James Francis Brunetti

Chief James “Jim” Francis Brunetti, 78, of Crestline, CA passed away on Monday, July 19th, 2021, at home, his final request granted, surrounded by family, a circle of prayer, reciting the “Our Father” and “Hail Mary”, his daughter holding his hand, shortly after his granddaughter sang him the song whose notes guided his Spirit home to a glorious reunion with his mother and Christ in heaven, both of whom, he deeply loved.

Jim is survived by his wife of 20 years, Antonia “Toni” Alonzo Brunetti of Crestline, CA, children, James Jr. (Manuela) Brunetti, Jeanette (Scott) Adrienne, Mary (Jay) Sicard, Jolie (Erik) Michelle, their mother, Bernadette, Benjamin (Jaime) Brunetti; his mother, Cathy, grandchildren Karin, James, Briana, Haley, Sophie, Isadora, and Boden; great grandchildren Aubrey and Michael; sister, Delma; brothers, who he affectionately referred to as Mel (the goat boy), Hairy Jerry from the seminary, Warren (Warnagee), Terrible Tom, and Dirty Dan from Pakistan, and in order, their spouses, Estelle, Barbara, Sharon, Barbara and Sharon, the many beloved nephews and nieces who knew him as Uncle Pete and way too many friends to count.

These friends include the many brave men and women who served with him during his time in the fire department, the co-workers who labored with him to build homes for the needy, and those who along with him served his greatest passion, spreading the love and kindness, in unity with the Holy Spirit, of his recognized Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ at Catholic churches ranging from the mountains of Crestline, St. Francis Xavier Cabrini, to the beaches of San Diego, both All Hallows and St. Brigid. On Jim’s behalf he thanks all of those people, each so special to him. And a very special thanks to the clergy, Deacon Rick, Father Tom, Father Neal and Father Jerry, who both anointed him with healing oils, Father Ray, who will travel to officiate his Mass at the Mission San Luis Rey, and a few special mentions to perhaps the last good friends he made, a husband and wife, angelic duo, Gerry and Beverly and of course Kentucky and the very famous Derby the Dog, who inspired Jim into sporting his first mohawk when he started losing his hair. Jim always found a way to make a tough situation better. It wasn’t only that he always figured it out. It was that he had fun while doing it. You couldn’t spend much time in his presence before hearing that boisterous laugh, and once you heard it, your day no matter how hard it may have been, got better. Jim always left it better than he found it. He fixed things. Dings. Dents. Holes. People.

Jim was born in Oakland, California on November 20th, 1942. A man of many talents and passions, a man his oldest son Jim Junior aptly described as “a thoroughbred horse that ran out of gas” fit as much into his 78 years as a person could.

Jim, the kid, who according to his first wife, Bernadette, always came strolling into church a little late, would go on to graduate from St. Anthony’s High School (Seminary) in Santa Barbara in 1960. Contemplating priesthood, Jim attended San Luis Rey College, a Franciscan seminary in Oceanside, CA. Although he only spent one year there, he talked about San Luis Rey with great affection recalling the stories of the friends and adventures he had there many, many times during the years to follow including the legendary compilation of music he and his good friend, Ed compiled – Happiness Is a Song. Jim’s songs made many of us happy, many, many times.

Jim, who always like to work with his hands, became a carpenter. A few years later, at the suggestion of a friend who saw his heart to serve, joined the fire department in Berkeley, CA in 1967. Fire departments need leaders, and they found an intelligent, hard-working natural in Jim. Always willing to put in the hard work required of success, Jim worked at the fire department at night and attended Cal Berkeley by day. In 1970 he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. He regularly attended the National Fire Academy in Emmitsburg, Maryland. In 1985 he was promoted to the rank of Deputy Chief of Berkeley Fire. Of his many accomplishments while serving in Berkeley, two he was very proud of were starting the paramedic program (advanced emergency medical services) and Beta testing the pulse oximeter. In 1992, Jim left Berkeley to accept the position of Fire Chief for the city of Salinas. A position he kept for three years. In 1995, after nearly 30 years, Jim retired from the fire department transitioning into the non-profit world of community housing.

From 1995 to 1996 Jim linked up with old classmate and friend Ed Moncrief and worked for CHISPA and People’s Self-Help Housing where he managed and executed home construction projects for low-income families. In May of 1996, he took a contract position as a fire safety expert consultant for the home of Costco, the city of Kirkland, Washington. With the mission accomplished, Jim returned to California moving to Crestline and took over as Program Director at Neighborhood Housing from 1997-2000. From 2001 to 2004 he took a position with West Tech Construction as a construction manager. It was here that his two careers merged. From 2002-2004 Jim’s final construction project was building the Lake Arrowhead fire house. At the age of 62, he retired, but with Jim that term is used very loosely.

