before retiring in 2004. James and Jeanette continued to travel the world assisting Citrus College Music performers in Hawaii, and Europe, and assisting with the International Student Abroad Program. They traveled to Italy after Jim went solo to rediscover his home region of Reggio-Calabria, Italy and was joyfully united with previously undiscovered family members. Jim was a man who valued his roots and desired to share his ancestry, with all its love, passion, and history, with the next generation. Loved by many, including all his golfing buddies at Via Verde and Glendora Country Clubs, students and fellow educators, and the multitude of people’s lives who he touched with his very personal style of care and concern for their well-being as if they were part of his family. He was one of a kind.