Jim continued his life of service. He supported and donated to many organizations. The ones closest to his heart were the Mission Circle through his church, St Francis Xavier Cabrini, where along with great friends, Dean and then Chuck, he led missions into Mexico to build homes and deliver vital supplies to communities in desperate need, the Pro-Life movement, and the Knights of Columbus, Holy Family of the Mountains, Council #7950. Jim was awarded the Grand Knight Award of Excellence for 2019-2020 for his “Extensive and Devoted Service”. The same which could have been awarded for the duration of his lifespan. He never passed a piece of furniture on the side of the road, regardless of where he was going or when, he took the time to stop, wrangled it into the truck bed, tied a few wizard-like knots to hold it down and before you could process what just happened explained how that couch that someone was tossing would be a treasure of comfort for a needy family in Mexico. He always took the time. Then he took the couch. Himself.

Jim had an unquenchable thirst for life and over the years many interests and projects. Each approached with the same impossible to contain enthusiasm as the one before it. A comprehensive list is not possible, but some that came to mind of his children were abalone diving, welded brass art, hiking, the never to be forgotten, macrame’ era, sailing (although he sunk his friend’s boat on the first trip out), racquetball, jogging, helping his daughter build lobby sets at the San Diego Junior Theater and collecting soda can pop tabs to raise money for the Ronald McDonald House. The family is quite certain that nobody collected more tabs in their life than Jim. He was also excellent at getting the young men of the family to do hard work. Always making it sound fun and exciting, with a slap on the back, “Hey there young man. You ever been under a house before?!” And just like that you were an unpaid apprentice.

Jim was very proud that he made the pilgrimage to the Christian Holy sites in Israel and at the age of 75, with his legs failing him due to neuropathies, set off on his own, and hiked the Camino de Santiago trail in Spain fulfilling a lifelong dream. Whatever Jim approached he approached with the same tremendous enthusiasm, like Dick Van Dyke in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, except real and never ending. Life with Jim. Fun. Fast. Exuberant. Full.

Jim had a deep love of music. He often told stories about his first music teacher, Aunt Rilla, who, he lovingly called, “Aunt Gorilla” due to her disciplinarian approach to piano instruction. Her tough love approach paid off as Jim became an excellent musician. He played the banjo, the cathedral organ, the 6 and 12 string guitar and the piano. He had a booming singing voice that was contagious. When he sang, it was like his voice was saying, “Afraid to sing? Follow me. Follow joy.” From campfire sing-a-longs to leading the music for SPANISH mass, not because he was the most proficient in the language, but rather because “someone had to do it”, Jim’s music, both from instrument and Spirit, touched many hearts. Truthfully, with Jim, there was no separation between the two. He was a music man. He was the leader of our band.

His favorite prayer was the Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi which he prayed to comfort others even as they came to say goodbye to him. Consistently comforting others, serving until the very end, Jim ran a sprinter’s pace for a life marathon of goodness.

His granddaughter, who shortly after his death, and watching a video sent to Jim by his nephew, summed it up best, she said, “My grandfather was the mayor of everything”.

A thoroughbred of humanity. Master of knots. Prince of puns. Salt of the Earth. A light on the hill. The whistle in the work. Old in body. Younger at heart. Jim Brunetti. Mayor of Everything.

Jim was preceded in death by his beautiful mother Edwina Pearl McReynolds.

The family will receive friends at Mt. View Mortuary & Cemetery, 570 E. Highland Ave., San Bernadino, CA, 92404, (909) 882-2943 on Friday, August 13th, 2021. Immediate family will be notified of private viewing times. Public Viewing is from 4:30 to 5:30 followed by the Rosary & Divine Mercy Chaplet from 5:30 to 6:15.

A Mass with be held in Jim’s honor at 10:30 on Saturday, August 14th, 2021, at St. Francis Xavier Cabrini Church, 23079 Crest Forest Dr., Crestline, CA 92325, Fr. Neil Fuller, officiating. Reception on site immediately following Mass.

Mass and Procession for Rite of Committal of Ashes will be held at 1:15, Friday, September 17th, at Mission San Luis Rey located at 4050 Mission Ave, Oceanside, CA 92057.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Jim’s memory to St. Francis Xavier Cabrini Parish for Mission Circle projects, 23079 Crest Forest Dr., Crestline, CA 92325. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mtviewsanbernardino.com for the Brunetti family.